Off Campus Exam centres....What a Load of bollox!

Wanders_fan

Ok no there is a need for these exams centres cause of lack of space but do they need to be so far away and a balls to get to?for example i'm in the race course!the ****ing race course! i hear ppl complaining bout gmit,thats only over half way the distance to the racecourse.i'm not trying to change anyting just needed somewhee to vent bout this stupid idiotic idea of having an exam miles from college in a horse track!Its stupid could dey not find somewhere nearer? i no the radisson has a huge function hall thats probably free this monday morning!:mad:

leninbenjamin

someone stole Leisureland from them so that's why everyone is stuck out in the race course. look on the positive side side, for most people this is the only time they'll take to see something else of the city other than the usual Corrib village/Student accom, campus and shop street.

the examinations office are a bunch of tools though. everything is done in the way it is to make their lives easier...

Wanders_fan

yeah i heard bout leisurland which is a pity as i'm like a 20minute walk from der its a close as college is to me. its such a ball.there are surely hotels tho or community centres nearer to town i mean i like the race course and all,galway races are great craic but seriously ....:mad: its just so dumb seriously!is der any other weird places this year?

kevmy

Exam centres this term include Racecourse, Black Box, Mervue Community Centre and GMIT.

Lesiureland is not available but then it is usually not used at Christmas. The Tennis Club has got complaints from students so they dropped it (apparently the heating system was very loud:rolleyes:)

The main problem this year is the fact that 1st year Arts are doing exams, this puts and extra 1500 students into play. The fact that the Racecourse can accommodate 900 students was the main reason plus the fact that it is cheaper than getting Westwood, Corrib Great Southern and the Radisson along with bringing back Shantalla Community centre which they would need to do to fill the gap.

The Racecourse shouldn't be that bad the upper levels are quite nice and students will have a lovely view. There are also buses available from the archway in the college out to Racecourse and GMIT

leninbenjamin

kevmy wrote: »

Lesiureland is not available but then it is usually not used at Christmas. The Tennis Club has got complaints from students so they dropped it (apparently the heating system was very loud:rolleyes:)

awww for fuck sake... those inconsiderate pricks. the Tennis courts were ridiculously handy for me. 5 minutes travelling instead of the minimum 2 hours it would take me to get to the racecourse and back. aving said that I'm extremely lucky I guess in that i don't have exams in the race course, but I know people who live as far west as me who do.

the worst exam hall for noise anyway is the Blackbox. the garage door thing at the back of the hall isn't properly sealed. you can hear every car that drives past as it your were standing by the road outside if your unlucky enough to be sitting near it.

I still find it ridiculous as well that almost ALL the external venues are now on the east side of the City. are they still using the Galway Bay this session? i haven't had one there since 1st year.

life would be so much easier if they allocated the venues by students proximity instead of class groupings... I can't see how it would add that much more of a burden?

kevmy

leninbenjamin wrote: »

the worst exam hall for noise anyway is the Blackbox. the garage door thing at the back of the hall isn't properly sealed. you can hear every car that drives past as it your were standing by the road outside if your unlucky enough to be sitting near it.

I still find it ridiculous as well that almost ALL the external venues are now on the east side of the City. are they still using the Galway Bay this session? i haven't had one there since 1st year.

life would be so much easier if they allocated the venues by students proximity instead of class groupings... I can't see how it would add that much more of a burden?

Blackbox is pretty nasty for most involved but it holds nearly 400 students so they won't get rid of it. It's too hot during summer and cold during the winter. Galway Bay I'm pretty sure they aren't using at Christmas it might be back for summer. Leisureland will defo be back. As will some of the other hotels I'd imagine.

As for allocating venues by student proximity not a chance. It's already pretty complicated for invigilators and lecturers. All scripts have to be accounted for and sealed before the students are allowed to leave. They are then shipped back to the exams office who then have to give them to the lecturer unopened. Also lecturers also only have to visit one exam hall on the day under the present system.
Your method would involve a quadrupling of the paperwork at least and cause more mistakes which would eventually affect students the worst.

Wanders_fan

kevmy wrote: »

Exam centres this term include Racecourse, Black Box, Mervue Community Centre and GMIT.

