Examination Auditing advice
Important: the information and advice given in the following section
are based on the examination structure used at the time this guide
was written. Please note that subject guides may be used for several
years. Because of this we strongly advise you to check both the current
Regulations for relevant information about the examination, and the VLE
where you should be advised of any forthcoming changes. You should also
carefully check the rubric/instructions on the paper you actually sit and
follow those instructions.
The examination is of three hours’ duration. The paper consists of eight
questions, of which candidates must attempt four. The paper is split into
two sections. Section A contains four case studies. You must attempt
at least two of them but you cannot do all four questions from Section
A. Section B contains four essay questions. You must attempt at least
one question from Section B but you cannot do more than two. This
means that you will either answer two questions from each section, or
three questions from Section A and one question from Section B. In the
examination itself if you fail to comply with these requirements, your
attempt will not be marked (e.g. if you attempt all four case studies from
Section A, only the first three will be marked or if you write three essays
from Section B only the first two will be marked).
Intelligent students know that since each question carries the same
number of marks, they must divide their time equally between the chosen
questions. Well-disciplined candidates are able once they have run out
of time on one question, to move on to the next question. All too often
Examiners see one very extensively answered question followed by three
brief answers to the remaining questions – this is invariably evidence of
poor time management by the candidate concerned.
Past examination papers are a good guide to the level of questions you
may expect to face. They are also good revision material, although
many of the questions have been reproduced in this subject guide. You
are strongly advised to obtain examples of past papers as part of your
revision, but I advise equally strongly against using the papers to ‘question
spot’ (that is, trying to anticipate what may come up in the future). Be
aware also that new developments may have rendered past questions or
references therein obsolete. Moreover, the emphasis in, or contents of, the
syllabus may have changed since the paper was originally set.
Diligent application to your studies will be rewarded. The main aim should
be to acquire knowledge and understanding. If you simply memorise lists
of items, you are unlikely to be able to use this ‘knowledge’ effectively.
This subject guide will highlight the areas that you need to concentrate on.
Be disciplined in going through the guide in a methodical manner, doing
the reading and making sure that you attempt the exercises and activities.
Finally, in the examination itself, do justice to the effort you have put in
preparing for the examination; do not be timid and skip parts of questions
for fear of making mistakes. There is no negative marking so you will not
be penalised if what you have written is deemed to be irrelevant, and
there is a good chance that in most cases what you have put down will be
worth something even if it is not quite what the Examiners are looking for.
On the other hand, if you write nothing that is exactly what you will get in
return. So you have nothing to lose.
Further guidance on examination technique is provided in Chapter 10.
A Sample examination paper is provided at the end of this subject guide
along with an Examiners’ commentary.
Remember, it is important to check the VLE for:
• up-to-date information on examination and assessment arrangements
for this course
• where available, past examination papers and Examiners’ commentaries
for the course which give advice on how each question might best be
answered.
If you work through this guide and the associated reading before the
examination, you should have no need of anything more. Nevertheless I
wish you all good luck and success in your studies.
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