Section G: Assessment

Academic Regulations 2011/12 (pdf for printing) 

• G1 Principles of Assessment
• G2 Module Assessment and Feedback on Assessed Work
• G3 Late Submissions
• G4 Examination Arrangements
• G5 Students with Disabilities and/or Learning Difficulties
• G6 Assessment Practice
• G7 Unfair Means to Enhance Performance
• G8 Composition and Responsibilities of Assessment Boards
• G9 Extenuating Circumstances 
• G10 Condonement
• G11 Module Reassessment
• G12 Module Attempts 
• G13 Exclusion from a Course During an Academic Session for Academic Reasons

G1 Principles of Assessment

G1.1 The purpose of assessment is to provide the opportunity for students to demonstrate that they have fulfilled the learning outcomes of the course and achieved the standard required for the award they seek.

G1.2 Assessment must reflect individual student achievement and relate it to a standard for each award which is recognised and maintained across Universities and other higher education institutions in the United Kingdom.

G2.1 All modules will be assessed. Students are expected to attempt all required assessments for each module for which they are registered, and to do so at the times scheduled unless authorised extensions, special arrangements for students with a disability, or extenuating circumstances allowing deferral have been granted.

G2.2 Each module will specify an assessment strategy by which students can demonstrate the achievement of the learning outcomes for that module.

G2.3 With the exception of courses delivered by Distance Learning*, generic feedback on all in-module formative and summative elements of assessment which contribute to a module, will be made available to students within 15 working (3 weeks) days of the scheduled submission or examination date.  Generic feedback on end of module assessment and dissertations will be made available within 15 working days following the publication of results.  ‘Feedback’ may be oral, written, posted on a website or other.

* Feedback on assessment for courses delivered by Distance Learning to be made available within 20 working days.

G2.4 For all assessments, students will be provided with individual written feedback. 

G3.1 The University requires students to adhere to submission deadlines for any form of assessment.  A penalty will be applied in relation to unauthorised late submission of work.

G3.2 Authorisation of the late submission of work must be in writing.  The Dean of School with responsibility for the module, or appropriate academic staff nominated by the Dean of School, will be authorised to give permission for one extension of up to 10 working days where evidence of extenuating circumstances has been accepted and where submission within this timescale would be reasonable taking into account those circumstances.

G3.3 The University operates a universal penalty scale for unauthorised late submission of any form of assessed work.   Students who submit work within 5 working days after the published submission date without an authorised extension will obtain a maximum of the minimum pass mark (see H3) for that element of assessment.  All work submitted later than 5 days after the published submission date will be awarded a mark of 0% for that element of assessment. 

G3.4 Unauthorised late submission at resubmission will automatically be awarded a mark of 0% for that element of assessment.

G3.5 Where the nature of the circumstances is such that regulation G3.2 cannot be applied, students may submit a case for consideration in accordance with the procedure for Extenuating Circumstances.

G4 Examination Arrangements

G4.1 An examination is defined as a formal, timed assessment of any duration which is subject to continuous invigilation.

G4.2 The University operates a Code of Conduct in relation to the behaviour of examination candidates (see Assessment Handbook).

G5 Students with Disabilities and/or Learning Difficulties

G5.1 Special arrangements for the assessment of students with disabilities and/or learning difficulties will be made where valid supporting evidence has been made available and, where, on the basis of this evidence, special arrangements are deemed necessary and reasonable adjustment is possible.

G6 Assessment Practice

G6.1 The University is committed to the principle of maintaining academic standards through the processes of verification and moderation. (See Assessment Handbook)

G6.2 Comments made by the first marker on the student’s work or performance must be available to the moderator for all assessments other than projects/dissertations.

G6.3 The University requires examination scripts to be anonymised. 

G6.4 All postgraduate and final year undergraduate projects/dissertations must be clean double marked except where this is precluded because of the method of presentation for students with a disability or learning difficulty.

G6.5 Oral presentations or Viva Voce examinations which contribute more than 25% of the overall module mark require at least two members of academic staff to witness the presentation and to agree the mark awarded.

G7 Unfair Means to Enhance Performance

G7.1 The University regards any use of unfair means in an attempt to enhance performance or to influence the standard of award obtained as a serious academic and/or disciplinary offence.

