The TC faculty compiled the following information on the content of your comprehensive examination and its assessment.
What content is on the exam?
The exam is organized into four sections, each worth 100 points:
- Identify and fix the style issues in five passages.
- Identify and fix the editing issues in seven passages.
- Analyze and revise an unsuccessful document.
- Explain (via memo) how these revisions addressed the weaknesses of the original document.
How is my exam evaluated?
Two TC faculty members will blindly evaluate your exam. Each faculty member will independently assign every section a numeric score (0-100%) and then write a brief justification for that score. A score of 80% or above is considered passing; a score of 79% or below is considered failing.
Your score for each section will be determined in one of two ways. If both graders agree that you have passed or if both graders agree that you have failed a section, the section score will be determined by averaging the graders' scores. If one faculty member scores a section with a passing grade and another faculty member scores the section with a failing grade, a third faculty member will evaluate the section. The final section score will be determined by averaging the three graders' scores.
Do I need to pass all four sections in order to pass the exam?
You must earn an overall score of 80% on the exam with no score lower than a 70% on any section. If your retake the exam, you must complete and pass all four sections and not just the section(s) that you previously failed.
What can I expect during the exam?
When you arrive, the proctor will give you instructions on how to complete your exam. You will be assigned a unique identifying number, which is used to retain your anonymity during the grading period. You have four and a half hours to complete the exam. You choose how to allocate this time.
What do I need to bring with me to the exam?
YYou do not need to bring anything with you to the exam. Please leave all personal belongings at home. You will not have access to the Internet during the exam, but you will have access to a computer with all the software you've used during your classes as well as the black and white and color printers.