External Examiners’ Workshop The University’s examination and assessment regulations Hilary Gilbert Registry

Regulations General Examination and Assessment Regulations for taught courses (GEAR) assessment, progression, award regulations (sections B,C,D) Course handbooks course-specific regulations

Common Academic Framework alignment with FHEQ and HE credit framework modules multiples of 10 credits mandatory, compulsory, optional f/t ug programme 120 credits per academic year f/t pg programme 180 credits per year stages of study maximum registration period

Marks and grades numerical marking 0-100% (some pass/fail) undergraduate: common mark/grade scale (A-F) postgraduate: 0-49% fail, 50-59% pass, 60-69% merit, 70%+ distinction pass mark 40% undergraduate module (threshold for each assessment component 30%) 50% postgraduate module (threshold for each assessment component 40%) university level grading descriptors (from 2012)

Assessment requirements 0% for non-submission, non-attendance at exam, late submission (feedback provided) student can apply for an extension to deadline students can submit mitigating circumstances to the examination board

Reassessment referral - tied to original take of module, student must complete additional work (module mark capped) repeat – take module again, normally with attendance (module mark capped) deferral – reassessment as if for first time due to upheld mitigating circumstances (mark not capped) maximum number of attempts to pass a module – 3 first attempt, referral, repeat first attempt, repeat, referral

Referral and repeat at discretion of exam board permitted at all levels referral no minimum mark - where only one task in module, student must have made an attempt permitted in up to 50% of total credit studied in stage repeat same stage as part of the next stage of study, up to 20 credits can be trailed where 120 credits are studied in the stage

Examination boards two-tier system Area Examination Board (AEB) Course Examination Board (CEB) boards can be combined

Area Examination Board confirm marks and consider results of individual modules module results – pass, refer, fail determine the nature of any referral and submission deadline moderate marks for whole group, if necessary mitigating circumstances - not considered for individual students

Course Examination Board consider results of individual students may not change AEB marks mitigating circumstances claims reviewed and recommendations on acceptance - pre-board meeting deferral opportunity for failed module note acceptance where module passed academic misconduct recommendation of penalty from investigating panel

Course Examination Board Progression progress endorse recommended referrals, progression decision deferred to next meeting of board accept mitigating circumstances, permit deferral(s), progression decision deferred to next meeting of board do not progress - repeat failed modules (in p/t mode) Fail and exclude from course on academic grounds Receive an award (borderlines)

Compensation at discretion of exam board credit awarded to enable student to progress to next stage or achieve award when not all modules passed any level maximum 20 credits per 120 credit stage no change to mark for failed module(s) not for mandatory modules no minimum mark/stage average – student must have made a serious attempt at the failed module/attempted all assessment tasks in module

Awards AwardAlgorithm/classificationBorderline Bachelor’s degrees with honours L5 and L6 marks Ratio 25:75 Classification: 1/2i/2ii/3 Yes 2% of boundary Criteria in GEAR Foundation degree L5 marks Classification: pass/merit/distinction Merit: credit-weighted mean mark Distinction: credit-weighted mean mark Yes 2% of boundary Criteria in GEAR Postgraduate Certificate/ Postgraduate Diploma Marks for award credit Classification: pass/merit/distinction Merit: credit-weighted mean mark Distinction: credit-weighted mean mark No MastersMarks for award credit Classification: pass/merit/distinction Merit: credit-weighted mean mark of at least and at least 60 in final element Distinction: credit-weighted mean mark of at least and at least 70 in final element No Integrated Masters Subject-specific classification - either undergraduate honours (L6:L7 50:50) or postgraduate pass/merit/distinction with L7 marks only As per classification

External Examiners’ Workshop External examiner – administration Debbie Neale Registry

Information external examiners’ homepage on: GEAR, external examiners’ handbook (contact details), annual report template, fees and expenses form school (or faculty) course material, exam board arrangements, booking hotel accommodation, students’ work, assessment details

Annual report and claims annual report to: send claims for fees and expenses to Schools or Faculties (see handbook) fees only paid on receipt of annual report expenses can be claimed at any time with receipts for queries about a claim, contact: Sue Nye or