Tourism student Jørgen Sakshaug (20) at Høgskulen på Vestlandet (HVL) had not had an exam since first year at secondary school. Before Christmas, he entered the exam room again, with considerably less exam training than previous first-year students. – I was a little unsure of how it was going to go. But I felt I had good control over the syllabus, and that I was going to stand. Despite nerves, the exam went quite smoothly for Sakshaug. He got both B’s and C’s in his exams. And all right, it may look as if it has gone well for most of the new students. Several universities and colleges state that the grade point average for first-year students is relatively similar or somewhat lower compared to previous years. The same applies to the failure rate. Examination results for first-year students At the University of Oslo, the failure rate for first-year students is 3.9 per cent in the autumn, and 3.1 per cent in the autumn of 2019. At Høgskulen på Vestlandet, the pass percentage for 19-year-olds was 12.9 per cent and the average grade 2.94 in the autumn. In autumn 2019, the failure rate was 12.3 per cent and the average grade 3.06. At UiT – Norway’s Arctic University, the difference in grades is so small that there is no difference between this year’s cohort and previous ones when it comes to grades. At the Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU, the students who started in the autumn of 2022 had a slightly lower grade point average than in previous years. At the same time, the failure rate in the autumn was 6.41 per cent compared to 6.57 per cent in 2019. Pro-rector for education at NTNU, Marit Reitan, believes that the number is within what they can call natural variation. On joint exams in anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, the students do on average as well as before the pandemic, writes Nokut in a press release. The passing percentage was somewhat higher, and there were a record number of top grades. – I think people learned to work independently during the corona since the quality of home education was poorer, believes Sakshaug. Tourism student Jørgen Sakshaug is satisfied with the exam results of his first exam at the university. Photo: Sondre Dalaker / news Fairly similar failure rate At the University of Western Norway, the failure rate for 19-year-olds is 0.6 percentage points higher than in the autumn before the pandemic. The grade point average was 0.12 grade points lower. That’s what Vice Chancellor for Education Anne-Grethe Naustdal at the University of Western Norway is pleased with. – We were very worried that it would be tough for them when they didn’t have an exam from secondary school, but it turns out that it has gone better than we might have expected. Thousands of students have completed their entire further education without a single exam. Study centers expected increased mental pressure for students who have never taken an exam before. Several universities and colleges have offered courses to calm students’ nerves. But Naustdal believes, in common with Sakshaug, that the corona students have learned to work more independently in their further studies. She believes, among other things, that the home school has seen greater demands to structure the weekday itself. The University of Western Norway, campus Sogndal. Photo: Sondre Dalaker Informed well in advance Thomas Mikkelsen is a study advisor at the University of Western Norway and has helped develop the preparation material for the exam. He did not experience that the students were more stressed about exams this autumn than in previous exam periods. – Exams are for many a tense situation anyway. He refers to the Students’ health and well-being survey, which shows that roughly the same number of students were plagued by exam anxiety in the spring of 2018 as in the spring of 2022. Mikkelsen says that the university has been active in the autumn in informing the students about the practical aspects of exams and mastering exams. The students have had trial exams in advance and the student advisers have been available with tips and tricks. – I think that this can help to make the exam experience a little better when it comes to completion and achievements. He says that the university will continue with the offer of passing exams. – Must be nervous In the spring, Sakshaug in Sogndal only has home exams. This form of examination calms the nerves just as much as the examination experiences from the autumn. Jørgen Sakshaug believes that the corona students have acquired better study habits during the corona. Are young people too worried? – No, I don’t think so. I think one should be a little nervous before the exam. It must feel important, says Sakshaug and adds – There is an uncertainty about going into something for the first time, like everything else in life.
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The grades for the corona students are pretty much the same as before – news Vestland
