Coursework & Exam Guidance

Basic assessment regulations 2 attempts at an assessment (first attempt and ONE resit attempt) Pass mark is 50% (except qualifying marks –7CCSMPRO. Students need to achieve 50% in both the coursework and exam to pass the module) Weighting of assessment differs across modules (for example coursework worth 20% of final mark, and exam worth 80% or exam worth 100%). Please see handbook for the specifics of each module Any resit (second) attempts will be capped at 50% Resit exams can be ‘out-of-college’ (where you do not return to attend lectures) or ‘in-college’ (where you will need to pay new tuition fees to re-attend lectures). The decision on in or out-of-college resit is made by the Assessment Sub-Board and you will be informed of this after the results have been ratified in July Not all exams or coursework can be taken as an out-of-college resit Students who fail the Individual Project (7CCSMPRJ) or Data Science Individual Project (7CCSMDPJ) must undertake the resit as an ‘in-college’ student, returning for the next academic year. The tuition fee for the module will be charged and the resit mark will be capped at 50%

Your Responsibilities As a PGT student, you are responsible for your own learning. You are expected to attend lectures and complete coursework on time. You are expected to contact your personal tutor in the event that you cannot meet these responsibilities. If you have special learning needs, health or other personal circumstances, please discuss these with your personal tutor right away. Don’t wait until you’ve missed a coursework deadline or exam! Useful services on campus include: Disability Services (http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/services/disability/index.aspx) Health Centre (http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/services/health-new/index.aspx) King’s wellbeing (http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/services/health-new/Wellbeing/Kings-Wellbeing.aspx)

Exam periods Exam Timetables will be available: Period 1: Monday 9th January – Friday 13th January 2017 Period 2: Tuesday 2nd May – Friday 2nd June 2017 Period 3: Monday 7th August – Friday 18th August 2017 (this is a resit period. Not all students and modules are permitted August resits) Exam Timetables will be available: Period 1: Friday 25 November 2016 Period 2: Wednesday 15 March 2017 Period 3: Tuesday 25 July 2017 The full timetable will be available on the exams office web pages. Personalised timetables available on Student Records. This will show: the exams you are registered for exam date exam time exam venue seat number candidate number

Personalised Exam Provisions (PEP) Specific arrangements for students who have learning difficulties or medical conditions which mean adjustments need to be made when undertaking exams Make an application to the Exams Office. Supporting evidence is required: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/services/examinations/exams/pep/pep.aspx Deadlines for making an application for PEP: Examination period 1: Friday 4 November 2016 Examination period 2: Friday 24 February 2017 Examination period 3: Friday 14 July 2017 Contact the Disability Advisory Service to discuss any queries relating to learning disabilities: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/services/disability/index.aspx Disability@kcl.ac.uk

Exam instructions Check your modules are listed on your personalised timetable. Missing modules? See ‘View Module Registrations’ link on Student Records If you have modules missing, report to the ‘unregistered desk’ with student ID card 30 minutes before the start of the exam Read details on the exams office web pages (FAQs): http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/services/examinations/exams/faqs.aspx Read ‘Examination Information for Candidates 2016-17’ document available on the Exams Office web pages. http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/services/examinations/exams/examinfoforcands.aspx Read exam timetable carefully-double check dates and times Make sure you know how to get to the venue (allow time for travel) Take your student ID card Seating plan-find the correct seat (seat number on Student Records) Comply with all instructions from the exam invigilator Remember your candidate number (available on Student Records page) and write this on all exam answer books (for example W08331). Do not write your Student number on your exam answer books Check with lecturer if calculators are permitted. Must be from the Casio Fx-83 or Fx-85 range Take your own calculator to the exam

During the exam Do not take course notes, revision notes or books in to the exam (unless it is an open book exam. Check with lecturer if this is the case) Mobile phones must be switched off and placed in a plastic wallet underneath your desk. It is an offence to touch or look at your phone Do not talk or communicate with other students once you have entered the exam hall Exam misconduct is a serious offence Do not open the exam paper until told to do so Do not write your student number or name on the paper or answer book to preserve anonymity Follow the exam paper rubric i.e. answer three of the four questions, answer questions on a separate answer sheet Allow time for reading the questions

Feeling unwell during an exam Make sure you are well enough to take the exam. If you present yourself at the exam you are declaring yourself as fit to be assessed. The mark achieved in the exam will stand Report illness during an exam to an invigilator and request an ‘Examination Irregularity Form’ You have 7 calendar days after the exam has taken place to submit an Mitigating Circumstances Form (MCF) and Examination Irregularity form to the Departmental Office It is very difficult to have an MCF approved if you submit it after attempting the exam (if you submit the MCF after you have sat the exam you need to prove that you didn’t know you were ill) Medical certificate/supporting evidence will be required

Unable to attend an exam If you know in advance you will be unable to attend (e.g. due to illness, bereavement, adverse personal or family problems), submit a Mitigating Circumstances Form (MCF) with evidence Submit as soon as you are aware of unforeseen mitigating circumstances Speak to your personal tutor or your programme administrator if you are unsure what to do An MCF needs to be submitted for late coursework too Without this… 24 hour late submission policy for coursework. Marks capped at 50%. Work submitted after the 24 hour deadline will receive a mark of zero If you are unwell and do not submit an MCF then you will receive an absence mark for the exam. This will count as an attempt at the exam

The Mitigating Circumstances Form The form can be found in the Governance Zone website and the Departmental handbook: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/nms/depts/informatics/study/current/handbook/assess/mcf-shadow.aspx http://www.kcl.ac.uk/aboutkings/quality/academic/assessment/mitcir.aspx Read the instructions and guidance notes before completing You can contact the KCLSU advice service for help completing an MCF (advice@kclsu.org) You will need to explain why you are unable to attend the exam/submit coursework You will need to supply supporting evidence e.g. medical certificate Submit via email (pgt-informatics@kcl.ac.uk) or in person to your programme administrator The form will be reviewed by the Chair of the Assessment-Sub Board If supporting evidence is not available immediately, submit the form first and forward the supporting evidence when you have it

MCF outcomes The Chair of the Assessment-Sub Board will make a decision (normally) within 7 days. This may be longer during exam periods. A decision will be returned as soon as possible. If your MCF is accepted you will be given a replacement exam/assessment. This will be a first attempt and will not be capped If the MCF is not accepted then you will be awarded a mark of zero for the exam/assessment If you sit an exam and submit an MCF, marks for that examination will not be adjusted (i.e. raised) to compensate for mitigating circumstances. Make sure you are well enough to attend your exam!

Help and regulations Notify the Department (personal tutor, programme administrator) as soon as possible if you have a query or concern Visit the Take Time Out campaign web pages to help you prepare for the exam period: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/services/taketimeout/index.aspx If you are experiencing on-going issues please speak with your personal tutor Common sense advice Make sure you get enough sleep during the exam period It is normal to feel stressed It is normal to feel as though you have forgotten things, just before the exam Last minute revision is of little use. We mostly test understanding rather than ability to reproduce facts Read the instructions on the front page of your exam paper Read the questions carefully and make sure you answer the question Work at a steady pace

Exam results Provisional results for semester 1 exams will be made available mid-March. Results will not be ratified (formal) until July Ratified results will be viewable on Student Records once the marks have been confirmed Resit exams may be available in August (subject to the conditions mentioned on the Departmental Handbook-http://www.kcl.ac.uk/nms/depts/informatics/study/current/handbook/assess/reassess.aspx