External Examiners’ Workshop The University’s key examination and assessment regulations Mr Paul Cecil Quality and Standards Manager (Academic Standards and Assessment)

Assessment regulations General Examination and Assessment Regulations for taught courses (GEAR) Modules  multiples of 10 credits  mandatory, compulsory, optional  0-100% marking scale  pass mark  40% ug module – threshold mark 30%  50% pg module – threshold mark 40%

Assessment regulations Late submission  within 2 weeks of deadline  penalty pass mark for work (or fail mark) Non-submission – 0% Extension to deadline - with appropriate evidence Mitigating circumstances – deferral, mark for module not capped Maximum number of attempts to pass module = 3  repeat module once

Retrieval of failure Referral  no minimum mark  where only one assessment task in module, student must have attempted this  maximum of half total credit studied in the stage can be referred  referred module capped at pass mark Repeat  not progress (p/t) or trailing (20 credits)  Repeat without attendance  repeat module capped at pass mark

Retrieval of failure Compensation  discretion of board  not mandatory modules  maximum 20 credits for every 120 credits studied  no minimum mark or stage average – student should have attempted all assessments  credit awarded for stage but mark not changed

Examination boards Area Examination Board (AEB)  confirm marks for module  determine result – pass, referral, fail  determine the nature of any referral  Review statistical data on module performance Course Examination Board (CEB)  consider results of individual students  endorse referrals up to maximum  permit failed modules to be repeated  compensation  mitigating circumstances  academic misconduct

Awards and borderlines – CEB AwardMarks and ClassificationBorderline BA (Hons) BSc(Hons) Level 5 and Level 6 marks (ratio 25:75 unless otherwise specified in the Programme Specification) Classification:1/2i/2ii/3 yes One year top-ups Level 6 marks Classification:1/2i/2ii/3 yes FdA/FdScLevel 5 marks Classification: pass/merit/distinction Merit – weighted mean mark Distinction – weighted mean mark yes MA/MScMarks for the award credit Classification: pass/merit/distinction Merit – weighted mean mark of at least and at least 60 in final element Distinction – weighted mean mark of at least and at least 70 in final element (final element is normally 60 credits level 7) no * Integrated Masters Subject-specific: Level 6 and 7 marks (50:50) - 1/2i/2ii/3 Level 7 marks - pass/merit/distinction yes no *

Borderlines The University is currently considering revisions to its borderline regulations. If changes are made for this year detailed guidance will be provided to all exam boards. The changes being proposed are a modification to the credit profile for undergraduate students and the introduction of borderline consideration for postgraduate students.

Borderlines (current rules) Student considered by board for higher classification if average mark for award is within 2% of boundary BA(Hons)/BSc(Hons)  at least half of the credit in levels 5 and 6 in higher class  at least half of the credit for level 6 in higher class  performance in project/dissertation module FdA/FdSc  at least half of the credit in level 6 in higher class Board may also consider other evidence – proximity to classification, progressive improvement, mitigating circs