Assessments

2. For M.Med.Sc (physiology) course

Assessments

The first year is structured and the summative examination is held near the end of the first year. The second year consists of supervised research and thesis write-up. If the candidate is successful in orally defending his/her thesis by the end of second year at the earliest or by the end of fourth year at the latest, he/she is to be awarded the MMedSc (Physiology) degree.

The First Year Examination

Formative assessment

This is to be done throughout the course by the faculty and by the Course Supervisors with competency-based assessmentfor presentation and participation in seminars/ experiments and written confidential reports on attendance, the quality and timely submission of assignments, and participation in other academic activities like journal reading.

All the submitted written assignments, the photocopies of journal articles discussed in the journal clubs in which the candidate had participated, and all other relevant materials covered during the course and practical records should be filed  as an annex to the log book, complete with table of contents. This is to be submitted to the Chairman of the Board of Studies, after duly verified and signed by the course supervisors. Competency-based assessment records are also examined. Only if the academic record is satisfactory (more than 75% of total score), is the candidate eligible to sit for the Promotion Examination.

Summative assessment (Promotion Examination)

The final examination is held one calendar year from the beginning of the course (during December if the course begins in January of the same year), and it consists of six papers, Papers I to VI. The student is to submit the log book and its annex file to the Board of examiners on the day of examination of Paper VI. The duration of examination is 6 days: one day each for six papers.

Papers I to V

These 5 papers are 3 hour written papers. Each paper comprises Sections A and B. Each section contains 5 MCQs (minus system carried over) and Essay type questions (and problems for Statistics in Paper V).Separate answer sheet for MCQs (Sections A and B combined) to be collected 30 minutes after the starting time at the latest. Essay type question paper is to be given to the candidate only after collecting the MCQ question and answer sheets.Any TWO essay type questions out of THREE from EACH section are to be answered, and a separate answer book is to be used for each section.

Components of Papers I to V

Paper I:    Section A:   Gastrointestinal Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism

                 Section B:   Blood Physiology

Paper II: Section A:    Cardiovascular Physiology

                 Section B:   Physiology of Respiration

Paper III: Section A:   Renal Physiology and Body Fluids

                 Section B:   Endocrinology and Physiology of Reproduction

Paper IV: Section A:   Biophysics, Molecular, Environmental and Work Physiology

                 Section B:   Neurophysiology

Paper V: Section A:   History of Medicine & Physiology

Section B:                   Research Methodology and Biostatistics

     (The invigilator is to hand out statistical tables to the candidate on request)

Distribution of marks for Papers I to V

• 100 marks for each paper. For each of the two sections: 50 marks:
• 5 MCQs : 10 marks
• 2 Essay questions : 40 marks (20 marks for each)

Assessment criteria for essay type questions

Not only the recall of facts but the grasp of concepts and their historical perspectives, the ability to organize facts, synthesize and present relevant information clearly and concisely, an approach to the topic (question) and             its relevance, and critical mindedness are also evaluated

Paper VI: Experimental Physiology(Competency-based assessment)

Components

Section 1:This comprises 3 components:

           

Station A: Assessment of cognitive and analytical skill

This is to be done by 1/2 hour written paper. This is to be followed by

Station B and C: Assessment of organizational, psychomotor and interpretative skill

This is executed by means of Object ive-Structured Practical Examination (OSPE).

Each student is to go through a battery of tests made up of 2 components each of 30 min duration. Thus the duration of these components is 60 min. comprising two 30 min. objective-structured stations.  Lots are to be drawn, and assessor/s will be present at each station with marking schemes as guidelines for evaluation.

Therefore, one set = 3 stations = 3 candidates in 1.5 hr (90 min) and that are to be followed by a viva voce examination.

Section 2:Viva voce examination

Viva voce is held for all candidates to assess

1. the candidate’s grasp of background theoretical knowledge and the underlying principles/pitfalls/status of techniques related to the experiments/tests he/she had performed;
2. interrelated aspects of  Physiology as a biomedical and health science, and
3. the attitudinal aspects.

Time limit: 40 minutes maximum for ordinary candidates and 60 minutes maximum for borderline or exceptionally good students.

Assessment criteria

Good laboratory practice is an essential prerequisite for experiments to be carried out later throughout his/her career. Communication, either written or oral on the findings of the experiment and their significance is also an essential prerequisite. As such, assessment criteria for paper VI are

• Organization of materials for experimental setup to solve the problem in  question
• Proper handling /operation of instruments/equipments/animals
• Ethical treatment of human subjects
• Correct design and procedure/neatness
• Proper recording/calculation of observations/data
• Inference/Interpretative skill/integration  with theory
• Report writing
• Effective communication
• Logical, systematic and critical thinking process
• Attitudinal aspects

The pass marks is 60 per cent.

Pass/fail criteria

Pass

Papers I to V:     Score of 60% or above in each of the five papers.

Paper VI:.          The candidate must satisfy the examiners in all three components. If not, he/she is to re-sit for Paper VI.

