The University of Cambridge has announced that it will perform a thorough review "considering all aspects of the examination process".

The "root and branch" evaluation will address whether the three-hour written exam should remain the "primary" form of assessment, whether students are made to sit too many examinations, and if the attitude to re-sits needs rethinking.

It will also reflect on the possible use of technology and ‘digital exams’, as well as alternative methods to assess students. The review will consider if reports, long essays and multiple-choice questions could be more prominently used.

Professor Graham Virgo, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education, told Varsity that it was "clear" to him that "there are so many changes and pressures within Cambridge and from outside" that an in-depth review was required.

He added that there would also be "further investigation of concerns about disparate performance by gender".

This aspect of the review was not previously announced in the Cambridge Reporter.

Charlotte Chorley, CUSU Women's Officer, confirmed to Varsity that the Women's Campaign had met with Professor Virgo and had presented him with the "statistical and anecdotal evidence" from the Campaign's 'Mind the Gap' survey on gender disparities in exam performance.

"The meeting with Professor Virgo sparked discussions about improvements to examination procedures which the Women's Campaign hopes to continue and be a part of," she added.

When asked, Virgo denied that student activism had led to the consultation, telling Varsity that he instigated the review when he became Pro-Vice Chancellor to go beyond the required reviews imposed by quality assurance obligations.

However, he was clear that students would be involved in this review via CUSU’s Education Officer, Robert Cashman.

Cashman told Varsity that he was pleased that the consultation was going ahead with CUSU's involvement, welcoming an "excellent opportunity" to "consider the future of assessment in Cambridge".

"The 2014 National Student Survey (NSS) showed that only 38 [per cent] of Cambridge finalists felt that their course did not apply unnecessary pressure.... This demonstrates a need for the University to review its assessment processes to ensure that there is greater clarity around what is expected of students, that there is transparency in the marking system, and that all students receive substantive feedback on all of their work," he told us.

CUSU is also planning on undertaking its own consultation on the issue with student representatives.

Professor Virgo also confirmed to Varsity that a separate consultation process is under way to review the public display of class lists, following the “Our Grade, Our Choice” campaign.

The working group has requested that opinions regarding Cambridge's examination system be sent to examreview@admin.cam.ac.uk

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