Examination Date

The Social Context of Health and Illness is a 2nd MB subject taken by medical students in their first year and assessed at the end of Lent Term. This year's examination will be held on Friday, 15 March 2013 at 11am in the Examination Halls on the New Museum Site. The resit examination will be held in September 2013, details TBC.

Examination Structure

The examination will last 90 minutes and will examine material covered by the lecture course. Candidates will be required to answer two out of 6-8 questions that will span the lecture topics and issues raised during the seminars. Each question will carry equal marks. Refer to 12 March 2010 and 24 September 2010 exam papers for an indication of the type and style of questions that will be asked.

The examiners recognise that the short essay answers required for this examination are different in style from those expected in other MVST IA examinations. In SCHI, students are expected to develop arguments and include relevant factors, rather than simply list facts. Scientists can sometimes find it difficult to write this style of discursive essay. Students are, therefore, encouraged to write practice essays during the course.

Examinations - Useful Information

What constitutes a good essay - how can I pass well?

Examiners will be expecting students to:

• show good organisation and planning of the essay

• answer the question, not simply write everything you know about the topic;

• give examples that are well thought-out and that help to illustrate the points made;

• make appropriate reference to current health-related topics;

• show evidence of reading more than the lecture notes and handouts

If you have examples from other cultures that you know well, that are relevant, and that can help you to make and clarify your point, mention these in your essays. You are also strongly encouraged to draw on material from your PfPA observations where appropriate, although you must always ensure any anecdotal illustrations are balanced with more standard academic material.

Why do people fail?

Students generally fail because they:

• do not answer the question (sometimes literally, sometimes because they haven't read the question carefully and supply answers to questions that have not been asked);

• are flippant and dismissive in approach to the wider concept of medical practice in which they will be working in the future;

• have not put in enough work on the course;

• have difficulty planning and writing an essay (not structuring a cohesive piece of writing through lack of planning or practice, poor spelling, and grammar are all possible factors).

The mark scheme provided to assessors can be found here.

Where can I find help?

Directors of Studies and students should be aware of the possibilities for failure, listed above, and take advantage of additional help from supervisors at an early stage.

Students from cultures outside the UK

The examiners recognise that many students on the course will not have a British background. For those who know less about British culture and its health system, this course may present more challenges. Those students and their Directors of Studies are advised to access additional help from supervisors with:

• essay writing

• UK background and culture

• the health care system in the UK