ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS

1
ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS

• A GUIDE TO THE REVISED REGULATIONS OCTOBER 2007

2
PRESENTATION OUTCOMES

• To explain recent amendments to the University
  academic regulations
• To highlight key areas and give guidance on
  interpretation in order to ensure consistent
  application across Schools and collaborative
  partners

3
WHY CHANGE?

• PABS have already been encouraged to exercise
  academic judgement as much as possible YET
  little improvement in 1/2.1 proportion of degrees
  awarded.
• Are we too rigid in the treatment of student
  performance? Assessment Working Group looked at a
  number of models in practice across the sector.

4
WHO DOES AWARD FIRSTS?

• 104 programmes across the University and Partners
  (portfolio of circa 1400 programmes).
• Very few combined honours students attain Firsts
• 9649 first class/70 grades were awarded across
  the whole student population (all levels)
• These grades awarded across 1800 courses within
  an overall portfolio of 4000

5
HONOURS CLASSIFICATION

• FIRST step for PAB is to determine whether final
  stage has been passed.
• If candidate is not a pass then either
  compensation (30 credits) OR exceptionally
  Condonement (30 Credits) can be applied.

6
HONOURS CLASSIFICATION

• A number of models introduced by which PABs can
  use discretion in recognising and measuring
  student achievement.
• There is NO hierarchy in the models. PABs should
  consider all models and determine the best
  possible outcome for each student.

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MODEL 1 - OGPA

• Overall Grade Point Average is the single
  indicator
• Computed on the FULL SPREAD of weighted grades
  across Honours stages
• 75/25 ratio and Percentile norms remain
• DGPA discounted grade point average no longer
  applies as an indicator and will NOT appear on
  PAB report.

8
MODEL 2 - PROFILING

• Irrespective of OGPA - look for a preponderance
  of individual course grades within a higher
  classification band
• The split needs to be at least 150 out of 240
  credits shown on PAB report as Credits e.g.
  150/90
• In applying this model there is a further
  CONDITION that needs to be met i.e

9
MODEL 2 - CONDITION

• The OGPA must not be less than ONE
  classification band below the degree awarded
• a First class degree can be awarded to student
  who obtains 70 grade in courses totalling 150
  credits with a minimum of 60 OGPA.
• The previous practice of Award Points and
  borderline envelope of 2 (38/48/58/68) no
  longer applies (but see 13 below)

10
MODEL 3 FINAL STAGE

• The Honours classification can be awarded on the
  Stage 3 Grade Point Average alone rewards final
  stage performance and is not dragged down by poor
  performance at previous stage
• No need to debate what constitutes exit velocity
  the Stage 3 GPA will determine the
  classification.
• DO NOT CONFUSE THIS MODEL WITH

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DIRECT ENTRANTS

• Regulation 5.35 states that the classification
  for those having undertaken only the final year
  at Greenwich will be based on the Stage 3 GPA.
  HOWEVER
• The PAB can also be guided by the students
  profile, giving due consideration to consistency
  with the Honours classification models.

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IS THERE A BORDERLINE?

• Slide 9 refers to the removal of traditional
  borderline 2 envelope. HOWEVER
• Regulation 5.34 states the discretion of the PAB
  may be applied in the consideration of candidates
  at the borderline classifications
• Borderline is not defined so what does it mean?

13
PAB DISCRETION

• Discuss the merits of students who fail to meet
  the requirements of the 3 models
• They have failed the consistency test (OGPA),
  sufficient evidence of higher aptitude
  (preponderance) development (Stage 3 GPA) A
  case needs to be made
• Be consistent across School and beware of
  distorted profiles. IF PAB externals agree then
  award a higher classification.

