Exam Conduct
Students must give exams in these subjects: Tagrig, Paramita, Madhyamaka, Vinaya and Abidharma during their respective classes. As for the course duration of these subjects, it is one year for Tagrig, seven years for Paramita, three years for Madhyamaka, four years for Vinaya and two years for Abidharma.
2. Distribution of Marks
In the Tagrig class, 100 marks are given for debate, 75 marks for memorization and 50 marks for the written test. In the Paramita class, out of 350 marks, debate carries 150 marks, 100 marks for memorization and 50 marks each for category A and B of the written tests. As for the Madhyamaka, Vinaya and Abidharma classes, there are no written tests for section A, and otherwise the marks’ distribution is the same as that of the Paramita class.
3. Exam Admission
All the students from the Tagrig class to the fourth year of the Vinaya course must appear for annual examinations except for those who are staff members. Apart from the reincarnated Lamas (Tulkus), who are capable and approved both by their respective tutors and the Khenpo for double class promotion per year in accordance with their performance, no ordinary monk can give more than one exam per year. Yet, those who face a shortage of attendance for medical reasons and those who fail to get the required marks for promotion, can give two exams in the coming year so that they can go along with the rest of their classmates. Any newcomer from other reputed institutions can join the same standard with approval from the Khenpo.
4. Exam Admission Requirement
The student must be a bona fide monk of this monastery, must have more than 75% debate attendance and must receive teachings from his respective teachers for the whole academic session. This student is then allowed to sit for the examination. The student who is detained in the same standard more than three years is not allowed to sit for any exams. The students of Tagrig class must have consent from the Khenpo for their first debate exam.
5. Pass Percentage
Students must score a minimum of 33% in each category – debate, written, and memorization. Any one who fails to obtain this minimum percentage is regarded as a failure even if his average score is higher than 50%. The candidates can reappear in the examination once within a month from the declaration of their results for their respective subjects.
6. Exam Result Division
There are three divisions according to their overall marks. Those who obtained above 66% are categorized in the first division; from 48% to 65% are in second division; and between 47% and 35% are categorized in third division.
7. Debate Exam
During the debate test each student above the Tagrig class gets fifteen minutes for posing questions and fifteen minutes for answering questions in front of the exam committee. Tagrig students get only ten minutes each for questions and answers. For higher class students, examiners present three different topics and they need to choose one randomly.
8. Memorization Exam
The Exam Board appoints two monks to receive the memorization exam. Students need to recite by heart the previous year’s memorization text along with the present year’s memorization text in front of these two monks where the Khenpo, Lama Zhunglenpa, Disciplinarian and Chant Master witness them. Those students who give extra memorizations of a major text, which is not part of the course, are recognized and awarded.
9. Written Exam
The Exam Board clandestinely arranges experts, either from the college itself or from outside, to make question papers and check the answer sheets. An examination number is issued to all the students and they must write it on their answer sheets during the examination.
10. Memorization Texts
Geshe Tsulrim Namgyal’s Tagrig text must be memorized during the one-year Tarig course. Panchen Sonam Dakpa’s General Explanation of Prajnaparamita must be memorized during the seven-year course of Prajnaparamita. There are also some other supplementary texts to be memorized during this period. Panchen Sonam Dakpa’s General Explanation of Madhyamaka should be memorized during the three-year course of Madhyamaka. There are also some other texts to be memorized during this period. Geshe Lobsang Tsering/Tsultrim’s Summarization of the Quintessence of Vinaya: Dispelling the Darkness of Those Wishing to be Liberated should be memorized during the four-year Vinaya course. There are some other texts to be memorized during this period. Vasubandhu’s Abhidharmakosha should be memorized during the two-year course of Abhidharma. There are also some other texts to be memorized.
11. Distribution of Marks for Written Test in Category A
For the Freshers class, there is a maximum of 50 marks for the written test, and out of that, Panchen Sonam Dakpa’s General Explanation and Final Analysis carries 30 marks and A Golden Rosary carries 20 marks. As for the Interpretable and Definitive class, the General Explanation and Final Analysis carries 30 marks, and the Jewel Heart Commentary 20 marks. From the Bodhichitta class to the seventh year class, a maximum of 50 marks each is carried for the written test, out of which 30 marks each for their respective General Explanation and Final Analysis and 20 marks each for Gyaltsab Je’s Ornament of Correct Explanation.
There is a maximum 50 marks for written tests from the first to third year classes. Out of that, Panchen Sonam Dakpa’s General Explanation and Final Analysis carries 30 marks and Lama Tsongkhapa’s Thorough Illumination of Thought carries 20 marks each for the first two years.
For the third year class, 50 marks are distributed equally among the General Explanation and Final Analysis and Thorough Illumination of Thought.
There is a maximum of 50 marks each for written tests from the first to the fourth Vinaya classes and Geshe Lobsang Tsultrim’s Summarization of the Quintessence of Vinaya: Dispelling the Darkness of Those Wishing Enlightenment carries 25 marks and Gedun Drupa’s Precious Garland and Kunkhen Tsonawa’s Rays of the Sun: Quotations and Reasoning carry 25 marks.
As for Abidharma classes, Vasubandhu’s Abhidharmakosha carries 25 marks and Chim Jampelyang’s Ornament of Abhidharma and Omniscient Gedun Drupa’s commentary entitled Clarifying the Path to Liberation carry 25 marks.
12. Category B Written Exam
The first year students of the Fresher’s class must study the Ngagdon, Volume I and the Legsha Jonwang. The second year students study the Ngagdon, Volume I and the Mirror Reflecting the Difficult Points. The third year students study the Sumchupa and its commentary by Ngulchu. The fourth year students study the Tagjug and it’s commentary by Ngulchu. The fifth year students study the Yigae Shapa Khaepae Gagyen and the first volume of Geluk history. The sixth year students study the second volume of Geluk history and Dakpa Jangchub’s Togjoe. The seventh year students study the Tagtu Nyue Togjoe and the fifth Dalai Lama’s poetry: Chapter Two.
