One of the primary reasons for an examination in any subject is, or should be, that it affords a means of testing a student's comprehensive knowledge and showing him his weakness in that particular line of work. As the examination system is carried on now, however, a great part of this aim is lost. Merely the marks received in an examination are announced with no comment on the individual's work; his errors are not pointed out; and the reasons for the mark, which every man has a right to know on his own paper, remain unknown.

No constructive help is gained by a system of this kind. It could be remedied, however, by having the instructor give back the examination papers and go over them in class, explaining the mistakes. In some, and only some, cases now, a student may look over his paper by making a special appointment with the professor; but this entails so much trouble for both and is so difficult an arrangement that it is only used in exceptional cases. It would not be time wasted to have one preceptorial period. --Daily Princetonian.