Agree with your supervisor on the most appropriate way to complete the maturity test. The maturity test can be written, for example, as a press release, an article draft or an essay task. The maturity test can be published on the Showcase blog platform.
The different implementations of the maturity test are each instructed below. Clicking the links will take you to the correct section. The maturity test is completed independently, i.e. it is not carried out under supervision.
- Maturity test — article
- Maturity test — essay
- Maturity test – media bulletin
- Maturity test – Internal bulletin
Maturity test an an article
Assignment
Write a draft of an article in accordance with the following instructions. Length of text 400-600 words.
Possible follow-up work on the article will be carried out in a separately agreed manner after completing the maturity test.
The primary objective of the article is to provide a certain target group, such as a trade journal or collaboration partners, with information on the thesis results. Structure the article as small entities, each of which discusses a certain topic or area. Pay attention to writing the text such that the reader understands how the separate issue complexes are related to each other. Introduce the reader to the topics.
Explain all concepts that the readers cannot be expected to know before-hand. If you are unsure whether or not a certain concept is familiar to your readers, you should rather explain it than leave it unexplained. Write in a clear, precise and demonstrative manner. Decide which word to use for each concept and use the chosen words consistently. An article may also include figures and tables, but they should not be used in the maturity test.
Give your text a main heading that describes the entire article. Make it informative and attractive. Give sub-headings to the smaller entities in your article. Make sure that the headings and the following stretches of text match.
Assessment of the maturity test
The maturity test is assessed on a pass/fail basis.
The maturity test can be accepted when
- The text provides sufficient evidence of the student’s familiarity with the field of their thesis.
- The text provides sufficient evidence of the student’s language proficiency. The following criteria are used in the assessment:
- The assignment has been followed in all respects.
- The content and the title must correspond to each other.
- The text functions as a standalone text. It can be understood without reading the thesis.
- The writing is structured and coherent. In addition to the title, it must have an introduction, a conclusion and paragraph division.
- The text is readable; uppercase and lowercase letters and word spacing are clear.
- The text uses an informative formal style and proceeds by language rather than, for example, relying on figures.
- Sentence and clause structures are understandable and unambiguous.
- Basic spelling and punctuation are correct.
The maturity test may be failed if the student cannot use professional terminology systematically or if the text contains significant problems in most of the above criteria.
Maturity test as an essay
Assignment
The thesis instructor shall present the question or questions in this field.
Writing instructions
Title your text. Write line by line, separate paragraphs with an empty line, do not indent the start of paragraphs. Write for a reader who knows the basic concepts of the subject but has not seen the thesis. Text length 450–600 words.
Assessment
The maturity test is assessed on a pass/fail basis.
The maturity test can be accepted when
- The text provides sufficient evidence of the student’s familiarity with the field of their thesis.
- The text provides sufficient evidence of the student’s language proficiency. The following criteria are used in the assessment:
- The assignment has been followed in all respects.
- The content and the title must correspond to each other.
- The text functions as a standalone text. It can be understood without reading the thesis.
- The writing is structured and coherent. In addition to the title, it must have an introduction, a conclusion and paragraph division. The introduction guides the reader into the topic, which particularly distinguishes an essay-style text from an exam answer.
- The text is readable; uppercase and lowercase letters and word spacing are clear.
- The text uses an informative formal style and proceeds by language rather than, for example, relying on figures.
- Sentence and clause structures are understandable and unambiguous.
- Basic spelling and punctuation are correct.
The maturity test may be failed if the student cannot use professional terminology systematically or if the text contains significant problems in most of the above criteria.
Maturity test as a media bulletin
Assignment
Write a draft of a press release using the instructions below. Text length 250–300 words.
Any further development of the press release will take place after completing the maturity test in a manner agreed separately.
Structure
Use the so-called triangular technique: start with the most important content, i.e. the news; the position of the less important information is at the end of the bulletin. The bulletin should include a headline, a lead paragraph, i.e. an introduction, and the actual text content which is called body text. The reader should understand the most essential message upon a few seconds’ glance.
Content
Reporters require that the bulletin contains news. Provide the title, first and last names, organisation, e-mail address and preferably the phone number of the person, who provides further information, after the bulletin text. Using an expert as contact person has to be agreed with the expert beforehand. The contact person’s information should be on the bottom, so that the reporter can agree on an interview or inquire about a detail, for example.
Language and style
The written language must be understandable. It is recommended to use standard language in bulletins for newspapers and radio channels. Jargon can be used in bulletins intended for the media of your own field, but you should pay attention to using as flowing and interesting language as possible. The text should primarily consist of complete clauses and sentences. Write in a clear and informative formal style. It is recommended to restrain from the use of adjectives. In particular, you should avoid strong plus or minus words such as cutting edge research or worthless.
Assessment
The maturity test is assessed on a pass/fail basis.
The maturity test can be accepted when
- The text provides sufficient evidence of the student’s familiarity with the field of their thesis.
- The text provides sufficient evidence of the student’s language proficiency. The following criteria are used in the assessment:
- The assignment has been followed in all respects.
- The content and the title must correspond to each other.
- The text functions as a standalone text. It can be understood without reading the thesis.
- The writing is structured and coherent.
- The text is readable; uppercase and lowercase letters and word spacing are clear.
- The text uses an informative formal style and proceeds by language rather than, for example, relying on figures.
- Sentence and clause structures are understandable and unambiguous.
- Basic spelling and punctuation are correct.
The maturity test may be failed if the student cannot use professional terminology systematically or if the text contains significant problems in most of the above criteria.
Maturity test as an internal bulletin
Assignment
Write a draft of an internal memo using the instructions below. Text length 250–300 words. Any further development of the memo will take place after completing the maturity test in a manner agreed separately.
Structure
Use the so-called triangular technique: start with the most important content, i.e. the news; the position of the less important information is at the end of the bulletin. The bulletin should include a headline, a lead paragraph, i.e. an introduction, and the actual text content which is called body text. The reader should understand the most essential message upon a few seconds’ glance.
Content
The objective of the bulletin is to inform of the organisation’s internal affairs in a short and concise manner. The bulletin should answer the following questions: what, where, when, why, how and who.
Language and style
The text is built primarily from complete sentences and clauses. The style is informative and formal, meaning clarity and information.
Assessment
The maturity test is assessed on a pass/fail basis.
The maturity test can be accepted when
- The text provides sufficient evidence of the student’s familiarity with the field of their thesis.
- The text provides sufficient evidence of the student’s language proficiency. The following criteria are used in the assessment:
- The assignment has been followed in all respects.
- The content and the title must correspond to each other.
- The text functions as a standalone text. It can be understood without reading the thesis.
- The writing is structured and coherent.
- The text is readable; uppercase and lowercase letters and word spacing are clear.
- The text uses an informative formal style and proceeds by language rather than, for example, relying on figures.
- Sentence and clause structures are understandable and unambiguous.
- Basic spelling and punctuation are correct.
The maturity test may be failed if the student cannot use professional terminology systematically or if the text contains significant problems in most of the above criteria.