BA/MMath in Mathematics & Philosophy Handbook (2025-26 Entry)

8.1 College Examinations

College tutors will organise college examinations, called collections, usually at the start of term. They are not to be confused with the University public examinations, which may count towards your degree classification(s). Collections are an opportunity to check on how you are progressing academically and provide you with the feedback to allow you to identify misunderstandings you may have with the material and improve your examination technique. You can expect them throughout your course on the Philosophy side and in the first two years in Mathematics.

8.2 University Examinations

For the undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Philosophy you will sit examinations each year in Trinity term, called public examinations. The regulations governing the examinations are set out in the University Examination Regulations (see section 1.2) and guidance for students is given in the examination conventions. 

For each examination (Prelims, Part A and Part B), the department nominates a board of examiners, which is made up of internal examiners, and for the second public examinations, external examiners (academics from another university). The names of all examiners can be found in the relevant examination conventions. Assessors may also be appointed to assist the examiners. Formally, the examiners are independent of the Department and of those who lecture courses. However, for written papers in mathematics, the examiners are expected to consult with the course lecturers in the process of setting questions. It must be stressed that to preserve the independence of the examiners, students are strictly prohibited from contacting examiners directly about matters relating to the content or marking of papers. If you are unhappy with an aspect of your assessment you may make a complaint or appeal (see Appendix E)

8.3 Examination Conventions

The department publishes examination conventions for each year of the course, which are published online at: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/examinations-assessments/examination-conventions. 

The definitive version of the conventions is made available online each October/November. Modifications must be published to prospective candidates not less than one whole term before the examination takes place. Examination conventions are the formal record of the specific assessment standards for the course or courses to which they apply. They set out how your examined work will be marked and how the resulting marks will be used to arrive at a final result and classification of your award. They include information on: marking scales, marking and classification criteria, scaling of marks, progression, resits, use of viva voce examinations, penalties for late submission, and penalties for over-length work. 

8.4 Preparation for Examinations

Your tutors will advise you about revision and practice. The Mathematical Institute holds examination forums, one for Prelims and one for Finals, to provide advice on revision techniques and give further details about the format of the examinations. There are also a number of revision resources available on the Mathematical Institute's website: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/examinations-assessments/revision-resources

There are also some marked specimen solutions available to give a few examples of how answers might be written out and marked, and to indicate the level of detail expected. These can be found here: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/examinations-assessments/specimen-solutions

In subjects which were taught in previous years, including both Mathematics and Philosophy, past examination papers are another good guide to the typical format and content of examination questions. However, please note that previous papers may have been set on different syllabi and you will need to be guided to relevant questions by your tutors. Students will find past papers most valuable when used in conjunction with corresponding examiners' reports. Examiners' reports will include generic feedback on the cohort performance and these are useful to see what the Examiners were looking for (and also give you hints about how to solve the questions). The past papers can be found online at: https://solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/discovery/search?vid=44OXF_INST:SOLO&search_scope=EXAMP and the examiners' reports for Mathematics and Philosophy can be found online at: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/examinations-assessments/examiners-reports. 

8.5 Some thoughts on Revision and Exam Technique

Please find a useful guide to mathematics revision and exam technique here: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/system/files/attachments/Revision_advice_final_0.pdf

Please find some useful information in preparing for philosophy examinations here: https://courses.maths.ox.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/123275/mod_book/chapter/393/Preparing%20for%20examinations%20Philosophy.pdf

8.6 Entering for University Examinations and Examination Timetables

Entry for the Prelims examinations happens automatically when you register at the beginning of the year. Information about entering for examinations in future years is available online at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams. 

