Examinations in Computer Science

Oxford students about to sit exams The Computer Science degree has examinations at the end of each year. Those in the second and third years count towards the final degree result.

• The first year exams consist of four papers on Functional Programming and Design and Analysis of Algorithms; Imperative Programming; Discrete Mathematics, Probability, and Continuous Mathematics; and Digital Systems, Linear Algebra and Introduction to Proof Systems.
• The second year exams consist of eight 2 hour papers, made up of four Computer Science options papers and four core subjects: Concurrent Programming,Algorithms and Data Structures, Algorithms, Compilers and Models of Computation.
• The third year exams consist of six papers of 2 hours each on Computer Science options, making an equivalent of five 3-hour papers. There is an optional project in year three.
• The fourth year of the Computer Science course, leading to a Masters qualification, is mostly examined by take-home papers completed during the vacations. Candidates also submit a report on their project.

There is a practical element to the examinations in that the examiners receive reports on the practical work done during the year. Candidates are expected to have attended practical sessions and done the required work in order to pass the exam, but this work does not contribute to the degree class that is awarded.