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Exams and Evaluation

Forms of Student Evaluation

Students at Smolny College are evaluated according to a variety of criteria, such as written papers, examinations, oral reports and presentations, class participation, and attendance.

The three traditional forms of evaluation in Russian higher education still exist at Smolny. These are the zachyot, ekzamen, and doklad.

A zachyot is usually a short oral exam or report, but it could also be a paper or other assignment. These exist solely for two- or three-credit courses and in regular Russian institutions are graded pass or fail. Smolny assigns grades for these classes according to the U.S. system. Students should consult syllabi and talk to instructors to find out what is required for a particular zachyot.

Exams (ekzameny) are traditionally oral in Russia, with students choosing a topic for discussion at random from a number of cards. After a brief preparation period students present their topic and receive a grade.  At Smolny, written papers have almost completely superseded the oral exam, but many students may have written examinations or be required to explain and defend their paper orally to the professor. In some instances, traditional oral exams still take place.

The doklad is an oral report on a subject usually assigned by an instructur and presented to the class. It is often part of the final grade for an exam or paper. Whereas in the U.S. students often have note cards to prompt themselves on their subject, Russian students are traditionally allowed to read verbatim a speech prepared at home; in some instances this can mean simply reading one's paper to the class.

Examination Period

Russian education law requires that each semester be followed by an examination period that lasts a month or more. These examination sessions fit in with the traditional Russian system of education in which students need only complete an oral exam to fulfill the requirements for a course. A schedule of examinations is drawn up and approved by the rector of the University and is made public several weeks before the examination period begins. The first week is usually for zachyoti, followed by four weeks for actual exams.

In order to accomodate the U.S. academic calendar, the Bard-Smolny Program officially ends well before the end of the exam period. Visiting international students may need to consult with their professor and the Dean of International Students to ensure that any exams can be taken before the program ends.