G7.2 Unfair means includes all forms of cheating, plagiarism, collusion and re-presentation as defined in the Assessment Handbook.   Students are required to sign a declaration indicating that individual work submitted for assessment is their own. (see also A2.4)

G7.3 All instances or allegations of the use of unfair means will be investigated in line with the procedure set out in the Assessment Handbook.  If the allegation is found to be proven the Dean of School (or nominee) acting on behalf of the Assessment Board will implement the appropriate academic penalty in the module and report it to the Assessment Board.

In the event of a single offence of cheating, plagiarism, collusion and re-presentation in an undergraduate or postgraduate assessment, the appropriate penalty will be 0% for that element of assessment, and an overall fail for the module (which will be the resulting numeric average mark if below the minimum pass mark, or FR if the average would otherwise be a pass mark). The plagiarised element of assessment must be resubmitted to the required standard. The mark for the module following resubmission will be restricted to the minimum pass mark.  Where cheating, plagiarism or collusion are detected for the first time on a reassessment for an already failed module, no further reassessment for the module will be permitted, and the appropriate fail grade will be awarded.

In the event of a repeat offence of cheating, plagiarism, collusion or re-presentation (irrespective of whether the repeat offence involves the same form of unfair means) on the same or any other module within the course, the appropriate penalty will be 0% for the module with no opportunity for re-assessment. This penalty does not preclude the student being permitted to retake the module in a subsequent year.

[Note: The above penalties will apply where a student transfers from one UCLan course to another during their period of studies and module credits gained on the former course are transferred to the current course.]

G7.4 An Assessment Board will not come to a decision on a candidate’s result where an instance or allegation of the use of unfair means has not been resolved.

G7.5 Where evidence of plagiarism or cheating becomes available subsequent to the recommendation of the Assessment Board, the matter will be re-opened at a subsequent meeting of the Board and the original recommendation may be set aside if appropriate.

G7.6 Any appeal against the decision of the Dean of School (or nominee), will be heard under Stage 2 of the procedure for appeals against assessment board decisions, as set out in section 4.2 of the Assessment Handbook. An appeal will only be valid if it is based on the following grounds:

1. that  there has been a material administrative error at a stage of the examining process, or that some material irregularities have occurred;
2. that the assessment procedure and/or examinations have not been conducted in accordance with the approved regulations.

G8 Composition and Responsibilities of Assessment Boards

G8.1 Examiners/assessors are required to declare any close personal or business relationship with a student which could reasonably question the impartiality of the examining/assessment process.  The Chair of the Assessment Board will determine the most appropriate action in such cases. 

G8.2 Module Assessment Boards

G8.2.1 Each School of the University will operate a Module Assessment Board for all the modules assigned to that School.  Membership will comprise the Dean of School or nominee (Chair) and academic staff, including those from partner institutions, associated with the delivery of the modules.  External examiners will act as specialist advisers to the Board.

G8.2.2 The quorum for Module Assessment Boards shall be the attendance of the Dean of School or nominee (Chair) and an internal examiner for each module considered by the Board able to report fully on all results for that module.

G8.2.3 Where a module runs solely at a Partner Institution, the Partner Institution may operate the Module Assessment Board.

G8.2.4 It is the responsibility of the Module Assessment Board to determine the mark/grade achieved by each student in individual modules and to make recommendations to the appropriate Course Board in relation to reassessment and condonement.  In relation to modules assessed at the end of semester 1, the Module Board will determine offers of reassessment.

G8.2.5 Marks/grades determined by Module Assessment Boards shall not be subject to revision by other Boards.

G8.3 Subject Assessment Boards

G8.3.1 Each School will operate a Subject Assessment Board for each subject the School offers within the Combined Honours programme.  Membership will comprise the Dean of School or nominee (Chair), Subject Leader, and any academic staff who teach on the subject, including placement tutors.

G8.3.2 The quorum for Subject Assessment Boards shall be the attendance of the Dean of School or nominee (Chair), Subject Leader and an internal examiner for each module considered by the Board able to report fully on all results for that module.  In exceptional circumstances, the Dean of School may nominate an appropriate deputy for a Subject Leader who is unavoidably absent.

G8.3.3 It is the responsibility of the Subject Assessment Board to make recommendations on student progression and awards within the subject and to transmit these to the appropriate Combined and Joint Honours (Stage 1) or Combined and Joint Honours School Board (Stage 2).

