Page:EB1911 - Volume 10.djvu/57

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EXAMINATIONS
45


TABLE I.—PRUSSIA: ABITURIENTEN EXAMEN

I.
Name of
Examination.
II.
Minimum Age for Entry.
III.
 Length of Course 
of Study.
IV.
Subjects.
V.
Co-ordination with Teaching.
VI.
Examiners.
VII.
Nature of Examination and General Remarks.
Abiturienten Examen (established in 1788). Age only limited by condition of length of school course. The usual age is 17-18.

9 years.

Candidates who have not attended the 9 years’ school course may be admitted to the examination on special application.

In Gymnasium.

Written.
 German essay.
 Mathematics.
 Translation into Latin.
 Translation from Greek
  into German.

Oral.
 Latin.
 Greek.
 English or French.
 Religion.
 History.
 Mathematics.

In Real-Gymnasium.

Written.
 German essay.
 Mathematics.
 Translation from Latin.
 Translation from German
  into or essay in
  English or French.
 Physics.

Oral.
 Latin.
 English.
 French.
 Physics or Chemistry.
 Religion.
 History.
 Mathematics.

In Ober-Realschule.

Written.
 German essay.
 Mathematics.
 An exercise in French
  and in English (an
  essay in one language
  and a translation
  from the other
  into German).
 Physics or Chemistry.

Oral.
 English.
 French.
 Physics.
 Chemistry.
 Religion.
 History.
 Mathematics.

The object of the examination is defined as being a test of whether the candidate has fulfilled the aims laid down in the curricula, &c., prescribed for a Gymnasium, Real-gymnasium, or Ober-realschule, as the case may be, and the subjects of examination are those prescribed in the curricula for the kind of school concerned.

The report on the school work of each candidate in his various subjects is laid before the Examining Board before the beginning of the examination.

The Examining Board consists of a government inspector (der Königliche Kommissar) acting as chairman, the headmaster of the school, and the teachers of the highest classes in the school. The inspector may nominate a deputy, who is as a rule, the headmaster of the school.

Each teacher concerned selects for the written examination three alternative subjects in his branch, from which, after receiving a report thereon from the headmaster, the inspector makes a final choice.

The papers are marked by the teachers concerned, and circulated to the whole Board of Examiners, who then decide whether individual candidates shall be (i.) rejected, (ii.) admitted with exemption from the oral examination, or (iii.) submitted to the oral examination.

The written examination extends over four or five days. Only one paper is given each day, for which 3 to 5½ hours are allowed (5½ hours for the German essay). For essays in foreign languages dictionaries may be used.


TABLE II.—FRANCE: BACCALAURÉAT

I.
Name of
Examination.
II.
Minimum Age for Entry.
III.
 Length of Course 
of Study.
IV.
Subjects.
V.
Co-ordination with Teaching.
VI.
Examiners.
VII.
Nature of Examination and General Remarks.
Baccalauréat de l’enseignement secondaire.

This examination has been carried on under different forms since 1808. The regulations summarized here date from 1902, when the baccalauréat described replaced the baccalauréat-ès-lettres, baccalauréat-ès-sciences, and baccalauréat de l’enseignement moderne.

Part I., 16, or, with special permission, 15.

Part II. may not be taken within an academic year after passing Part I.

There is no requirement of attendance. Part I. of the examination corresponds exactly to the subjects taken in the “second cycle” of secondary education, and Part II. to the classe de philosophie and classe de mathématiques.

See also under V.

Part I. is divided into four Branches, viz.:—

(1) Latin-Greek.

(2) Latin-modern languages.

(3) Latin-science.

(4) Science-modern languages.

In each Branch the examination is divided into two parts, viz., written and oral. The nature of the examination may be indicated by the following requirements in Branch (1):—

Written
 (i.) French composition.
 (ii.) Translation from Latin.
(iii.) Translation from Greek.

Oral
 (i.) Explanation of a Greek text.
 (ii.) Explanation of a Latin text.
 (iii.) Explanation of a French text.
 (iv.) Text in a modern foreign language.
 (v.) Interrogation on ancient history.
 (vi.) Interrogation on modern history.
 (vii.) Interrogation on geography.
(viii.) Interrogation on mathematics.
 (ix.) Interrogation on physics.

Part II. is divided into two Branches, viz.:—

(1) Philosophy.

(2) Mathematics.

The nature of the examination may be indicated by the following requirements in Branch (I):—

Written
 (i.) An essay in French on a philosophical subject.
 (ii.) An examination in physical and natural science.

Oral
 (i.) Interrogation on philosophy and philosophical writers.
 (ii.) Interrogation on contemporary history.
(iii.) Interrogation on physical science.
(iv.) Interrogation on natural science.

The syllabus of the examination is that prescribed for the higher classes in the Government secondary schools.

The candidate may submit his livret scolaire, or school record, which will be taken into account.

The Board of Examiners (or “jury”) consists of (i.) University examiners being members of a faculty of letters or faculty of sciences; (ii.) secondary teachers, active or retired, selected by the minister of public instruction. The Board consists of from four to six examiners, of whom, when the number is even, half are chosen from either category. The written portion of Part I. extends over from 9 to 10 hours in all (not on a single day), in periods of 3 or 4 hours each; the written portion of Part II. extends over from 6 to 9 hours. The oral examination for each part lasts ¾ hour on the average, and is public.