You will be issued with a personal timetable of examinations which will be sent to you at least five weeks before the examination. This gives details of where and when each of the written papers for which you are entered will take place. You will also receive a randomly allocated candidate number which you will use to identify your scripts, instead of your name and college. You must take your candidate number to every examination you sit. As a general guide, Trinity term examinations take place in the following weeks:

• Part B: Weeks 5-8TT (Starting with Philosophy papers and with the first Mathematics paper no earlier than the start of week 6)
• Part A: Weeks 8-9 TT
• Prelims: Week 9 TT

Further information on examination timetables can be found at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/timetables

8.7 Procedure for Written Examinations

Before the examinations you will receive at least one notice to candidates from the examiners to give you the details of the examination procedure. These notices are also published online at: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/members/students/undergraduate-courses/examinations-assessments/examination-conventions

Details of examinations to be held in Trinity term 2026 will be announced shortly. Practical information and support for sitting in person exams is provided on the Oxford students website: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/completing-an-exam/in-person-exams. 

8.8 Problems completing Assessments

There are a number of University processes in place to help you if you find that illness or other personal circumstances are affecting your assessments or if you experience technical difficulties with an online exam or submission. Full information is available online at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/problems-completing-your-assessment

8.9 Examination Results

You will be able to access your results via the Student Self Service at: https://evision.ox.ac.uk/. The Academic and Assessment Results page within Student Self Service gives details of all your assessment results (examinations and/or submissions) and the overall result for the year (if applicable). 

8.10 Important deadlines

As noted elsewhere in this Handbook, you need to take action if you wish to request a 'non-standard' option or to obtain approval to be examined on a nominated piece of coursework (essay, dissertation or thesis). The table below collects together the deadlines for such requests, and to whom they should be sent. In each case the term specified is that in the academic year in which the examination is to be taken. 

 * Students choose from a pre-approved list of abstracts published on Friday week 0, MT. 

For submission deadlines for assessed coursework see the Examination Regulations.

8.11 Penalties for late submission of assessed work or failure to submit

The Examination Regulations stipulate specific dates for submission of the required pieces of coursework to the Examiners. This includes, in Mathematics, History of Mathematics coursework, Extended Essays and Dissertations, and in Philosophy, Theses and submitted Essays in Part C. Rules governing late submission and any consequent penalties are set out in the 'Late Submission of Work' subsection of the 'Regulations for the Conduct of University Examinations' section of the Examination Regulations. 

8.12 First Public Examination

At the end of Trinity term of the first year you will sit the Preliminary Examination in Mathematics & Philosophy, which you need to pass in order to proceed to Part A. The examination consists of five papers: Mathematics I - Mathematics III(P), Philosophical Topics in Logic and Probability, and Introduction to Philosophy . The examinations are either 2, 2.5 or 3 hours' duration. Candidates shall be deemed to have passed the examination if they have satisfied the examiners in all five papers. The overall outcome (distinction/pass/fail) is calculated from the USMs for individual papers according to the following:

Denote by:

• M the weighted average of the Mathematics USMs:

\[
M = \frac{5}{14}MI + \frac{5}{14}MII + \frac{4}{14}MIII(P),
\]

• P the average of the two Philosophy USMs and
• A the average of M and P

When M, P, and A have been symmetrically rounded to the nearest integer, year outcomes will be awarded according to the following conventions:

• Distinction: Both A ≥ 67 and either M ≥ 70 and P ≥ 60, or P ≥ 70 and M ≥ 60, and a mark of at least 40 on each paper.
• Pass: Not meriting a distinction and a mark of at least 40 on each paper. 
• Partial Pass: Obtaining a USM of less than 40 on one or two papers, or each of papers I, II, III(P) and no other paper. Such candidates will be required to resit the failed paper(s) before being awarded their final year outcome.
• Fail: A mark of less than 40 on three or more papers, unless the three papers are papers I, II and III(P).

8.12.1 Resits

Those who fail one or more of the Prelims papers in June, or who were unable to sit the examination because of illness or other urgent and reasonable cause, may enter for the Preliminary Examination in September (Resits). A candidate who failed one or two papers will be required to resit and pass those papers only to progress to Part A; any candidate failing three or more papers will be required to resit all five papers. A candidate who fails to satisfy the moderators in the practical work assessment may also offer the assessment on one subsequent occassion. 

