Assessments

Your University experience is much more than the assessments associated with the learning, but we know that many students find this aspect of your time with us daunting. There are many ways in which we help our students to succeed in their assessments, both at the module level and by our University Support Services

Support available

Formative Assessments

Your module leaders will explain to you what activities and feedback opportunities take place during the module which are preparing you to succeed in the module and these are often called formative assessments. In contrast, assessments which evaluate your learning at the end of a module are often called summative assessments.

It is common for students to be able to discuss an essay plan or a draft submission with their academic supervisor, plan well so you can take advantage of this support.

Academic Skills Advice

The Academic Skills Advice team provides advice to students on all aspects of academic study and maths skills. The team offer one-to-one and small group appointments, run workshops and drop-in clinics, have a range of self-access resources, including bespoke support for postgraduate and CPD students. This team are happy to offer advice via email which can be helpful when it might be difficult to access support face to face.

Library

The library team are highly skilled in supporting all learners, and we have dedicated Faculty librarians who understand our postgraduate and CPD students and their courses. That team have created an introductory presentation to help explain the ways that they can support you during your studies

This link will open up an induction presentation in a new browser tab.

Assessment Processes

There are a number of processes relating to assessments which we recognise could be relatively hidden from our students, and yet we may talk to you about these using some of the following language. We felt it might therefore be helpful to provide an overview here:

• Assessment submission or exam date
  • These dates should be provided at the start of the module and can be found in the module handbook uploaded to Canvas -It is the University policy that any work submitted late or missed, without a formal extension being granted by the module leader will receive a mark of 0%
• Assessments are marked, the following activities take place during that time
  • First marking and feedback provided by the module team
  • A sample of work is double considered, that is the initial marking is reviewed by an independent marker at the University to check the quality of the marking and feedback
  • A sample of work is sent to an External Examiner who is a content expert from a different University to further check the quality of the marking and feedback -Marks are released to students, usually within 20 days
  • These are provisional marks, and although it rarely occurs these are subject to change later if further quality checks indicate there were any issues with the assessment or the marking
• Supplementary Assessments
  • All students are eligible to resubmit or retake each assessment at a second attempt if they fail to pass. Sometimes we may refer to these as resits.
  • Most assessments pass marks are set at 40% although this can be higher, this detail will be listed in the module handbook available on Canvas
  • Students who are required to take a supplementary assessment will receive a maximum mark of 40%, even if they score higher
  • You must undertake this supplementary chance. Failure to do so will result in you being withdrawn from the programme – even if you have passed all your other modules.
  • Different programmes will have different arrangements about when resubmission can occur but this information will be provided in the module handbook
• An Assessment Committee verifies the marks
  • The module leader works with programme administration colleagues to update formal student records with final marks for each assessment
  • The overall module performance is presented at a formal University Assessment Committee and the module leader required to present an overview of the module’s performance overall
  • Typically, an assessment committee would happen once at the end of the module which could be some time after the provisional marks had been released to students
  • Only after this committee do marks become ‘final’
• A Board of Examiners makes decisions on the student outcomes
  • Once a year a student’s profile of marks is presented at a formal Board of Examiners committee
  • This committee is presented with the verified marks from all modules once a year for every student enrolled on each programme
  • The performance in those modules determines whether a student is permitted to continue onto the next stage of their course, whether they have reached the end of their course and therefore can be awarded with their qualification, or whether they are required to resubmit work. Occasionally, students have not reached the required academic standard and are required to withdraw from the programme
  • After the Board of Examiners, students official results are released through e: Vision under the heading Progression/Award. At the end of your qualification, this process confirms that you have qualified for the degree
• Graduation Ceremony
  • All students leaving with an award are welcome to come to the graduation ceremony, it is an important milestone in celebrating your achievements
  • In addition, the ceremony officially confers the award. This completes the process of the University granting the student with their degree, although this can still be done in your absence should you be unable to attend