Tips and tricks 6:
Exams @ KU Leuven :
Cultural Differences
in Evaluation, Style and Expectations
2/12/’13
Karel Joos
Study Advisory Service
Content of this session
• Introduction
• Different examination formats
• Grading
• Cultural differences?
• Consultation of results
• Contact
Introduction
Introduction
• Cultural differences
o Exam expectations
o How to pass exams
o Focus of this session : oral exams
• Similar expectations (whole K.U.Leuven)?
o No,
o but +/- consensus
Different examination formats
Different examinations
• Oral
• Written
o Open questions
o Multiple choice
• Paper
• Presentation
Oral exam : progress (1)
• Classroom
• Materials :
o student card
o paper, pen
o mobile phone (in bag)
o (open book – closed book)
o (normally no food)
o (dictionary
• F.i. Social sc : translation dictionary, no explanatory dictionary)
• Questions
o 2-3 questions on cards
o knowledge - exercises
Oral exam : progress (2)
• Preparation time :
o Human sciences : 30’
o Exact sciences : sometimes 4 h
o Schematic outline
• Presenting (+/- 15’)
o Oral presentation
or prof reads written preparation
o Goal of additional questions?
o Prof stops you?
o No feedback! (facial expression, ‘ok’, marks)
Oral exam : Tips
• Structuring your answer
• Repeating question in own words
• Non-verbal communication
• Meeting
• Dress code
• Reliability?
Written exam : essay questions
• Reading the question carefully
o “why” vs “how”
o “What’s the theoretical relevance of ….”
• Draft in keywords
• Situating answer
o broader context, background info, refer to table of
content :
o “In general …”, “specifically the theoretical
consequences …”
• Structure
• Not : just showing knowledge, always relevant for question
Written exam : multiple choice
• Correction for guessing
• Count, different phases
1. Know the correct alternative
2. 2 alternatives left
3. 3 alternatives left
4. 4 alternatives left = pure guessing
• Common sense : example
Multiple choice
• Wich problem Carter explains concerning the FAZ-theory?
1. The theory is in contradiction with the law of DUM
2. The theory is based on the FOL-theory
3. The theory has a high predictive value
4. The theory is able to explain the new facts
Multiple choice
• Wich problem Carter explains concerning the FAZ-theory?
1. The theory is in contradiction with the law of DUM
2. The theory is based on the FOL-theory
3. The theory has a high predictive value
4. The theory is able to explain the new facts
Papers
• Independant working
• Starting from keywords
• Sources and referring
o Hot topic at K.U.Leuven
o Required in scientific writing
(better too much than not enough)
o Within text quotations, reference list
o Plagiarism : http://www.kuleuven.be/plagiarism/
Grading
Grading (mere indication of what to expect in general)
Mark Transcript US ECTS % of
succesfull
Your answer
20 Outstanding A+ A 10% Exceptional, additional
analyses, additional information 19
18
17 Very good A
16 B 25%
15 Good A- Own examples, counter
examples, comparisons, critics,
applications 14 C 30%
13 Above average B
12 D 25% Structuring answer
11 Satisfactory B-C+ Memorizing literally, basic
understanding 10 C E 10%
8-9 Insufficient D Superficial knowledge-
comprehension
0-7 Very insufficient F Lack of knowledge-
comprehension
Marks Exams International Students (n=11.454)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Marks
Ex
am
s
Marks
• Average : 12/20
• 0 – 9 : 25%
• 10 – 14 : 50%
• 15 or more : 25%
• 20/20 : only 0.2%
Cultural differences
Cultural differences?
• Selection at the beginning of programme + selection
during the programme
• Grading
• No information about results after oral exam
• Looking for statements with an argumentation
Consultation of results
Contact
o Study Advisory Service
Naamsestraat 80
3000 Leuven
016/32 43 11
www.kuleuven.be/studyadvice
Succes!!