Method of Assessment (Undergraduate students)
1. In assessing work members of staff will assign marks on a 100-point scale in line with the University policy on a unified marking scheme, where 100 is the highest grade awarded and 0 is the lowest grade awarded. For undergraduate level modules the minimum pass grade is 40.
| Mark | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 70 - 100 | Work of a standard appropriate to Class 1 | Students who obtain an overall module mark of between 40 and 100 will be awarded the credits associated with that module. |
| 60 - 69 | Work of a standard appropriate to Class 2i | |
| 50 - 59 | Work of a standard appropriate to Class 2ii | |
| 45 - 49 | Work of a standard appropriate to Class 3 | |
| 40 - 44 | Work of a Pass standard | |
| 1 - 39 | Work in respect of which the student fails | Students who obtain an overall module mark of between 0 and 39 will NOT be awarded the credits associated with that module. |
| 0 | Work not submitted or unworthy of assessment |
2. Module Coursework: one mark will be awarded for coursework on a module, unless the coursework comprises two or more pieces of work which have each been awarded a separate mark, then the overall coursework mark for a module is calculated as the weighted average of the individual marks and rounded to the nearest whole number on the 100-point scale.
3. Module Examinations: one mark will be awarded for each separate examination question answered. The overall examination mark for a module is calculated as the weighted average of the individual marks.
4. The overall module mark is calculated as the weighted average of the overall coursework mark and the overall examination mark. For all Information Studies modules, the overall coursework mark is weighted as 60% of the overall module mark, and the overall examination mark is weighted as 40% of the overall module mark (any exception to this weighting will be indicated in specific module documentation provided to students at the start of each semester).
5. An overall module mark of 40 is the minimum mark required to pass a module and be awarded the credits associated with that module.
6. For all Information Studies modules students are required to obtain a pass mark for each piece of coursework and for the overall examination mark in order to pass the module as a whole, i.e. a minimum mark of 40 must be obtained for each element of assessed coursework and for the overall examination mark for a pass mark to be awarded in the module overall (any exception to this requirement will be indicated in specific module documentation provided to students at the start of each semester).
7. Departmental Policy on Discretionary Passes at Module Level
As defined in point 6 above a pass mark must be obtained for each element of assessed work on a module in order for a pass mark to be awarded overall for the module. However, for modules which comprise more than one element of assessed work (whether pieces of coursework or the formal examination) then in cases where a student has failed only ONE element of assessed work for a module with a borderline fail mark (i.e. a mark between 36 and 39) and has obtained pass marks for all other elements of assessment for the module, then the Examination Board may at its discretion award a "discretionary" pass overall for the module. Where discretion is exercised then the overall module mark awarded will normally be the weighted average of the overall coursework mark and the overall examination mark. If discretion is not exercised then the overall module mark awarded will normally be a fail mark of 38. Students should note that the exercise of discretion is not automatic and the level of performance on the module as a whole will be taken into account in arriving at a decision.
For example:
On a particular module, a student is awarded 50/100 for one element of coursework (45% weighting), 45/100 for a second element of coursework (15% weighting) and 38.3/100 overall for the formal examination (40% weighting), i.e. the student has failed the formal examination with a borderline fail mark. The weighted average overall module mark calculates to a pass mark of 44.6/100, but point 6 above requires that a student obtain a pass mark in each element of assessment in order to pass the module as a whole, and thus a fail mark would normally be awarded for the overall module mark. However, as only one element of assessment has been failed with a borderline fail mark then the Examination Board may agree to exercise discretion. If the Examination Board agreed to exercise discretion then an overall module mark of 45 would be awarded which is a pass. If the Examination Board agreed not to exercise discretion then a fail grade of 38 would be awarded as the overall module mark.