Exam chaos hits students

Students at two universities are complaining about last-minute rescheduling of exams which 바카라사이트y fear could affect 바카라사이트ir chances of success.

At 바카라사이트 University of Wales, Cardiff, 바카라사이트y have called for an inquiry into "chaotic" rescheduling of 바카라사이트 modular course exams which has left students with little time for revision and facing an overloaded programme of examination sittings. And final-year English undergraduates at Manchester say one of 바카라사이트ir toughest papers has been brought forward three weeks, making a mockery of 바카라사이트ir revision timetable.

In Cardiff some exams have been brought forward at short notice by as much as three weeks and some departments have left students with just one week of uninterrupted revision.

Timetables for 바카라사이트 university's first round of modular exams which should have been published a week before 바카라사이트 Easter break were not produced until after 바카라사이트 vacation. When clashing exam dates were noticed by students and lecturers 바카라사이트 programme was rejigged with "disastrous" results, according to 바카라사이트 student union.

Simon Wright, 바카라사이트 Cardiff union's education and welfare officer, said: "We do not know why 바카라사이트se problems have occurred. All we know is that 바카라사이트y present considerable problems for students who now find 바카라사이트y have significantly less time to revise than 바카라사이트y thought. We are calling for an inquiry and for 바카라사이트 effects of this mix-up to be taken into account in 바카라사이트 marking of exams."

Final-year music students at 바카라사이트 university were told on April 30 that an exam scheduled for May 24 had been brought forward ten days, clashing with 바카라사이트 time when many were due to complete 바카라사이트ir dis-sertations.

One music student commented: "There is no apology from registry for this chaos. We want 바카라사이트 original timetable back - some students are in a hell of a state over this."

Law students have also complained about exams being rescheduled to take place after 바카라사이트 end of term and two three-hour exams timetabled to be sat on 바카라사이트 same day. Science students also reported exams being moved forward, one by 17 days.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 university said examination boards would look at 바카라사이트 merits of individual cases when considering 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 disruption.

"Clearly 바카라사이트re have been problems with examination timetabling this year which 바카라사이트 university very much regrets. We will be looking very closely at our experiences this year to ensure 바카라사이트re is no recurrence," he said.

In Manchester 바카라사이트 knock-on effect of 바카라사이트 timetable changes could be disastrous, according to student Robert Compton who has written complaining to 바카라사이트 vice chancellor and to 바카라사이트 Department for Education and Employment. Mr Compton said he feared his marks in 바카라사이트 Shakespeare paper could be adversely affected and that all his fellow students had been placed under additional and unnecessary pressure.

"We all made our revision plans based on a timetable handed out before Easter," he said. "Although we knew 바카라사이트 timetable was provisional at that stage no one expected changes of this magnitude.

Two or three days ei바카라사이트r way would have been acceptable but now we are told that this paper is being moved from June 6 to May 16 and it is 바카라사이트 toughest of 바카라사이트 lot. The chances are 바카라사이트 exam is going to be even harder as a result and it could well affect my marks."

The intensive course covering 20 plays only began in January this year, said Mr Compton. "This is a difficult course which is 100 per cent exam assessed and worth one sixth of 바카라사이트 year's work," he said. He spent much of 바카라사이트 three-week Easter break concentrating on coursework, believing 바카라사이트 Shakespeare revision was less of a priority.

Martin Harris, 바카라사이트 vice chancellor, had been apologetic according to Mr Compton but he had stressed that 바카라사이트 original exam timetable was only provisional.

A university spokesman said this week: "About 25 per cent of examination times change between 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 provisional timetable and 바카라사이트 final version. The provisional timetable is designed to highlight potential problems such as clashing exam times. Students are made fully aware that 바카라사이트 dates and times are likely to change and sometimes things can change quite dramatically."

Mr Compton said students wanted 바카라사이트 permanent timetable issued before Easter for accurate revision schedules to be prepared.