Giving In and Returning Written Work

317. The following verbs are used in connection with the
giving in and returning of written work:

to give in one's (home)work/(homework) book/transla­tion, etc.

e.g. a. (Teacher to class)— You are to give in your com­positions (to me) tomorrow.

b. (Teacher to pupil)— Why did you give your home­work in so late?

to hand in one's (home)work, etc.—same meaning as to give in, but more formal style, and therefore less common in conversation

to take in —used by teachers in the following way:

a. — / shall take your books in at the end of the lesson.

b. — Tomorrow I shall take in the money for the ex-

cursion, so don't forget to bring it (with you).

to have in —used in a similar way with reference to written work:

e.g. a. — /'// have your books in now.

b. — / must have your translations in by Friday (at the latest).

to collect (in)—used in such sentences as: 152

Ann, collect the (homework) books (tn), please. to give back — to return

When the teacher has marked the work, he gives it back, saying, for example:

— Now I'm going to give (you) your homework (books)/
translations/essays back.

To return may also be used in such situations, but is more formal style.

to hand back —still more formal, and less often used than to give back and to return.

to give out—to distribute

The teacher may ask one of the class to give the books out in the following words:

— Give the (homework) books out, please, John.
to hand out—a formal equivalent of to give out

Note that the particles inlout/back in the phrasal verbs listed above may be separated from the verb by a noun object.

e.g. Give in your books or Give your books in.

The second order is slightly more colloquial. When the object is a pronoun, however, only one order is possible:

— Give them in.

XIV. TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS

TESTS 318. test

This is anything designed to establish whether material has been understood or learnt. Tests take various forms. It may be a series of questions, oral or written, which the teach­er puts to the class to see whether reading or learning homework has been properly done (see unit 268), or it may cover a larger section of work, even a whole term's. The type of test may be specified, for example:

an English/history/maths test

a vocabulary/spelling/grammar test

The word test may also be used in a more general sense. This can be illustrated by a quotation from an earlier sec­tion (unit 283):

"It (= dictation) is therefore a phonetics test, a spelling test, and to some extent a comprehension test." In this sense test may be followed by of.

e.g. Precis is a test of the pupils' ability to pick out the im­portant points in a passage and express them clearly and correctly.

The following expressions are used with test:

To give smb a test (on smth)

Or to test smb (on smth)

to retest smb (on smth)—to give him another test

To have a test (on smth)

To take a test

This is used mainly of a test which is closer to an exami­nation in that something specific depends on the result. For example, people take their driving test in order to get their driving licence. In educational institutions such decisive tests are usually called examinations.

to pass/fail (a test) — сдать (успешно)/не сдать, про­валиться

to revise for a test —to go over the material on which one will be tested, in preparation for the test (see unit 297).

319. Test paper is sometimes used in the case of fairly serious written tests. However, it denotes the set of questions which the pupils/students have to answer, or the sheet on which they are typed or printed, rather than the whole process. Thus one can say, for example:

a. The test paper was rather difficult.

b. Here's a copy of the 2nd-year test paper.

but not * We've got a test paper. To write a test paper is pos­sible, but not common. In such cases it is more usual to say, for example:

е. We've got a (written) test tomorrow.

Test paper may also denote the papers on which the answers are written. For example, the teacher may say:

d. — Give out the test papers, please.

e. — I've marked your test papers.

Often, however, the word test is superfluous, as the context 154

makes it clear what papers are meant. In that case the teacher simply says, for example:

f. — Give out the papers, please.

If the test is done in exercise books, paper is not appropriate at all.

The usage of test paper is similar to that of examination paper (see unit 327).

320. quiz

This word is used in America in the sense-of a short test. In England, however, it means a set of questions designed to amuse people, a sort of game ("викторина").

TESTS IN THE SOVIET UNION

321. The general word test, with or without a modifier, should
be used to translate проверка (домашнего задания и т. п.),
опрос and контрольная работа, as there are no more specific
expressions in English.

проверка (домашнего задания) —(oral) test (see unit 268)

проверять (домашнее задание) — to

on

опрос — (oral) test

контрольная работа — (written) test

e.g. В следующий раз вы будете писать контрольную работу. — Next time you'll have/do a (written) test.

контрольная работа по грамматике/переводу и т. п. — (written) grammar/translation test

Test paper can be used in some cases, where appropriate (see unit 319).

