Overview
Part II offers you the opportunity to explore in depth whatever subjects you take on and to engage with them critically. Your supervisors will expect a greater range of reading both in classical texts and in the modern scholarly literature, and they will be hoping for more ambitious essay work. If you have not already penetrated the collections of the University Library, now is the time to do so. It will be important to prepare carefully for the few (compared to 1A and 1B) Faculty lectures and classes provided for the options you have chosen, to be able to contribute to discussion as well as to derive maximum benefit yourself. In general, Part II gives you the chance to take responsibility for your own learning with the support of those teaching you.
Two-year Part II
Two-year Part II candidates do "Prelims to Part II" in the first year of their Part II. For this, they sit two papers from among the papers for Part II of the Classical Tripos, of which not more than one may be taken from the Schedule of Optional (O) Papers. The papers are marked but the marks are not taken into account the following year when candidates are classed. The Preliminary Examinations are not deemed Honours Examinations of the University. The examinations are for the purpose of testing the progress of honours students and their fitness for honours work.
In their second year candidates sit 5 papers (or 4 papers and a thesis). It is common for them to sit again in their second year the papers sat in their first year, simply to cut down on the workload.
Candidates taking Part II in two years are often new to Cambridge and spreading the load over a longer period is helpful to them.
If you are starting a two-year Part II in 2026-27, you should note that some courses offered may change in 2027–28. Any such changes are indicated at the end of each course description. You should check this information carefully and discuss it with your Director of Studies when deciding which courses you wish to take over the two years.