Historedia
EuropeEvent

First Written Examinations at Cambridge University

When
1792
Where
University of Cambridge
Episodes
1

In 1792, tutor William Farish developed the concept of grading students' work quantitatively at the University of Cambridge. The supplied passages do not confirm that this constituted the first written examinations in Europe, nor do they specify a precise date beyond the year.

Episodes

  1. 1792 · University of CambridgeQuantitative Grading Development

    Tutor William Farish developed the concept of grading students' work quantitatively at the University of Cambridge in 1792.

Background and detail

Background. The University of Cambridge is a collegiate public research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, it is the world's third-oldest university in continuous operation. The university includes 31 semi-autonomous constituent colleges and more than 150 academic departments, faculties, and other institutions organised into six schools.

Examination Development. A tutor named William Farish developed the concept of grading students' work quantitatively at the University of Cambridge in 1792. This development occurred within the context of the university's examination system, which involved lectures and supervised sessions organised by colleges.

Institutional Context. The university's examination in mathematics, known as the Mathematical Tripos, was initially compulsory for all undergraduates studying for the Bachelor of Arts degree, the most common degree first offered at Cambridge. The university occupies a central location within the city of Cambridge.

People involved

  • William Farish · Tutor at the University of Cambridge (identity unresolved; a new-person candidate, not an attached legacy Person)

Sources

  1. University of Cambridge Wikipedia

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.