wow !80s Love Child!, I'm quite impressed that you've realized that the system here is quite subjective indeed. Usually it takes a month or two to figure this out, but that's amazing.

However, bribing and other sorts of favouritism are strictly not allowed. The exams are usually oral but some do have a written component too. For some subjects, you will need to take a written test and pass it in order to take the oral exam.

But in general, your overall performance is very very important as first or last impressions do count in Europe!!!.....it's always good to set up consultations, attend seminars regularly so that you give the right impression to your professor. Lectures however, are optional.

Unfortunately the system is so subjective that one student can get very easy questions and pass and the other student gets very hard questions and either passes or fails....when it comes to exams it's 65% luck, and the rest is knowledge and how well you can explain it orally to the profs. (with help of drawings, aids etc.)