§ MR. BIGGARasked the Vice President of the Committee of Council, Whether the several examiners of the South Kensington Department have absolute control over the awards of the May examinations, both as regards the preparation of the questions and the marking of the answers; whether the Paper on Theoretical Mechanics, set at the recent examinations by the Rev. J. F. Twisden, M.A. was formally approved by the Department before being printed; and, whether he can state the percentage of answering required by Mr. Twisden for, respectively, first-class and second-class pass on the several stages of his examination?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe Examiners have not absolute control over the awards of the May Examinations. They are required to prepare their questions in accordance with a syllabus laid down by the Department, and to mark the answers in accordance with instructions furnished to them. The Paper in Theoretical Mechanics was formally approved by the Department. The percentage of answering required for the several classes is fixed by the officers of the Department in concert with the Examiners, so as to keep the standard from year to year and between the different subjects as nearly as possible the same. I should add that Mr. Twisden is one of the most experienced and trustworthy Examiners of the Department.