As the exam period is getting closer, I thought I would share with you how assessment works at KTH! Evaluation methods can differ a lot from one country to the other, so it’s good to know what awaits you if you decide to study in Sweden. Spoiler: if you are looking for a hands-on education with lots of practical activities, then you have come to the right place!
Assignments
In my own experience, the majority of courses include some compulsory assignments as part of the evaluation method. Typically, you are required to solve some problems in groups or individually and deliver your solution to the professor, who then evaluates it and (hopefully) gives you bonus points on the final exam. In my opinion, not only does this makes studying for the final exam way easier (as you are encouraged to study a bit every day, to keep up with assignment work), but it also makes studying much more rewarding! You have some instant feedback and an opportunity to face interesting challenges, as the assignments are often structured around some “bigger” problems that require you to take into account most of the topics explained by the professor.
Projects
Having to deliver a project is also a very common way to end a course. Typically, you’ll have to deal with group projects, but sometimes individual work may be assigned too. What I really like about the projects is that you acquire some valuable experience to put in your curriculum, and you also learn a lot of “soft skills” that come in handy in every work situation – and not only there. Plus, you get to know new people and build a lot of memories!
Exams
Although KTH offers very practical education, the good old written/oral exams are still a relevant part of the evaluation method. But hey, this is good! Combining exams, assignments and projects makes it easier for the professors to evaluate your understanding of the subject at 360 degrees, which is awesome – everyone hates it when you study for months and then get a bad mark because the day of the exam you weren’t in your top condition, right? Also, thanks to the assignments that you’ll probably have, you are very likely to arrive at the exam period already well-prepared and with a good overall idea of the subject: it will just be a matter of connecting the dots.
Overall, I really like the mixing of evaluation methods at KTH. I think that not only this combination makes you grow a lot as a student, but it also makes education more stress-free. At least for me, knowing that you are evaluated under different aspects and that it will not be a two-hour exam to decide the outcome of three months of studying, really makes me feel more relaxed!
Thank you for reading this blog post. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any further questions, and don’t forget to check out KTH on Instagram and subscribe to the KTH newsletter!
See you in the next post!
// Lorenzo