Gutted

Yes yes yes I'm aware I have been sparse on the writing scene the past week but this is merely because I'm actually getting some writing action done for my ACTUAL important papers.

The last day of lectures was May 8. And now I'm in the middle of taking the final, finals.. the very last things I have to do here. I've been out of lectures for nearly A MONTH and everyone is finishing over the next week or two. MY last exam, however, is JUNE 12TH. June bloody 12th people! The very last day any student will have any reason to be on campus. Boo. 

A "first" (an A) in any paper OR exam is a 70 percent+ but some of professors (yes plural) told us they've never in their teaching life issued anything over an 80% (definitely not 100) and some.. never issue over 70%.  

APPARENTLY it has to be "good enough to be published in the textbooks" for it to be anywhere near that high. Or so they say. Also all exams are designed by the high high high head university 'test designer' so there is no "curve" and you definitely can't ask for one or suggest it even though we are all studying our asses off for the highest average mark (around the 60's which is pretty high..considering you can see the marks of all students and most rank in the 50s) and its completely unfair that an 100 or even a 90%, is either impossible and/or UNREACHABLE. Ugh. Angers me. 

My exam last semester was in some big sports center. Not connected to the university. This first one this semester, in the Cardiff City Hall. Also, not connected to the university. Both huuuge echo-y rooms with about 300 seats organized by row and number. First you have to find your seat # in a DIFFERENT room and when you finally get to the EXAM room you have to fill out an identification card on top of that which is this application-y form that asks your course name/number, your ID name/number, venue name/number, seat number, etc etc etc.. You aren't allowed in without your student ID but first you have to leave all jackets, backpacks, and purses in a pile at the back wall.  Crazy! 

Then we sit and there is this ominous godlike voice over this enormous room. It states our instructions. The formality of the English never ceases to impress me. I sware if I was home there would just be someone in the front who would scream over us all and we would just have to sit and do whatever. But no we all sit super quietly, not one word or glance over to the next person.