8.13 Second Public Examination

The Second Public Examination has three parts: Part A taken at the end of the second year, Part B taken at the end of the third year, and Part C taken at the end of the fourth year. You need to complete the Part A exams before you can take Part B, and only students who obtain a 2.1 in Part A+B, qualify to proceed to Part C. 

8.13.1 Part A

At the end of the Part A examination, a candidate will be awarded a USM for each Mathematics paper in Part A. The four USMs will be carried forward into the classification awarded at the end of the third year. In the calculation of any averages used to arrive at the final classification, the USMs for A2 will have twice the weight of the USMs from the other three papers.

8.13.2 Part B

Except for options BO1.1 and BOE, assessment is by a 3-hour paper for a Philosophy subject and a 1 and 3/4 hour paper for a Mathematics unit. 

The number of questions on a Philosophy exam paper varies but the standard rubric states that the candidates must "answer three questions". For a single Mathematics unit there are three questions on each paper and the rubric states "candidates may submit answers to as many questions: the best two will count". 

8.13.3 Part C

Candidates offer a minimum of eight units in Mathematics, or three subjects in Philosophy, or a permitted combination of units and subjects. 

In Mathematics, there are three questions in each single unit exam. The rubric states "candidates may submit answers to as many questions as they wish: the best two will count". 

Each Philosophy subject, other than a Thesis, is examined in a 3-hour paper together with a submitted essay of not more than 5,000 words. 

For further information on the Parts A, B and C examinations, please see the examination conventions. 

8.14 Plagiarism

Plagiarism is presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own, with or without their consent, by incorporating it into your work without full acknowledgement. All published and unpublished material, whether in manuscript, printed or electronic form, is covered under this definition. Plagiarism may be intentional or reckless, or unintentional. Under the regulation for examinations, intentional or reckless plagiarism is a disciplinary offence. Please see the University's guidance on plagiarism here for further information: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills/plagiarism. 

You should take particular care to avoid plagiarism in any work you will be submitting for assessment.  

The work you submit should be entirely your own, you should not copy someone else's work, and you will be asked to sign a declaration to this effect when you submit your work. You should ensure that any text which you have taken from lecture notes, books, or other sources, is properly identified and a full reference given.  

8.15 Prizes

The following University prizes are available. They are awarded by the Examiners and no application is required:

Mathematics

• Prelims Performance in Philosophy Prize
• Gibbs Prize for overall performance in FHS Mathematics and Philosophy at Part A
• Gibbs Prize for performance in Mathematics papers in FHS Mathematics and Philosophy at Part B
• Gibbs Prize for performance in Mathematics papers in FHS Mathematics and Philosophy at Part C
• Gibbs Prize for best mathematical dissertation submitted in the Honour School of Mathematics, Mathematics & Computer Science or Mathematics & Philosophy

Philosophy

• Gibbs Prize for performance in Philosophy papers in FHS Mathematics and Philosophy at Part B
• Gibbs Prize for performance in Philosophy papers in FHS Mathematics and Philosophy at Part C
• The Henry Wilde Prize may be awarded each year for an outstanding performance in Philosophy in any of the Honour Schools involving Philosophy. The examiners in Part B will nominate a candidate in that examination whose performance in the Philosophy papers in Part B gives them a reasonable chance of winning the prize. The prize is open to all candidates in Part B, whether or not they plan to go onto Part C. 
• The Elizabeth Anscombe Thesis Prize is awarded to the best FHS Thesis across all FHS's involving Philosophy.

In addition, there is a Philosophy prize for which suitably qualified students may apply:

• Candidates who have passed Part B are eligible to enter for the John Locke Prize in Mental Philosophy, since they satisfy the requirements to have passed all the examinations requisite to the Degree of BA of the University, provided that they may not take the examination later than the tenth term from that in which they completed the said examinations. This prize is awarded on the basis of two three-hour examinations which are set during Michaelmas Term. Intending candidates must submit an application form, which may be obtained, along with further details of the Prize, from the Graduate Studies Administrator of the Philosophy Faculty, early in Michaelmas Term.