322. зачет

This is a specifically Soviet concept and has no equivalent in most English universities and colleges, where there are only tests and examinations. Let us therefore first consider how зачет would be described in English, so that it is clear exactly what has to be expressed in the translation.

From the student's point of view, it means satisfying the teacher that he has reached the minimum standard required in a particular course of study, usually at the end of term. This may be done by taking a special test, written or oral,

or in some cases simply by satisfactory attendance and prog­ress at classes throughout the term. In the case of a test no marks are generally given; the student either passes or fails. Often the student has to pass his зачет before he is allowed to take the examination in that subject.

From the teacher's point of view it means testing the stu­dent and then certifying that he has satisfactorily completed the course of study in question. He does this by signing the student's record book (see unit 324).

It is clear from this description that the meaning of the word зачет varies according to the situation. The form it takes may be an oral test, a written test, or simply a deci­sion made by the teacher on the basis of the term's work. The word may be used for the test itself, as in the case of сдавать зачет, принимать зачет or for the satisfactory result of the test, as in сдать зачет, поставить зачет. It may even refer mainly to the signature given afterwards, as in: — Дайте вашу зачетную книжку, я поставлю вам зачет.

— Give me your record book

and I'll sign it. (for me) to sign.

323. One solution is to translate the word according to the form it takes in the given situation, as follows:

(1) test

a. — У нас завтра зачет.

— We've got

— We're having

End-of-term can be added in cases where it is necessary to distinguish this test from an ordinary test.

e.g. b.— We're having our end-of-term test tomorrow. Final could also be used in such cases.

e.g. е. — When are we having our final test?

d. зачет по английскому языку — English (language) test or test in English (language) —possible but not common

The word language is included only if it is necessary to dis­tinguish it from literature. End-of-term or final can be added if necessary.

e.g. е. — We're having our end-of-termlfinal English test

now. f. сдавать зачет — to take a test (in/on...)

not pass, which means "to be successful".

The prepositions in and on are used in the following way: In is used with the subject, as shown above,

e.g. g. a test in English/history

although, as already mentioned, an English/history test is

more common.

On is used with reference to some specific material.

the term's work

chapter 10

the definite article.

i. сдать/не сдать зачет —

to pass/fail a test j. принимать зачет —

to give smb. a test or to test smb. (on smth.)

However, it should be kept in mind that test is a much more general word than зачет, since it covers anything de­signed to test someone's knowledge or ability. It conveys the idea of checking whether work has been understood, or properly learnt, but does not express the other aspects of зачет. Also, in contrast to зачет, marks are usually given for tests.

(2) pass/fail

These verbs may be used with reference to the result, in the following ways:

a. (Of students) сдать/не сдать зачет — to pass/fait

(a test)

b. (Of teachers) поставить зачет — to pass someone

to give smb. a pass

on those answers.

and: не поставить зачет — to fail smb. e.g. He answered so badly that they failed him. (3) preliminary/qualifying examination

One of these expressions may be used if it is necessary to stress one particular aspect of зачет, the fact that one has

to pass it in order to take the "main" examination. The зачет is preliminary in the sense that it comes before the examina­tion, and qualifying in the sense that it qualifies one to take the main examination. Preliminary examination could be ab­breviated to prelim.

However, these are not very good translations on the whole, since а зачет is quite distinct from an examination.

An examination which is not marked should be avoided at all costs, since this means "непроверенный экзамен". The alternative for which no marks are given would be an improve­ment, but even this is not quite clear.

(4) signature, to sign

These words may be used in certain cases, where the sig­nature is the most important thing.

e.g. a.— Please give in your record books for me to sign. b. — Where's the teacher's signature for English?

(5) credit

Credit is used in American universities and colleges in one of the senses of зачет, that is, not the test itself, or the signature, but, as Carter V. Good's DICTIONARY OF EDU­CATION defines it: "official certification of the completion of a course of study". Students are given a credit for each course which they satisfactorily complete, and this usually involves passing some sort of final test. However, a credit is not preliminary to an examination, but itself contributes to the student's degree, a certain number of credits being required for graduation.

