Examinations Information
Past Examination papers
The previous five years of papers (including corrections) are available electronically
- from the department
- from the library (you need your ITS username and password).
The Library keeps printed copies of examination papers in the reserve 4 hour loan collection.
Note that previous examination papers may test material which is not current and may have a different format - consult your lecturer at an early stage if you require any sort of clarification.
It is department policy not to provide solutions to past exam papers, the lectures and tutorials / problems classes in the Easter term are normally used to go over exam questions from previous years.
Collections
Within the Department of Mathematical Sciences, `collections' is the name given to formative tests (i.e. not taken into account in the calculation of end-of-year marks) covering the material taught in Level 1 mathematics modules during the first term (Michaelmas) of the first year of study at Durham.
Collections for level 1 Calculus, Linear Algebra, Analysis, Data Analysis, Modelling and Simulation (DAMS), Statistics, Discrete Mathematics, Single Mathematics A and Single Mathematics B are taken in week 11, i.e. during the first week of the Epiphany term, according to the Collections timetable. The time allocated to answer each collection paper is 45 minutes. Collections are therefore not in the same format as end-of-year exams. They test whether students have revised efficiently, and give them an opportunity to consolidate their learning if necessary. Feedback on collections is usually given during early second term tutorials.
Collections for the module Maths for Engineers and Scientists are typically taken during the last week of Michaelmas term (first term).
Although formative, collections are compulsory. Medical evidence is required if a collection is missed. Absences for non-medical reasons must be discussed in advance of the collection period with the relevant Course Director.
Dictionaries in Examinations
All examination papers in Mathematical Sciences now include the statement that
- Visiting Erasmus students are permitted dictionaries.
This should be taken to refer only to language dictionaries and not to mathematical dictionaries.
Apart from the exemption for visiting Erasmus students, dictionaries are not permitted in examinations in Mathematical Sciences.
Calculators in Examinations
The use of electronic calculators is allowed in some exams as detailed in the list of papers below.
Science Faculty Policy on Calculators
The use of electronic calculators is allowed in some module examinations and other module assessments. Each student taking modules offered by departments or schools within the science faculty, which specify that calculators be allowed in assessments, will be offered a calculator, free of charge, at the beginning of their course. The model will be a Casio fx-83 GTPLUS or a Casio fx-85 GTPLUS.
In October 2012 only, students entering level 2, 3 or 4 of their course who have module assessments which specify that calculators be allowed will be offered a calculator free of charge. The model will be a Casio fx-83 GTPLUS or a Casio fx-85 GTPLUS.
Calculators will become the property of students who will be responsible for their upkeep. No replacement calculators will be provided free of charge, but may be available to purchase from departments/schools, depending on availability. The specified calculator will also be generally available, in shops and online, should a replacement purchase be necessary.
Where the use of calculators is allowed in assessments, including examinations, the only models that will be allowed are either a Casio fx-83 GTPLUS or a Casio fx-85 GTPLUS. In particular, examination invigilators will refuse to allow a candidate to use any calculator other than the model(s) specified, which will be explicitly stated on the front of the examination paper. During examinations no sharing of calculators between candidates will be permitted, nor will calculators or replacement batteries be supplied by the Department or the Student Planning and Assessment Office.
List of examinations papers
The tables below list all examinations papers for undergraduate modules taught this year. The only modules not listed below are the project modules, Communicating Mathematics III (MATH 3131) and Project IV (MATH 4072) which do not have final examination papers.
Paper codes:
In a module code such as MATH 1061 the first digit gives the level and the last digit is 1 or 2 for a single or double module. The MATH obviously indicates a Mathematics department module, and this is alternatively denoted by the 2-digit code 06 to form a 6-digit module code such as 061061. The paper code is formed from the module code appended with a forward slash and a 2 digit number indicating the assessment component. In the tables below this is either 01 or 02 for papers 1 or 2.
The fi nal column in the tables below indicates whether calculators are allowed in the examination. By default calculators are not allowed. A `C' indicates that calculators can be used, while `C*' indicates that although calculators can be used speci fic questions may not allow them.
