Referring to knowledge

Teaching mode: face-to-face.

This subject is taught through three types of activities:

First, attendance at face-to-face classes of two different types:

a) Theory lectures with a practical component. During these sessions, the lecturer describes the key concepts of each topic and explains the theoretical instruments with which to analyse them, combining different types of activities: continuous assessment activities, resolution of numerical problems, discussion of texts related to the content covered in class. Students are expected to prepare the texts in advance. These sessions cover a total of 3 hours per week.

b) Practical sessions, in which the solutions to problem-solving exercises are discussed and doubts are clarified. Students must solve these exercises beforehand and submit them via the Virtual Campus. These sessions cover a total of 5 hours per semester for each subgroup. The schedule for these sessions is described in the subject’s programme.

Secondly, students are required to carry out directed learning activities (outside class hours), which should include reading through the recommended bibliography and completing exercises and assignments set in class.

Thirdly, students must carry out independent learning, including revising class notes, studying the contents of the course, reading complementary texts and preparing for continuous assessment tests and the final examination.

Student work for this subject is divided in roughly equal parts for each type of activity, corresponding to a dedication of 3–4 hours per week for each activity.

The GIE group follows a specific methodology, described in the programme at the beginning of the course.

The mark awarded for continuous assessment is based on the following activities: a) continuous assessment exercises (CAE); b) continuous assessment tests (CAT) and c) a final examination.

a) Continuous assessment exercises (CAE): students complete several activities throughout the course. Their number and characteristics are decided depending on the group.

b) Continuous assessment tests (CAT): students sit two mid-term tests during the course on a date announced in class. They consist of multiple-choice questions, problems and theory questions.

— Students who achieve an average grade of 5 out of 10 or higher for these CAA, and considering that a minimum of 4 is required in each of them to be eligible for weighting, are considered to have passed the subject and need not sit the final examination.

— Students who achieve an average grade below 5 out of 10 for these two CAA, as well as those who achieve a grade below 4 in any of these two tests, should sit the final examination.

c) Final examination (FE): it is carried out on the date set by the Academic Council. This examination follows the same structure as the single assessment examination.

Repeat assessment for students who do not pass the subject takes place on the date set by the Academic Council and consists of an examination with the same characteristics as the standard single assessment option. Therefore, the marks for continuous assessment activities are not taken into account.

Examination-based assessment

Students who do not sit any of the continuous assessment tests are automatically entered for single assessment.

It consists of a single final examination on the date established by the Academic Council, worth 100% of the final grade. This examination contains multiple-choice questions (20% of the examination’s grade), theoretical questions, in which a concept must be explained and/or analysed graphically (40% of the grade), and problem-solving numerical exercises (40% of the grade).

A minimum mark of 3.5 out of 10 in the multiple-choice part is required to be eligible to pass the exam.

Students who do not achieve a pass grade are entitled to repeat assessment on the date set by the Academic Council. This consists of an examination with the same characteristics as the single assessment examination.