Credit in this sense is used in Britain only in the Open University (see unit 36), although this use of the word is becoming more widely known now. The traditional meaning of credit with reference to examinations in Britain is that of a good mark, although only in those examinations where the awarding of credits is provided for in the regulations. Thus if the pass mark is 40% (see unit 355), a person who gets, for example, 65%, is given a credit. In such examina­tions a distinction is often given to those who get an even higher mark, for example, 75% or over. However, this sys­tem of credits and distinctions has now been replaced by one of grades (see'unit 356) in most public examinations, and credit is increasingly understood in its American sense, although, as stated above, the credit system is not practised in most English institutions.

Credit could be used as a translation of зачет in some cases, where the Russian word is used in the sense given for credit at the beginning of the previous paragraph, but on the whole it is not to be recommended.

324. Although the word зачет can be approximately translat­ed in one of the ways suggested above, it is such a specifically Soviet concept, with so many uses, that it seems preferable on the whole simply to transliterate it, as zachot.

e.g. a. — We've got our zachot tomorrow. b. — Where's Nina?

— (She's) taking her (English) zachot. е. — Two people in our group failed their zachot.

A slight difficulty arises with to give a zachot, since it might mean either "принимать" or "поставить". In the con­tinuous tenses it is usually clear. For example:

— She's/was giving group 3 their zachot.

obviously means "принимает'/'принимала". In other tenses, where confusion might arise, some other word could be used.

e.g. принимать — to test or to give a test поставить — to pass or to give a pass

or to sign someone's (record) book

Transliteration seems to be the best solution on the whole for the following reasons. It is immediately understood by Soviet students, while making it clear to them that there is no English equivalent. English people hearing it for the first time will immediately realise that it is something spe­cifically Soviet, and can be given an explanation the first time they meet it, after which it can be used without expla­nation.

325. зачетная книжка

This can be approximately translated as (student's) record book. English students do not have any book of this kind, but the expression record book will give a general idea of the book's function, for reasons similar to those stated in connection with дневник (unit 238).

EXAMINATIONS

Examination

An examination, like a test, is designed to test someone's knowledge or ability, but is usually conducted more formally and the results are more important. The contraction exam is widely used by teachers and learners, the full form being confined to formal style.

In England most examinations are written, in all types of educational establishments. The examination paper is set beforehand (meaning that the examiners choose and put to­gether a series of questions to be answered), and either dupli­cated ("размножен") or printed. At the examination each pupil/student is given a copy, and they all sit and answer the questions in writing for a fixed period of time. Sometimes they have to answer all the questions, sometimes only a cer­tain number, according to the instructions printed on the paper. When the time is up, they give in their papers and leave the room. The papers are marked later and the results an­nounced. In the case of internal examinations it may be a few days later, but with public and degree examinations it is usuaMy about two months.

In modern languages there is usually an oral examination too, often called simply an oral in non-formal style, but there are no oral examinations in other subjects. In such sub­jects as chemistry, physics, biology, cookery, woodwork there are practical examinations, often called simply practicals in non-formal situations.

The following expressions are used in connection with ex­aminations. Remember that most of them refer mainly to written examinations, as described above.

Examination) paper

This term is used in three different senses:

(1) of the content of the examination, the questions;

e.g. a. (One student to another) — What did you think of the paper? — It was terrible.

(2) of the sheet on which the questions are printed or typed;

e.g. b. (Candidate to invigilator) — Excuse me, I haven't got a paper.

(3) of the sheet on which the answers are written;

e.g. е. (Invigilator to candidates) — Please give in your papers now.

The meaning is usually clear from the context, but if nec­essary the following more explicit expressions can be used:

the questions — for the content

the question paper — for the sheet on which the questions are printed

the answer paper — for the sheet on which the answers are written.

Examination) question

A question in an examination is anything which the candi­date has to do, whether it is in the form of a question or not. Thus the following may be called questions:

a. Translate the following passage into English — a
translation question

b. Describe the events which led up to the French Revolu­
tion — an essay question

329. to hold an examination — to arrange for it to take place
(formal style)

e.g. a. The university holds an entrance examination in

May. b. The fifth-form examination will be held in room 15.

To conduct an examination

This may mean:

(1) very much the same as to hold an examination

e.g. a. Institutes of education approve syllabuses and conduct examinations.

(2) to make the necessary administrative and practical arrange­
ments, for example, provide a suitable room, give out ques­
tion papers, and see that examination regulations are ob­
served.

e.g. b. The examination must be conducted in accordance with the regulations.

(3) to examine (in the case of oral examinations)

e.g. е. The examination will be conducted in French, To conduct is also formal style.

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