14
OTHER CHANGES

• Other changes have taken place with regard to
  reassessment (capping of assessment component
  grade NOT course composite grade).
• and the application of condonement
• Make sure you understand the terminology and
  combination/conditions of application

15
COMPENSATION

• Not automatic. Requirements of Regs 5.19 and 5.20
  need to be met. i.e. Stage GPA of 40 and the
  grade for an individual course does not fall
  below 30
• No reassessment required and actual grade of
  30-39 recorded
• Compensation code will cause these grades to be
  computed at 40

16
CONDONEMENT

• Can now be applied across ALL stages
• relates to grades that fall below 30
• EXCEPTIONALLY PAB can decide not to reassess
• actual grade attained will be recorded
• cannot be used in addition to/combined with
  compensation

17
PROFILING REG 5.28

• Compensation can be applied up to a maximum of 30
  credits in each Stage (an academic stage equates
  to120 credits)
• Condonement can be applied up to a maximum of 30
  credits in each stage
• Cannot mix currency either apply 30 credits of
  compensation OR exceptionally 30 credits of
  condonement

18
CREDIT THRESHOLD

• Stage 1 PABs can compensate OR condone to a
  maximum of 30 credits AND reassess in further
  credits
• Intermediate and final stages failure in more
  than 30 credits will prevent compensation OR
  condonement being applied

19
REASSESSMENT

• 3 types necessitating students undertaking
  assessment.
• Deferral for the first time. Grade not
  penalised
• Resit earliest opportunity to retrieve prior to
  the commencement of the next stage
• Repeat student is required to re-register on
  course(s) and undertake stipulated assessment in
  a subsequent session

20
CAPPING OF GRADES

• Capping of grades NOW applies to just the
  elements/components being reassessed NOT the
  composite grade.
• Previously resits led to capping of composite
  grade at 40 and repeats were permitted an
  uncapped composite grade
• students who are repeating (this includes PI
  students) ALL elements/ components for a course
  will not have grades capped

21
REASSESSMENT

• Emphasis to be placed on the INDIVIDUALS
  scale/margin of failure to guide the timing and
  nature of reassessment.
• Candidates are allowed THREE attempts to pass a
  course though the sequence may differ.
• PABS need to clearly identify the timing of
  reassessment and the form it is to take is to
  take

22
REASSESSED COMPONENTS

• GIVEN THE CAPPING RULE PABS MUST EXERCISE
  CAREFUL JUDGEMENT AS TO WHICH COMPONENT(S) ARE TO
  BE REASSESSED IN ORDER THAT A STUDENT ATTAIN AT
  LEAST THE BARE PASS GRADE OF 40

23
RESITS

• Reg 5.23 also states that students will not
  normally be permitted an opportunity to resit
  failed courses if they have not engaged in the
  summative assessment tasks on those courses.
• This regulation is to prevent students skipping
  assessment. It is not being enforced as the
  result of the funding debate regarding last item
  of assessment.

24
PROCEED (PI)

• PI can be applied after intitial failure or
  following unsuccessful resits.
• If appropriate a student may be allowed to
  substitute a different course in place of the one
  initially failed. In this instance all assessment
  components wil be taken and no capping of grade
  occur

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OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES

• Pass degree/Exit awards conferred to those
  students who exhaust reassessment opportunities
  (initial resit plus one further attempt).
• Awards with commendation allowed for non-degree
  awards provided 60 attained in final stage of
  that award (all 150 credits for HNC)

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DEFERRALS

• No change. Circumstances considered by
  Extenuation Panel. PAB will use discretion
  regarding nature and timing of assessment (as of
  the first time). Grades will not be capped.
• At final stage PAB MAY make an award (without
  further assessment) if there is sufficient
  evidence of aptitude.
• AEGROTAT awards are still permitted where PAB is
  satisfied that , but for illness or valid cause
  the standard would have been attained.
• In the above cases, students may decline the award

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POSTGRADUATE PROVISION

• Compensation limited to a maximum of 30 credits
  across the whole AWARD.
• Awards with Distinction are permitted where
  students attain an average of 70 across the
  programme. PABS may also make distinction awards,
  where there is evidence of exceptional
  performance.
• The conferment of a postgraduate award with Merit
  is permitted where an average of 60 across the
  programme is attained.

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NON REGULATORY

• Apart from changes to the regulations the
  University should also concentrate on
• Qualitative criteria both generic and
  assignment based
• Processes such as double-marking and moderation
• Student feedback and balance between formative
  and summative assessment