Examinations
All examinations take place within the context of the Natural Sciences Tripos. (The Part IA paper is also "borrowed" by both the Computer Science Tripos (CST) and the Mathematics Tripos.) Results for the subjects in Part I of the NST are norm-referenced, while results in Parts II and III of the Tripos are criterion-referenced.
Classes are awarded overall for each Part of the tripos, and not for individual subjects within the Part, although we conventionally talk about a "First-class result in Physics" where we mean that the marks for that subject correspond to those required for a First overall. There is no summative judgement, so that the classes for each year stand alone, and hence classes for all three (or four) years are required to specify a student's performance in the Tripos. Accordingly, Physics does not carry over marks from one year to the next, as do some other subjects.
The standard of classing in Parts II and III (that is, possible final years) is guaranteed by our External Examiners. See list of examiners for details of the current externals. For further details of the marking and classing scheme see the links below.
Useful links
- **NEW FORMAT** - Part II Physics Paper 2023 (pdf)
- **NEW FORMAT** - IA Physics Paper 2019 (pdf)
- Important Notices
- Part II Exam Briefing notes (pdf)
- Use of calculators in examinations
- About examination questions
- How examiners work
- Examination skills
- Advice on answering essay questions
- Advice on answering brief notes
- List of examiners
- NST classing scheme
- (NST website)
- Examination classing scheme
- (for Parts II and III)
- Examination data retention policy
- University procedure for appeals
- (University website)
- Obtaining degree certificates and transcripts
- (University website)
- Prizes