Special Regulations for the Preliminary Examination in History and English

A

1. 1. The Preliminary Examination in History and English shall be under the joint supervision of the Boards of the Faculties of History and English Language and Literature and shall consist of such subjects as they shall jointly by regulation prescribe.
2. 2. The Chairmen of the Examiners for the Preliminary Examination in History and of the Moderators for Moderations in English Language and Literature shall consult together and designate such of their number as may be required for the examination for the Preliminary Examination in History and English, whereupon the number of examiners shall be deemed to be complete.

B

Each candidate shall offer four papers as set out below. The papers will be of three hours' duration. The Moderators shall publish the names of candidates who have satisfied them in the whole of the examination, or in papers 1 and 2 only, or in papers 3 and 4 only.

1. 1. The History of the British Isles (any one of the periods specified for the Preliminary Examination in History).
2. 2. One of the following:
3. (a) One of the Optional Subjects specified for the Preliminary Examination in History.
4. (b) Approaches to History (as specified for the Preliminary Examination in History).
5. (c) Historiography: Tacitus to Weber (as specified for the Preliminary Examination in History).

The individual specifications and prescribed texts for these papers will be published in the Handbook for the Preliminary Examination in History by Monday of noughth Week of Michaelmas Term each year for the academic year ahead. Depending on the availability of teaching resources, with the exception of Optional Subject 1, not all the Optional Subjects listed in the Handbook will be available to candidates in any given year. Candidates may obtain details of the choice of options for that year by consulting the Definitive List of Optional Subjects posted at the beginning of the first week of Michaelmas Full Term in the History Faculty and circulated to tutors.

1. 3. An Introduction to Literary Studies (candidates will be expected to answer one question only from Section B of the paper as specified for Moderations in English Language and Literature, and one interdisciplinary essay question).
2. 4. One of the following:
3. (a) Victorian Literature (1832-1900) (as specified for Paper 2(a), Moderations in English Language and Literature).
4. (b) Modern Literature (1900 to the present day) (as specified for Paper 2(b), Moderations in English Language and Literature).
5. (c) Introduction to Medieval Studies: Old English Literature (as specified for Paper 3(a), Moderations in English Language and Literature).
6. (d) Introduction to Medieval Studies: Middle English Literature (as specified for Paper 3(b), Moderations in English Language and Literature).

Candidates who fail one or more of papers 1, 2, 3, or 4 above may resit that subject or subjects at a subsequent examination.