BESS Examinations

Most BESS modules involve continuous assessment which could be a research-based essays, projects and/or presentations contributing up to 50% of the overall grade for the year. The remainder is based on the results of a written end-of-year examination.

Examination Dates
Examination Conventions and Regulations
Past Examination papers (internal access only)
Foundation Scholarship Examination

Examination Dates

Academic Year 2022-2023

Week of 12 December 2022 (excluding contingency days)*	Semester 1 Examinations
Week of 9 January 2023 (excluding contingency days)*	Foundation Scholarship Examinations
Week of 23 January 2023 (TBC by Academic Registry)	Semester 1 results released to student portals
Trinity Monday 24 April 2023	Publication of Foundation Scholarship Examination Results
Week of 1 May 2023 (excluding contingency days)*	Semester 2 Examinations
25 or 26 May 2023	Publication of Sophister Annual Examination Results
25 or 26 May 2023	Publication of Freshman Annual Examination Results
Please check with Senior Tutor	Court of First Appeal
28 August to 2 September 2023 (excluding contingency days)*	Supplemental Examination Period
7 September 2023 at 5pm	Publication of Supplemental Examination Results and Study Abroad Results
Please check with Senior Tutor	Court of First Appeal

*Contingency days are normally in put in place the days prior to the commencement of the examination sessions

Examination Conventions and Regulations

Your Moderatorship comprises 30% of your overall Junior Sophister result and 70% of your Senior Sophister result.

Information about the regulations governing BESS examinations, as well as the conventions determining the award of grades in examinations can be found in the:

BESS Course Handbook

For further information on all College general examination conventions and regulations please consult the College Calendar.

Foundation Scholarship

Foundation Scholarship is a College institution with a long history and high prestige. The objective of the Foundation Scholarship examination is to identify students who, at a level of evaluation appropriate to the Senior Freshman year, can consistently demonstrate exceptional knowledge and understanding of their subjects.

You can find details regarding entitlements, important scholarship dates, application forms and timetables on the following websites:

BESS Foundation Scholarship Exams

BESS candidates are examined in the subjects of their course up to the end of Michaelmas term of the Senior Freshman year and based on their pathway of choice. Foundation Scholarship takes place 9th January to 13th January 2023 (though it may be necessary for college to schedule examinations during the previous week, should contingency days be required).

The examination consists of four 2¼ hour examination papers. All papers carry equal weighting.

BESS Scholarship Information is available here

The Academic Registry will notify students when the application process for Scholarship has been made available.

Recommendations for scholarship are based on all four papers. To be recommended for Scholarship, students must attain an overall mark of 70%, at least two papers must attain a first class mark of 70+ and any remaining papers must attain a mark of at least 65+%.