Level I
| Paper Title | Paper code | Calculators |
| Calculus and Probability I | MATH 1061/01 | |
| Linear Algebra I | MATH 1071/01 | |
| Analysis I | MATH 1051/01 | |
| Problem Solving and Dynamics I | MATH 1041/01 | |
| Discrete Mathematics | MATH 1031/01 | C |
| Statistics | MATH 1541/01 | C |
| Mathematics for Engineers & Scientists | MATH 1551/01 | |
| Single Mathematics A | MATH 1561/01 | |
| Single Mathematics B | MATH 1571/01 | |
| Data Analysis Modelling & Simulation | MATH 1711/01 | C |
Level II
| Paper Title | Paper Code | Calculators |
| Complex Analysis II | MATH 2011/01 | |
| Analysis in Many Variables II | MATH 2031/01 | |
| Statistical Concepts II | MATH 2041/01 | C |
| Numerical Analysis II | MATH 2051/01 | C |
| Mathematical Physics II | MATH 2071/01 | |
| Codes and Actuarial Mathematics II Paper 1 | MATH 2131/01 | C |
| Codes and Actuarial Mathematics II Paper 2 | MATH 2131/02 | C |
| Codes and Geometric Topology II Paper 1 | MATH 2141/01 | C |
| Codes and Geometric Topology II Paper 2 | MATH 2141/02 | |
| Probability and Geometric Topology II Paper 1 | MATH 2151/01 | |
| Probability and Geometric Topology II Paper 2 | MATH 2151/02 | |
| Probability and Actuarial Mathematics II Paper 1 | MATH 2161/01 | |
| Probability and Actuarial Mathematics II Paper 2 | MATH 2161/02 | C |
| Algebra II | MATH 2581/01 | |
| Elementary Number Theory and Cryptography II | MATH 2591/01 | C |
Level III
| Paper Title | Paper Code | Calculators |
| Di fferential Geometry III | MATH 3021/01 | |
| Number Theory III | MATH 3031/01 | C |
| Galois Theory III | MATH 3041/01 | |
| Statistical Methods III | MATH 3051/01 | C |
| Decision Theory III | MATH 3071/01 | C |
| Approx. Theory / ODEs III | MATH 3081/01 | C |
| Dynamical Systems III | MATH 3091/01 | |
| Quantum Mechanics III | MATH 3111/01 | |
| Mathematics Teaching III | MATH 3121/01 | C* |
| Operations Research III | MATH 3141/01 | C |
| Mathematical Biology III | MATH 3171/01 | |
| Electromagnetism III | MATH 3181/01 | |
| Geometry III | MATH 3201/01 | |
| Probability III | MATH 3211/01 | |
| Elliptic Functions III | MATH 3221/01 | |
| Solitons III | MATH 3231/01 | |
| Topology III | MATH 3281/01 | |
| Partial Diff erential Equations III | MATH 3291/01 | C |
| Mathematical Finance III | MATH 3301/01 | C |
| Statistical Mechanics III | MATH 3351/01 | |
| Topics in Statistics III | MATH 3361/01 | C |
Level IV
| Paper Title | Paper Code | Calculators |
| Partial Diff erential Equations IV | MATH 4041/01 | C |
| Advanced Quantum Theory IV | MATH 4061/01 | |
| Topics in Statistics IV | MATH 4071/01 | C |
| Solitons IV | MATH 4121/01 | |
| Probability IV | MATH 4131/01 | |
| Geometry IV | MATH 4141/01 | |
| Elliptic Functions IV | MATH 4151/01 | |
| Algebraic Topology IV | MATH 4161/01 | |
| Riemannian Geometry IV | MATH 4171/01 | |
| Mathematical Finance IV | MATH 4181/01 | C |
| Number Theory IV | MATH 4211/01 | C |
| Approx. Theory / ODEs IV | MATH 4221/01 | C |
| Statistical Mechanics IV | MATH 4231/01 | |
| Operations Research IV | MATH 4251/01 | C |
Further information for level I papers
All level I papers have resits in the Autumn exam period. Students at Level 1 may resit all failed modules, but resit marks are capped at 40%.
Rubrics
Core modules: Calculus and Probability I, Linear Algebra I, Analysis I
Each module has one 3-hour paper containing 10 questions which are all compulsory.
Rubric: Attempt all questions. All questions carry the same marks. Use of electronic calculators is forbidden.