Pass with credit

A score of 65% in all six papers plus a score of 75% or above in any of the six papers.

The candidate must satisfy the examiners in the OSPE and viva voce that he/she is of sufficient calibre worthy of credit.

(Note: The credit is to be given on the condition that the thesis presentation and defence is also worthy of credit).

Fail with compartmental privileges

Of 6 papers, a candidate must obtain pass marks (60%) in at least 3 papers, and at least 40 % in the remaining papers to enjoy compartmental privilege.

Fail without compartmental privileges

If a candidate fails to obtain pass marks in at least 3 papers (i.e. 50% of total papers), or if a candidate fails to obtain less than 40% in any of the 6 papers, he/she is to re-sit for all six papers.

Supplementary examination

There are two supplementary examinations for the students who fail the regular examination. These will be held between 6 weeks and 6 months after the regular examination, depending on the number of papers failed and on the candidate’s progress.

Number of attempts

This is restricted to two. This means if the candidate fails in both regular and supplementary examinations, the candidature is to be terminated (2F system).

The M.Med.Sc. Thesis Examination

Thesis submission

This is to be done not earlier than end of second year and not later than 4 years after the commencement of the course.

1. On approval of the supervisor and the Chairman of the Board of Studies of the Course, six copies of the thesis, written in a format recommended by the University, should be submitted in ring binder to the Board of Studies of Physiology.
2. The Board of Studies of Physiology should meet to select the Board of Examiners and to propose the examination date to the Academic Board of the Institute.
3. Upon approval of the Academic Board, the Registrar’s office is to send copies of the thesis in sealed envelopes to examiners at least 6 weeks before the oral examination.

Thesis assessment

Assessment of submitted Thesis

The thesis, which must be written in a format recommended by the University, should make some contribution towards scientific knowledge of the discipline, and generate at least one-author research paper publishable in scientific journals. Assessment should be based on the following:

1. a scientific and rational approach in solving the research  problem
2. a critical, adequate, and up-to-date review of relevant  literature
3. appropriate experiment design
4. validity of the methods/techniques used
5. application of appropriate statistical methods
6. appropriate use of text, tables and figures in presentation of results
7. unbiased logical discussion on the significance of  results and their significance/implications
8. ability to draw relevant conclusions
1. proper citation and referencing of literature

Assessment of oral defence

The candidate is expected to defend most if not all aspects of his/her work, and also demonstrate adequate knowledge of the related theoretical background, and systematic, logical and critical thinking process. The candidate must bring the log book and other relevant materials such as raw and analysed data and original journals/monographs or their photocopies cited in the thesis. Competency-based assessment forms from supervisor must also be presented to the Board members.

Criteria for pass/fail/credit/distinction

A score of

• 60% is considered as passed (thesis accepted with or without minor amendments)
• 75% is considered as passed with credit (average with first year result)
• 80% is considered as passed with distinction (average with first year result)

Candidates who failed to score 60% in the examination must rewrite and submit their thesis within 6 months.

Award of degree

The degree of Master of Medical Science in Physiology will be conferred to a candidate who has passed the first year examination and whose thesis has been accepted as satisfactory by the Board of examiners.

3. For Ph.D. (Physiology) course

Assessment

Oral Examination for Defence of Thesis

Thesis submission

Towards the end of third year but not later than the end of fourth year:

• The Postgraduate Academic Board of Studies (Physiology) should meet to select the Board of Examiners and to propose the examination date to the Academic Board of the Institute.
• The thesis in ring binder should be submitted only on approval of the supervisor.
• The thesis submission is to be made to examiners by the registrar's office in sealed envelopes at least 4 weeks before the oral examination.

Thesis assessment

Assessment of submitted Thesis

Evaluation is to be done by the Board of Examiners on:

• The quality of the thesis (preferably the thesis is of such quality as to generate at least one first author papers publishable in peer-reviewed biomedical journals)
• The candidate's oral defence of his/her thesis and his/her knowledge on the relevant theoretical background

• a scientific and rational approach in solving the research problem
• a critical, adequate, and up-to-date review of relevant literature
• appropriate experiment design
• validity of the methods/techniques used
• application of appropriate statistical methods
• appropriate use of text, tables and figures in presentation of results
• unbiased logical discussion on the significance of  results and their significance/implications
• ability to draw relevant conclusions,
• proper citation and referencing of literature
• competency-based assessment forms

Examination results

If the submitted thesis is satisfactory,

• Award of degree
• Award of degree but minor amendments to be made to the thesis. The examiners can deputize one on them to check whether the amendments have been made.

If the submitted thesis is unsatisfactory, the examiners shall meet on the day of the examination.

• The candidate is permitted to revise and resubmit the thesis in revised form.
• On reaching the consensus that the thesis is not acceptable, the candidate fails without having to undergo viva voice examination.

Award of degree

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Physiology will be conferred to a candidate whose thesis has been accepted as satisfactory by the Board of examiners.