Most examinations are given in essay-form. The student is given a substantial block of time (depending on the exam, that is from two to five hours) to complete a multiple-page, well-argued paper. The number of pages varies from exam to exam but is usually substantial considering all answers have to be written down, explained and justified. Mathematics and science exams are problem sets but some science questions also require an essay-type answer. Foreign-language exams often have a short translation section, as well. Mathematics and the Earth & Life Sciences examinations may occasionally contain some multiple-choice questions ("choix multiples"), but this is rare and when it occurs, it does not constitute the majority of the exam.