Dynamics and Problem-Solving I
Continuous assessment of problem solving in the first term contributes 40% of the module mark. The final exam covers the second term on Dynamics and contributes 60% of the mark. There is one exam paper lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has 4 questions which are all compulsory.
Rubric: Attempt all questions. All questions carry the same marks. Use of electronic calculators is forbidden.
Other Level I Modules
All include 10% continuous assessment. Each module has one 3-hour exam which contains 8 questions. Any number may be attempted and credit is given for the best 6 answers (best 5 together with the compulsory question 1 for Single A and B and MES.) For some papers tables, and/or graph paper, and/or a formula sheet may be provided. If so, the lecturer makes this clear in advance and the rubric includes the appropriate statement. For Discrete Mathematics the paper is divided into two sections, covering the first and second half of the course.
Rubric for DAMS: Credit will be given for the best SIX answers. All questions carry the same marks. Use a separate answer book for each Section. Approved electronic calculators may be used.
Rubric for Discrete: Credit will be given for the best SIX answers. All questions carry the same marks. Approved electronic calculators may be used.
Rubric for Single Maths A: Credit will be given for your answer to question 1 and for the best FIVE other answers. All questions carry the same marks. Use of electronic calculators is forbidden.
Rubric for Single Maths B: Credit will be given for your answer to question 1 and for the best FIVE other answers. All questions carry the same marks. Use of electronic calculators is forbidden.
Rubric for MES: Credit will be given for your answer to question 1 and for the best FIVE other answers. All questions carry the same marks. Use of electronic calculators is forbidden.
Rubric for Statistics: Credit will be given for the best SIX answers. All questions carry the same marks. This is an open-book examination: you may keep one folder of notes at your desk. Approved electronic calculators may be used.
Further information for level II, III and IV papers.
All Level II papers have resits in the Autumn exam period. Students at Level II may resit at most 3 modules, and resit marks are capped at 40%. Resits are not available at levels III and IV.
The only modules with continuous assessment components are Numerical Analysis II (20% from electronic assessments), Mathematics Teaching III (65% in total from project work), Statistical Methods III (30% in total from two computer exams, one at the end of each term), Communicating Mathematics III (no exam - assessed entirely on project work) and Project IV (no exam - assessed entirely on project work). In all other modules the module mark comes entirely from the exam(s).
All examinations last 3 hours except for Mathematics Teaching III (MATH 3121) which lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes; Statistical Methods III (MATH 3051) which lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes; Topics in Statistics III (MATH 3361) and Topics in Statistics IV (MATH 4071) which each last 3 hours and 15 minutes; and the X and Y modules, which each have two 1 hour and 45 minutes examination papers (each contributing 50% of the module mark.)
All 3 hour examination papers and 3 hour 15 minute examination papers have 6 questions in Section A and 4 in Section B. Statistical Methods III has 4 questions in Section A and 3 questions in Section B. All level II 1 hour 45 minutes examination papers have 3 questions in Section A and 3 in Section B.
For level IV papers in modules which have both level III and level IV versions taught together, there is an additional Section C which is a single compulsory question on the additional reading material for level IV students.
For some papers tables, and/or graph paper, and/or a formula sheet may be provided. If so, the lecturer makes this clear in advance and the rubric includes the appropriate statement.
Rubrics
Mathematics Teaching
This is a 1 hour 45 min paper with 6 questions (assessment includes 65% project work). Candidates answer 3.
Rubric: Credit will be given for the best THREE answers. All questions carry the same marks.
Level II 1 Hour 45 minute papers
This applies to the Level II modules with two examination papers.
Rubric: Credit will be given for the best TWO answers from Section A and the best TWO answers from Section B. Questions in Section B carry ONE and a HALF times as many marks as those in Section A.
Level IV papers for III/IV modules
This applies to the Level IV modules where there is also a level III version taught in the same lectures.
Rubric: Credit will be given for: the best TWO answers from Section A, the best THREE answers from Section B, and the answer to the section C question. Questions in Sections B and C carry TWICE as many marks as those in Section A.
Statistical Methods III
Rubric: Credit will be given for: the best THREE answers from Section A and the best TWO answers from Section B. Questions in Section B carry TWICE as many marks as those in Section A.
All other papers
Rubric: Credit will be given for the best FOUR answers from Section A and the best THREE answers from Section B. Questions in Section B carry TWICE as many marks as those in Section A.