The exam system is extraordinary, but great as an experience to make you ready for anything. You sit, waiting in a room with all the other candidates. A tribunal of examiners comes in late, takes a register (which as an Erasmus, you are never on). They then do 3 oral exams simultaneously in front of everyone. No analysis is required, but much explanation of what happened when (you need a good memory for these exams). Examiners may chat on the phone, text, smoke in your face, ignore you or become bloody minded. Often you will be made to see all 3 examiners. Without consulting each other, one of them will then give out a random mark at the end (in front of everybody). Depending on the examiner's mood, the exam could take a few minutes to an hour, but you might wait 8 hours, or be told to come back another day. You can, however, refuse the mark they give you, and take the exam up to 5 times (if you really think it's worth it). Examiners may ask trick questions. Once you finally accept the mark they give you, you must sign for it in the register. This signing is occasionally on a different day from the exam, and failure to sign is equal to not having taken the exam (so don't book a flight for the day after an exam - also note, exam dates can change at the last minute).
Lire la suite >