Meeting those exchange students last semester who had read my posts in their research of MCU got me to thinking. “I really should write some more info on the university here for future exchange students” I thought to myself. So here we go. In this post I will explain how Ming Chuan University conducts mid-terms and finals.
Unlike the way I’m used to in America, where you just go to class as usual and your professor gives you a test, MCU has a very different  testing method. In fact, there are no regularly scheduled classes during mid-terms week or finals week at MCU.
Students are assigned a day, time, classroom, seat number, and time limit for each of the mid-terms or finals they have. When the appointed day and time arrive the student needs to be sitting in the assigned seat in the assigned classroom. Proctors hand you the test paper you are supposed to take and after completing it you hand it back to them. MCU uses this method to guard against cheating by keeping all people that are writing the same test separated.
Students learn their test schedule the week before mid-terms week and finals week. To find your schedule simply log-in, using your student number and password, on MCU’s website. Then, click open the “”Student System” link. Once you are on the Student System page, click on the “Exam Schedule/ Location Query and Final Make-up Exam Application” link. It’ll pull up all the information you’ll need to know for when and where to take your tests.
Besides taking your tests you have nothing else to do mid-terms and finals weeks. That means if you finish your last mid-term by Wednesday you are free until the following Monday.
Be aware, some professors don’t like to use this testing method and will instead have you take their mid-term or final during class the week before the official testing week. All the professors I’ve ever had who have done this give students a few weeks notice to prepare.
At first I didn’t like MCU’s testing method. It is kind of annoying to go all the way to the university just to write an 80 minute test. On the other hand I really like the long weekends this system provides…most of my testing weeks have finished by Wednesday. For folks who really like to cram for tests it is also a good system as it allows you to completely focus on cramming for each test before taking it without having to worry about attending classes.
I have no idea how many Taiwanese universities use this method but I know it isn’t all. Emily’s university, NTNU, has in-class mid-terms and finals just like universities in the United States.
A few rules to remember when taking mid-terms and finals at Ming Chuan University:
- Turn your cell phone off or on vibrate – if it rings during testing the proctor is supposed to take your test away and basically cause you to fail the test.
- Remember to bring your student ID card to each test – if you don’t you won’t be allowed to take your test.
- Even if you finish your test you are not allowed to leave until at least 15 minutes has passed after the beginning of the testing period.
- You will not be allowed to take your test if you are more then 15 minutes late.
- Writing utensils are not provided. Remember to bring your own pens and pencils.
Each professor decides how much weight to place on each test. However, MCU encourages teachers to place quite a bit of a semester’s grade on mid-terms and finals. While some teachers will vary the weight most will follow MCU’s encouragement and place 30% to 40% of the semester grade on each test. That means that for most classes you take at MCU 60-80% of your grade will be based on your mid-term and final. Don’t be frightened by this though. MCU is still trying to “find their way” with international students and consequently English ability varies very, very widely in International College classes. Because of this wide range of English abilities, professors are forced to find some type of balance between being “generous” with students with poor English and “easy” on students with good English. Again, this is the rule but there are exceptions.
Hope this helps. If you have opinions on MCU’s testing method feel free to share. I’d love to hear it.
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