4.23.1 Addendum to Examination Conventions 2020/21
Module indicators to be used in 2020/21
The following indicators are used for module marks of less than 40% for undergraduate modules (50% for M Level modules and postgraduate marks):
|
A |
Absence from an August resit only |
|
F |
Resit for capped mark (part two only, including FDA and FDSC part one and two) |
|
H |
Resit for full mark (part two only, including FDA and FDSC part one and two) |
|
M |
Resit for full mark (part one) |
|
N |
No resit allowed (for cases of Unacceptable Academic Practice only) |
|
P |
Resit for capped mark (part one only for cases of Unacceptable Academic Practice) |
|
R |
Resit for full mark (part one only) |
|
S |
Resit for capped mark (part two only, including FDA and FDSC part one and two) |
|
T |
Resit for capped mark (part two – level M only and postgraduate marks) |
|
U |
Holding indicator for a missing mark because of an allegation of Unacceptable Academic Practice for which an investigation is not yet complete |
The following indicators have been carried over for module marks from 2019/20:
|
Q |
Less than 50% of the assessment or no assessment has run and there is no module mark. There is NO opportunity to resit any part of the assessment in the future, although a student may repeat the module as part of a repeat year. The module is deemed to be a pass for progression and award purposes but will not count in the credits used to calculate the class of award. |
|
Y |
Used where the mark given has been derived from assessments making up at least 50% but less than 100% of the module assessment, where alternative assessments have not taken place and where the mark is a pass. Modules with Y indicators count in the credits used to calculate the class of award. Y will not be used for failed module marks |
Special circumstances
1. Students will not be asked to submit Special Circumstances forms and evidence for modules assessed during semester one and semester two of 2020/21.
2. Students unable to complete assessments, for whatever reason, will automatically be granted uncapped (M/H indicator) resit opportunities for non-submissions or in the case of failure, with the exception of where an Unacceptable Academic Practice (UAP) penalty has been applied or where the previous result was a capped resit.
3. The suspension of the normal Special Circumstances procedure will be temporary for the academic session 2020/21 to cover the semester one and semester two assessment periods plus PGT dissertations submitted at the end of September only.
Unacceptable Academic Practice
4. Where a UAP penalty has been applied this will stand and uncapped resits are NOT allowed (unless approved as part of the UAP process).
Exchange students
5. Returning exchange students, unable to complete all or some of the assessment at their exchange provider, will be deemed to have passed for progression purposes and will also be able to repeat credits in the following year should they so wish.
6. Incoming exchange students will receive module marks on the above terms.
Progression rules still apply.
7. See the University’s Examination Conventions:
AQH 4.2 Bachelor’s Degree: Rules for Progression
AQH 4.3 Integrated Master’s Degrees: Rules for Progression
AQH 4.7 Foundation Degrees: Rules for Progression
AQH 4.14 Progression Rules for Taught Postgraduate Schemes
Part One of Bachelor’s and Integrated Master’s awards and the first two years of schemes with a foundation year (Levels 0 and 1)
8. Student will be awarded uncapped (M indicator) resit opportunities for failures and non-submissions; these must be taken at the earliest opportunity which, in most cases, will be August 2021 unless they have Special Circumstances at that time.
9. There will be no cap on the number of credits that students can attempt in August (students failing more than 80 credits will be offered a choice between attempting resits in August or repeating the year; students will be contacted by the Academic Registry after results release to make this offer).
10. There will be no opportunity to improve upon pass marks (note that Part One results for these awards do not contribute to the final degree classification).
Part Two of Bachelor’s and Integrated Master’s awards (Levels 2, 3 and 4) and UGs on Foundation Degree schemes (Levels 1 and 2)
11. Student will be awarded uncapped (H indicator) resit opportunities for failures and non-submissions; these must be taken at the earliest opportunity which, in most cases, will be August 2021 unless they have Special Circumstances at that time.
12. There will be no cap on the number of credits that students can attempt in August (noting that students failing more than 80 credits will be offered a choice between attempting resits in August or repeating the year; students will be contacted by the Academic Registry after results release to make this offer).
13. Students will be offered one further opportunity to improve a mark on any passed module which must be taken in August unless they have Special Circumstances at that time. Students will be required to register in July if they wish to take this opportunity which will be on the basis of no detriment: the higher mark will stand. Students will be strongly advised to discuss the implications of taking such an opportunity with their academic department(s) before registering to resit a module they have passed.
14. Finalists will be given one opportunity to accept or decline their indicative class on the publication of results at the end of the session (note that this only applies to classified Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees). Once an indicative class has been accepted, module marks will be final.
Taught Postgraduates
15. Students will be awarded uncapped (H indicator) resit opportunities for failures and non-submissions. Students who are completing a qualification in June/July must take resits in August unless they have Special Circumstances at that time. Master’s students continuing with their degrees after June/July may takes resits in August or during the following session.
16. Students will be offered one further opportunity to improve a mark on any passed module including the dissertation which must be taken either in August (for students completing awards in semester two) or during August or the following session for Master’s candidates who are continuing with their degrees after June/July.
17. Finalists will be given one opportunity to accept or decline their indicative class on the publication of results at the end of the session or in December 2021 (note that this opportunity only applies to classified Master’s degrees). Once an indicative class has been accepted, module marks will become final.
Classification of Awards
18. Modules deemed to have been passed (i.e. those with Q indicators) will count towards the total passed credits required to qualify for the award, but may not be equal to more than one third of the required credits. These modules will not be used when calculating the classification. Note that the number of failed credits permitted has not changed and remains as stated in the examination conventions.
Window of Opportunity for UGs and PGTs (only applies to classified Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees)
19. Students whose cascade average falls within 2% of any borderline shall be raised to the higher class provided they meet the preponderance criteria stated in the Examination Conventions.
20. There will be no Window of Opportunity for special circumstances. This is because of the limited number of pre-pandemic marks on which to base any judgment about a student’s performance over time and the decision to suspend the requirement to submit Special Circumstances forms due to difficulties around obtaining and verifying supporting evidence. However, it should be noted that students have additional opportunities to improve their degree classification through the opportunity to improve on passed marks and uncapped resit opportunities for any failed modules which are not available under normal circumstances.
Research Postgraduates
21. For students taking taught modules during semesters one and two, uncapped H resits will be awarded to all failed modules without the requirement to provide Special Circumstances forms.
22. Resits of passed modules will not be permitted.