From:   GORDON::COCKCROFT    "Jeremy Karl Cockcroft (Tel. 0171-631-6800)" 20-SEP-2000 00:29:10.59
To:     SMTP%"KMiller@brand-rex.com"
CC:     COCKCROFT
Subj:   RE: Examination (3hr written paper)

Dear Kennedy,

>Sorry to badger you, but do you have a timescale for when the practise
>questions and exam style paper will be posted?.

I have started on this. I will put up some specific examples and advice too.
(I have to spend about 7 hours on a train tomorrow so will be working
on it then.)

>Can you tell me what the overall pass mark is?  At Edinburgh it was 50%, but
>I believe they have now reduced it to 40%.
>If an overall fail is achieved, does the candidate able to do a re-sit in
>the exam paper or do you award the 'Certificate of Attendance'?

The overall pass mark from assignment work, project write-up and
written paper is 50%, merit at 60%, distinction at 70%. Candidates may
do badly on one bit and well on another bit and still pass, in contrast
to the old MSc Crystallography face-to-face course that we used to run
where the requirement was 50% on every section (ditto for merit and
distinction).

In the unusual event of a candidate failing to make 50% overall, but having
passed the assignments and project work OK, then a 'Certificate of
Attendance' would be awarded. As far as I know (and I am sure registry
would confirm it), there is no option for re-sit since it is a 1-year course.
[Again on the old MSc course which was 2-years, the 1st year paper could
be re-sat at the same time as the 2nd year papers, and a 2nd year paper
could be resat the following year - the difference was that each section
had to be passed - and not just an overall mark achieved.]

>The difficulty in the study is not in the material but in the fact that I
>have never really had or been able to get much practical experience in
>performing and using crystallography data, hence my queries.  Are any of the
>other candidates in the same boat?  I feel that the theory gets into your
>head more if it can be applied more into practice.  Unfortunately, I haven't
>had the oppertunity to get/use X-ray analysis in my workload for several
>months although I did visit CERAM research to see their equipment there, but
>it was out of action on the day.

The other candidates are in the same position to my knowledge though one
does know lots about neutrons, but is a spectroscopist, not a diffraction
person. Agree that use of the kit does help one to remember certain
properties of the equipment, and that practical data analysis can help
one understand the theory underpinning the data. The project was designed
partly to give students some practical experience as well as to teach some
points about data analysis.

I would also emphasise that the exam is not out to test facts, but
an understanding of powder diffraction. Obviously, one cannot test
concepts without facts, but the emphasis is very much on an
understanding of the course material. But I will say more when I put
up the page on exam technique, so will not repeat it here.

If you do have questions, please ask. Sometimes there may be a bit of a delay
in replying, though I usually read my emails at least twice a day, even
when at home.

Sorry for replying so late this evening, but I wanted to get home first
and then reply to me emails given that I have an early start tomorrow morning.

Jeremy Karl.

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