Sophomore Exam to Test History Honors Candidates

General examinations in the Department of History have been changed extensively, Myron P. Gilmore, chairman of the Department, announced yesterday. Under the new plan, sophomores will take Part I of the general examination to test their qualifications as candidates for Honors.

"The test will be the principal factor in determining whether a student can continue in Honors," Gilmore commented. Tutors' reports, rank listing, and tutorial essays will continue as subordinate qualification tests.

Sophomore tutorial has also been revised to accord with the new plan. Starting with the Class of 1961, all sophomores will join tutorial groups discussing the philosophy of history--formerly studied in junior year tutorial. History 99, tutorial for credit, will be offered during the junior and senior years.

Part I of the general examination centers on sophomore tutorial and "the student's general knowledge of historical writing." In previous years, Honors candidates took Part I during the junior year, while non-Honors students took the test at the end of the senior year.

More Objective Basis

Gilmore noted that the sophomore test would "provide a more objective basis for choosing Honors candidates." He also stated that those students who fail to make Honors during the junior year will still have some "escape hatches" available for rejoining the Honors program.

Parts II and III of the general examination remain unchanged. Part II, which tests a student's general historical knowledge outside his area, will be taken by Honors juniors and non-Honors seniors; Part III, based upon a student's period of concentration, will be given to Honors seniors.

The question of tutorial for non-Honors juniors is still under Departmental discussion. "We are considering a variety of proposals," Gilmore stated, "but no plan has yet been adopted. However, compulsory non-Honors tutorial has definitely been eliminated."