“ “ “ gair rhydd Letters to the Editor: Henry Burton deals with your issues
Politics take a look at the AV Referendum
page 14
page 12
Features: Is drinking alcohol worse than taking drugs? page 17
Monday May 23 2011 | freeword – Est. 1972 | Issue 951
“This is the worst examination timetable I have had in my three years at Cardiff ” Morgan Applegarth News Editor Cardiff University have once again come under criticism with regard to their scheduling of exams which is leaving high numbers of students with hectic timetables during the spring examination period. gair rhydd understands that a number of students have complained to the Students’ Union about their timetables, with many feeling that their final exams of the year have been scheduled too close together. In her final year, Chemistry student Hayley Rand told gair rhydd that she has four exams during May and June, with three taking place on consecutive days. “I would have thought that the School’s priority would be to give us the best opportunity to do well in the exams, as they count for a lot this year, but after receipt of the exam timetable I know that’s not true. “It has affected my revision, because I just feel completely unmotivated to do well, because no matter how prepared I am, it’s going to be a struggle and exhausting to go to three exams in a row.” Complaining to Cardiff ’s School of Chemistry, Hayley was told that the School had asked Registry to schedule all exams during the first three weeks of the available five week exam period, partly to allow for Results Day to take place before
the end of term. In addition, the School says that by leaving the final two weeks exam-free, it allows for Chemistry students’ project viva to be scheduled after the last written exam. Third year Exploration and Resource Geology student, Henry Lole, expressed annoyance over his exam timetable, saying: “I have been lumbered with the worst exam timetable I have had in my three years at Cardiff. “I have four exams in four consecutive days. “It appears the norm this year is to have three in three days or three in four days and everyone appears to have at least one point where they have two in two days. “Quite why this timetabling is necessary, I feel, needs to be investigated because I was not given a legitimate reason.” A second year Civil Engineering student, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that he has three exams in five days. This is not the first time that the University’s exam scheduling has been criticised. In May 2009, students criticised the University for compiling demanding exam timetables (issue 897). Moreover, a gair rhydd investigation back in January, found that hectic timetables were being imposed on students during the autumn semester (issue 940).
Continued on page 3
PHOTO: CCHRIS GRIFFITHS
Students criticise the University over the scheduling of exams
Magicians, musicians and marquees gair rhydd takes a look at how the inaugural May Ball turned out