Lesiureland is not available but then it is usually not used at Christmas. The Tennis Club has got complaints from students so they dropped it (apparently the heating system was very loud:rolleyes:)

The main problem this year is the fact that 1st year Arts are doing exams, this puts and extra 1500 students into play. The fact that the Racecourse can accommodate 900 students was the main reason plus the fact that it is cheaper than getting Westwood, Corrib Great Southern and the Radisson along with bringing back Shantalla Community centre which they would need to do to fill the gap.

The Racecourse shouldn't be that bad the upper levels are quite nice and students will have a lovely view. There are also buses available from the archway in the college out to Racecourse and GMIT

yeah i no boutthe bus but that don't mke it any easier and i no its not easy sorting all this out but honestly for those of us living in rahoon its a total ball.black box isn't awful and u don't no loud til u've sat an exam in that shed(sports hall)in GMIT during hail stone.It was like a scene from Twister all we were missing last year was helen hunt!

Toto Wolfcastle

Wanders_fan wrote: »

yeah i no boutthe bus but that don't mke it any easier and i no its not easy sorting all this out but honestly for those of us living in rahoon its a total ball.black box isn't awful and u don't no loud til u've sat an exam in that shed(sports hall)in GMIT during hail stone.It was like a scene from Twister all we were missing last year was helen hunt!

Ah balls, I'm in black box and GMIT. Looks like I should source some ear plugs. By the way, I have no idea where the Black box is. Is it near the Omniplex?

I'm annoyed because I'm going to have to get up so early to get to college in time for the 8 bus to GMIT (I'm in Rahoon), instead of getting some much needed sleep. Plus there's the whole travel sickness thing, which happens to me when I haven't eaten, and I wont have because I cant eat in the morning or I get sick. I swear, this college does not want me to pass. I actually can't believe NUIG students have to sit exams in the sports hall of another college.

For my undergrad (not in Galway) the furthest I had to go was 3 minutes walk down the road from the college.

King John V

" I'm in black box and GMIT. Looks like I should source some ear plugs. By the way, I have no idea where the Black box is. Is it near the Omniplex? "

It's just beside it alright. I certainly can't complain - 4 in gmit and 1 in the race course, all closer to home than nuig. Should cut down on morning traffic at least:).

Toto Wolfcastle

It's just beside it alright. I certainly can't complain - 4 in gmit and 1 in the race course, all closer to home than nuig. Should cut down on morning traffic at least:)

Lucky for some! Except not really, you have 5 exams?? :eek:

I only have two....well, 4 subjects, but 2 exams. Oh and thanks for the info.

still_raining

Out in the racecourse myself aswell. Anyone know how they're planning on getting 900 students out there every day with only 2 bus times scheduled per exam??

leninbenjamin

still_raining wrote: »

Out in the racecourse myself aswell. Anyone know how they're planning on getting 900 students out there every day with only 2 bus times scheduled per exam??

I predict chaos. it'll be fun to see how it pans out.

oh and Janeybabe26, i had an exam session with 8 exams timetabled. 5 is piss easy, that's what i have. the usual is 6.

King John V

6 exams actually. The other one is in nuig so I'm not too bothered about that. Have you got that aba exam aswell on Tuesday?

King John V

wow:eek: 8 exams. that must be a record. i've never heard of more than 6. are they 2 or 3 hours?

Toto Wolfcastle

leninbenjamin wrote: »

I predict chaos. it'll be fun to see how it pans out.

oh and Janeybabe26, i had an exam session with 8 exams timetabled. 5 is piss easy, that's what i have. the usual is 6.

I've never had Christmas exams before, and it seems I'm getting off light. I didn't even have Christmas exams in Secondary School. The principal thought it was mean to ruin Christmas with exams.

King John V wrote: »

6 exams actually. The other one is in nuig so I'm not too bothered about that. Have you got that aba exam aswell on Tuesday?

Nope! I'm not doing actual proper behavioural psych. I'm doing it as part of the Dip. And it is the biggest waste of my time! (Mainly because I have no idea what the lecturer is on about!)

King John V

Skinner and all that stuff...nice.

UnitedIrishman

****ing dreading the trip over to the racecourse so might just kip with a few lads in Glann na Ri and borrow one of their cars to go up. Luckily enough I only have one 9.30 start, the other three are at 2.30.

