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

o Karel.Joos@dsv.kuleuven.be

Succes!!