G8.4 Course Assessment Boards

G8.4.1 Each School will operate a Course Assessment board for each Course for which the School is responsible and a School Board for the School’s combined honours students.  Membership will comprise the Dean of School (Chair), Course Leader, Subject Leaders, external examiner(s) and any academic staff who teach on the course including placement tutors.

G8.4.2 The Chair of the Course Assessment Board must have undertaken the required training and be on the University’s ‘List of Approved Chairs’.

G8.4.3 The quorum for the Course Assessment Board shall be the attendance of the Dean of School or nominee (Chair), Course/ Subject Leaders as appropriate for each course under consideration or Combined Honours Subject within the school and the External Examiner(s).  In exceptional circumstances, the Dean of School may nominate an appropriate deputy for a Course or Subject Leader who is unavoidably absent.

G8.4.4 Where a course runs solely at a Partner Institution, the University may delegate to the Partner Institution the operation of the Course Assessment Board.

G8.4.5 If in exceptional circumstances no External Examiner(s) is able to be present at the end of year Course Assessment Board, the External Examiner(s) will be required to confirm the recommendations of the Assessment Board and communicate his/her views by written correspondence to the Chair of the Assessment Board.  

G8.4.6 It is the responsibility of the Course and School Assessment Boards to determine the mark/grade for any applicable condonements and reassessments and to determine results for each student in relation to their progression or award.

G8.4.7 Results determined by Course/School Boards shall not be subject to revision by other Boards.

G9 Extenuating Circumstances

G9.1 The University operates a universal scheme for the submission of extenuating circumstances. (See Assessment Handbook).

G9.2 In determining assessment recommendations, Assessment Boards will consider or ratify earlier consideration of properly submitted claims from students who believe their performance has been adversely affected by extenuating circumstances.

G9.3 A disability or learning difficulty does not constitute an extenuating circumstance (see G5).

G9.4 Assessment Boards will not act on uncorroborated claims, nor on those which are submitted outside the published deadlines except where the late submission of the claim is itself justified by extenuating circumstances.

G9.5 Assessment Boards are not permitted to alter individual assessment marks to take account of extenuating circumstances.

G9.6 Where performance or incomplete assessment in a module is due to extenuating circumstances, the Module Board may recommend to the Course Assessment Board that the student will be assessed at the next opportunity as if for the first time (or first reassessment if the poor performance relates to a second sit). 

Where incomplete assessment in a module is due to extenuating circumstances, the Module Board may agree a module mark if sufficient evidence is available for the determination of such a mark. 

G9.7 Extenuating Circumstances will be taken into consideration by a Course Assessment Board as appropriate in the determination of the application of condonement provisions, opportunity for re-assessment and in overall progression/award classification decisions.

A Course Assessment Board, using its academic judgement, may take account of extenuating circumstances where the student’s overall performance is borderline, provided that there is good reason to believe that the student’s performance has been compromised by extenuating circumstances to an extent which has not been fully reflected in adjustments made to assessment at the module level (such as deadline extensions and variations in assessment method).

G9.8 Where poor performance or non-completion arising from extenuating circumstances is associated with a placement module the Course Assessment Board may, at its discretion and taking account of the extent to which the learning outcomes of the module have been met, either (i) deem the placement completed satisfactorily, (ii) specify arrangements for completion or (iii) require a repeat of the placement.

G9.9 In exceptional circumstances, where the performance of a group of students has been adversely affected by external factors outside the University’s control, reference should be made to Section K of the Academic Regulations on ‘Extraordinary Circumstances Governing the Assessment Process’.

G9.10 Where the original assessment cannot be replicated, the Assessment Board may permit a variation in the deferred assessment pattern provided that these are appropriate to demonstrate the achievement of the required learning outcomes.

G10.1 Condonement describes the process by which a student who fails to satisfy some element of assessment is nevertheless recommended for progression/award on the grounds that the failure is marginal or is offset by good performance in other components of his/her study programme.

G10.2 A Course Assessment Board may, at its discretion, condone failure in a module where, in its considered academic judgement, the condonement is fair and reasonable in relation to the learning outcomes of the course and the standard of the student’s performance as a whole.