What I'm hating most though is the fact my last exam is on Friday at 2.30 and having to wait around....(and not being able to go out on Thursday night to finish the semester..no consideration!!!)

genericgoon

/me is thankful for first science's lack of proper exams.

Ours are just done during class/lab time or on blackboard. Excellent.

witnessmenow

Your complaining about one exam out there! I've 4 out there! 8 exams is a joke alright, i had that last year. Only 5 this year... lucky me

King John V

Just out of interest: what course has 8 exams in one session? Thanks.

leninbenjamin

King John V wrote: »

Just out of interest: what course has 8 exams in one session? Thanks.

it was 1st Arts, but i think they've gotten rid of it this year. I was lucky in that mine were spread out over the 4 week summer session, but i know some who had theirs practically all over with midway through the second week (usually had one straggler in the third or 4th for some reason). as soft as 1st year exams are that's still a tough session.

witnessmenow

Is this not the first year arts has had any exams at Christmas? I know neither of my 2 house mates doing arts in first year had exams. Electronic engineering has (correct me if I'm wrong here, i might be one to many) 9 exams at Christmas in 2nd year, and Electronic and computer has 8.


EDIT: sorry just seen you said it was in the summer. having loads at Christmas is way worse. 1 study week compared to 3 in the summer, only 2 weeks to do the exams compared to nearly 4 in the summer. Not that I'm saying 8 in the summer is nice either mind you!!

Toto Wolfcastle

leninbenjamin wrote: »

it was 1st Arts, but i think they've gotten rid of it this year. I was lucky in that mine were spread out over the 4 week summer session, but i know some who had theirs practically all over with midway through the second week (usually had one straggler in the third or 4th for some reason). as soft as 1st year exams are that's still a tough session.

8 for summer exams is fair enough. For first arts though? That's a bit mean. I think I had 4 or 5 in 1st Arts in UCC. In my final year I had 7 or 8. A friend of mine in UCC had 11 exams last year. (He's not an Arts student, something to do with health and government I think!)

I still think that Christmas exams are cruel. How am I supposed to get excited about Santy if I'm studying? (Well, I'm not actually studying!)

witnessmenow

8 is alot but remeber that they didnt have any exams at christmas that year

Wanders_fan

still_raining wrote: »

Out in the racecourse myself aswell. Anyone know how they're planning on getting 900 students out there every day with only 2 bus times scheduled per exam??

What happens if ur left stranded cuz the bus is full?is anything u can do?surely they have to provide something? can't believe they aren't taking bookings its a joke!

Toto Wolfcastle

Where do the buses go from? Is it by the archway that leads into the Aula?

ethernet

Wanders_fan wrote: »

What happens if ur left stranded cuz the bus is full?is anything u can do?surely they have to provide something? can't believe they aren't taking bookings its a joke!

I'd say have the numbers for a few taxi firms saved in your phonebook. Don't intend to use this service unless I have no other choice.

kevmy

janeybabe26 wrote: »

I still think that Christmas exams are cruel. How am I supposed to get excited about Santy if I'm studying? (Well, I'm not actually studying!)

No offence meant here but grow up. All exams are finished on the 14th at the latest leaving 2 weeks till Christmas. Every college in the country has exams at the end of the first semester (some 1st years don't have to do them but they're the exception). A lot of colleges don't have first semester exams until after the Christmas in early Jan which means you have to study during the Christmas. Now thats sh1t!!



As for buses AFAIK there are 2 times but multiple buses. 900 students means at most 450 students on buses from NUIG. Thats about 9 buses at most.

Toto Wolfcastle

kevmy wrote: »

No offence meant here but grow up. All exams are finished on the 14th at the latest leaving 2 weeks till Christmas. Every college in the country has exams at the end of the first semester (some 1st years don't have to do them but they're the exception). A lot of colleges don't have first semester exams until after the Christmas in early Jan which means you have to study during the Christmas. Now thats sh1t!!



As for buses AFAIK there are 2 times but multiple buses. 900 students means at most 450 students on buses from NUIG. Thats about 9 buses at most.

No offence, but try and get your facts straight. I went to UCC for 3 years, and not once did I have a Christmas exam. They don't do official Christmas exams there. You might get the odd one in class, but nothing major. And I never had them after Christmas either. Anyway, I was actually kind of joking. Maybe I should have used a smiley. Or one of these Anyway, my course requires that I am here until the 21st! (But that's nothing to do with the exams.)

