Part IA Option A
Information for Candidates
The oral examinations for Part IA/A will be in May 2024 and will consist of two parts:
- reading aloud a passage taken from a text chosen by the examiners
- a conversation based either on the subject-matter of the text or on a prescribed topic announced by the Examiners on the first day of the Full Easter Term 2024.
A 'fail' in the Oral will not in itself disqualify a candidate from passing the Tripos examination.
Preparation for Candidates
1. The examination will be held in person.
2. You will be given a time slot for each of your examinations.
3. Before your examination, you will spend 15 minutes perusing the passage in your perusal room.
4. Please note that sharing this passage with anyone will be treated as academic misconduct.
5. You should then report to your exam room at your exam time.
Candidates can use dictionaries during the perusing time.
Candidates may make notes, but should bear in mind that during the exam they are expected to speak freely, rather than read out whole sentences from their notes.
For candidates in all languages except for Italian the oral examination will be based on a passage chosen by the examiners and will consist of:
Reading aloud: Examiners will indicate a section of the text for the candidate to read during the examination.
Conversation: The issues discussed will arise in the first instance from the text itself. The passages, which will be of not more than 300 words in length, will be available to candidates in the perusal room.
For candidates in Italian the oral examination will be based on topics and will consist of the following:
Reading aloud: The reading passage, which will be of no more than 100 words in length, will be available in the perusal room.
Discussion of a topic and conversation: Candidates should prepare and be ready to discuss any one topic from the list announced by the examiners on the first day of full Easter Term.
Candidates may bring brief notes (one sheet of A4 paper) into the exam, but must not read a prepared speech.
The Examiners will assess the candidates' pronunciation and intonation, accuracy, range of vocabulary and idiom, fluency and response.
The total time for the examination will not exceed 15 minutes.
Full details of the schedule of interviews with examiners will be sent to Colleges well in advance of the examinations.