G10.3 The number of standard modules (20 credits) which can be condoned within an award is limited according to the maxima shown in the following table.  Course regulations may specify less than the maximum where this is appropriate or where professional body requirements so dictate.

G10.4 Where a Course Assessment Board applies condonement to a module the original mark or grade shall not be altered and will be used in any award classification

G10.5 Performance in core modules cannot be condoned except within Combined Honours awards in Stage 1 where condonement may be applied if there is no progression in the relevant Subject.

G11.1 The decision to offer reassessment lies with the Course/School Assessment Board taking account of the recommendations from Module Boards and the student’s overall profile.  For modules which are assessed at the end of the first semester, the decision to offer reassessment lies with the Module Board. 

G11.2 Where a student has failed a component of assessment within a module and is required to be reassessed in that component, the maximum mark which may be awarded for any reassessed component will be the minimum pass mark (ie 40% for undergraduate work and 50% for postgraduate work or P or S) and this mark will contribute to the overall aggregate mark for the module.

G11.3 A module, or a component within it, may be reassessed only once.

G11.4 In-module reassessment is permitted and if marked numerically is subject to the requirements of G11.2 and G11.3 (ie that the assessment is capped and a further attempt is treated as the reassessment opportunity). In-module skills tests graded pass/fail are not subject to G11.2 and G11.3.

G12.1 The definition of ‘attempt’ is a student’s first ‘sit’ and any ‘resit’ (of any component of assessment) within a module.

A retake of the same or an alternative module in a subsequent year or semester is considered to be a separate second attempt.

The following are not considered to be ‘separate attempts’

1. where a student is reassessed for a module;
2. re-enrolment for the module in a subsequent semester where a module grade is  ‘deferred’.
3. Where, because of extenuating circumstances, a student is permitted to repeat a year ‘with good cause’.  In this situation all module results from the original year will be invalidated and such modules will not count towards the total number of attempts.

G12.2 Except in the case of Certificate and Advanced Certificate Awards, or where Edexcel regulations apply, there shall be a limit to the number of module attempts permitted within each award.

G12.3 The number of modules (ie multiples of 20 credits) which may be attempted within certain awards is stipulated as follows:

* Additional module attempts at Stage One of the same programme shall be permitted only exceptionally, where the Board is satisfied that the student would benefit from a further attempt, and that he/she has a reasonable prospect of success notwithstanding his/her previous performance.

G12.4 In order to retake a failed module or to attempt an equivalent module to a failed module, a Course Assessment Board may allow a full time student to register for one additional module in the following year (exceeding by one the normal maximum of six modules).

G12.5 Retaken modules must be studied and completed in full.  Any passed elements from the previous attempt cannot be carried over.

G12.6 Marks for retaken modules will be capped at the minimum pass mark.

G12.7 At the discretion of the Course/School Assessment Board and subject to any specific course requirements a student may be allowed to nominate an alternative module as the retaken module. The alternative module will be capped at the minimum pass mark.

G12.8 No student is permitted to retake a module that has been passed, subject to the following exceptions:

1. where a student, because of extenuating circumstances, receives the recommendation ‘Repeat Year with Good Cause’, all module grades in that year will be invalidated and passed modules may be newly attempted;
2. where a student cannot retake modules on a part-time basis because of documented circumstances beyond their control (e.g. bursary or registration conditions), that student may exceptionally be permitted to retake one or more modules which have been passed, in order to constitute a full-time year.  However, the marks awarded for those modules at the original attempt will stand.

G12.9 The permission of additional module attempts on all programmes shall be at the discretion of the appropriate Course/School Assessment Board, which will not withhold permission unless, in its academic judgement, the student lacks any reasonable prospect of success in subsequent attempts. In the latter case, the student will be obliged to withdraw from the programme, and any future re-admission will be at the discretion of the relevant Dean of School.

G13.1 Where it becomes clear that a student will not meet the academic or other course specific progression requirements, the Chair of the appropriate Course/School Assessment Board may require a student to interrupt or discontinue their study during the academic session.  In such cases the student will have the same rights as apply under the Academic Appeals procedure (see section I).

G13.2 Students on professionally regulated courses which lead directly to or which satisfy the conditions of a professional qualification, or which confer a direct licence to practise, are also subject to a fitness to practise procedure (see Regulations for the Conduct of Students).

Section H