And not once did I have to stand in the cold for half an hour waiting for a bus to bring me to the other side of the city like I had to this morning. I got there at 7.45 to go to GMIT. Two buses arrived for the racecourse, then more arrived for the racecourse, then more again. No one seemed to know which bus we'd be going on. We asked 4 or 5 people and we were pointed towards random buses. Eventually, after everyone else had left, we piled onto a mini bus. I don't know what happened with the people who were let on the bus only to find that there were no seats and had to get off again.

Also, the driver said he'd pick us up at half 12, even though the exam was over at half 11. He had to be told this by a student. It was highly disorganised. It seemed like they were playing it by ear.

I was glad that the service was available, but it seems that it could have been organised better. I think they understimated the amount of people who would turn up to go to the racecourse. They sent about 6 buses.

kevmy

janeybabe26 wrote: »

No offence, but try and get your facts straight. I went to UCC for 3 years, and not once did I have a Christmas exam. They don't do official Christmas exams there. You might get the odd one in class, but nothing major. And I never had them after Christmas either. Anyway, I was actually kind of joking. Maybe I should have used a smiley. Or one of these Anyway, my course requires that I am here until the 21st! (But that's nothing to do with the exams.)

UCC must be the exception to the rule then. I'll rephrase to say most colleges.

janeybabe26 wrote: »

And not once did I have to stand in the cold for half an hour waiting for a bus to bring me to the other side of the city like I had to this morning. I got there at 7.45 to go to GMIT. Two buses arrived for the racecourse, then more arrived for the racecourse, then more again. No one seemed to know which bus we'd be going on. We asked 4 or 5 people and we were pointed towards random buses. Eventually, after everyone else had left, we piled onto a mini bus. I don't know what happened with the people who were let on the bus only to find that there were no seats and had to get off again.

Also, the driver said he'd pick us up at half 12, even though the exam was over at half 11. He had to be told this by a student. It was highly disorganised. It seemed like they were playing it by ear.

I was glad that the service was available, but it seems that it could have been organised better. I think they understimated the amount of people who would turn up to go to the racecourse. They sent about 6 buses.

I can believe that. It probably should be better but then it's one of the first years they've done this.

Toto Wolfcastle

kevmy wrote: »

UCC must be the exception to the rule then. I'll rephrase to say most colleges.

Ya, I believe that most colleges do exams of some sort at Christmas, depending on the department/course.

kevmy wrote: »

I can believe that. It probably should be better but then it's one of the first years they've done this.

I think that it might have been a good idea to have more that 2 people there coordinating things. One was looking after taxis, the other was kind of walking around. There were a lot of confused people, and the bus drivers themselves did not know where they were going to be going. I think that if they had gotten a rough estimate of how many people were planning on using the service it might have been a good idea. Having said that, I was getting the bus on the first morning of the exams, so perhaps things improved after that. And anyway, I got there in the end. Now to focus on getting to the Black Box!

oneofakind32

It has to be said the killanin stand is the ideal set up. Three exam hall's on 3 levels, catering and plenty of space on the first floor to hang around, a lot better then standing outside the tennis courts on a december morning. They also have made it very easy to find your seat no. on the way in and the view from the top floor.

witnessmenow

^^^^^^^^^

I second this, great set up. The wind was very noisy one of the days i was there.

Lockstep

Does anyone know where we buy the bus tickets?

I presume we buy them at the bus but I'm not sure

thanks

Toto Wolfcastle

kickoutthejams wrote: »

Does anyone know where we buy the bus tickets?

I presume we buy them at the bus but I'm not sure

thanks

Well you pay on the bus, but you don't get tickets! Well I didn't anyway! So I'm not sure how that works when you want to get the bus back to college. (I got a lift back)

Wanders_fan

u py 3 euro getting on at the quad and just stroll back on at the race course u don't have to pay or anything

Tar.Aldarion

I have had three in the race course so far, next in gMIT.
Luckily I get a lift in a friends car, otherwise it would be hell on the bus.

big_show

new record! had 8 for winter and 9 in summer back in 2nd year electronic and computer engineering, got through them, not with my sanity sadly...

Tar.Aldarion

I was right there with you sugar.

5 exams in 4 days hurt. Then having to do 4 more. What a bitch.