Be reassuring: what do you need to get a 2?

For 1997 at any rate (I can't find 1998,1999 at the moment, and don't have 2000). These boundaries do fluctuate from year to year (the boundaries for physics in 1998 were quite a bit lower, i.e. 67% for an S). What's more I think they might take into account the number of questions you complete (in Cambridge terminology, the number of alphas and betas you obtain) as well as just the raw mark.

Physics: 79/100 for an S, 68/100 for a 1, 55/100 for a 2, 41/100 for a 3
Mathematics 1: 99/120 for an S, 72/120 for a 1, 53/120 for a 2, 35/120 for a 3.
Mathematics 2: 81/120 for an S, 53/120 for a 1, 37/120 for a 2, 20/120 for a 3
Mathematics 3: 81/120 for an S, 59/120 for a 1, 38/120 for a 2, 22/120 for a 3

Michael

By the way, what's an alpha?

Tom: Quoting Michael above: "What's more I think they might take into account the number of questions you complete (in Cambridge terminology, the number of alphas and betas you obtain) as well as just the raw mark"

Olof

Yes, an alpha means a roughly complete question (i.e. at least 3/4 of the marks) and a beta means a partially complete question (at least 1/2 marks). The number of alphas and betas is used (as well as the raw mark) to determine your grade both in STEP and in Cambridge Tripos exams.

In 1999 for the Part 1A Mathematics tripos the most important number in determining your grade was your merit mark M. This is calculated as follows:

M=2m+10a+3b-60 for a ³ 20

M=2m+7a+3b for a < 20

where m is the raw mark, a and b are the number of alphas and betas you obtain (with section II questions counting twice).

Oh, I see. So answering 3 questions perfectly on a STEP paper would be better than answering six questions and getting them half right. Something to bear in mind for tomorrow...

Precisely. Answering 3 perfectly would certainly get you a 2 and possibly a 1, whereas if you answer 6 half questions you may slip to a 3.