| Mark Range | Degree Class | |
| 70+ | 1st | |
| 60-69 | 2.1 | |
| 50-59 | 2.2 | |
| 40-49 | 3rd | |
| 35-39 | Pass | |
| 30 | Fail | |
| 20 | Poor fail | |
| 10 | Very poor fail | |
| 0 | Non-submission |
The pass mark for each unit will be 35 for all levels.
First
Comprehensive knowledge and clear understanding of the subject area and its principles, concepts and terminology; evidence of extensive additional reading; highly accurate work with no major errors or omissions. Extremely well presented and structured work; convincingly developed arguments using well-chosen supporting evidence; excellent concise logic. High level of critical and analytical ability; capacity to select, question, synthesize and evaluate material; originality of thought; ability to make interdisciplinary comparisons.
Upper Second
Considerable knowledge and good understanding of the subject area and its principles, concepts and terminology; evidence of wide additional reading; accurate work with few errors or omissions. Very well presented and structured work; relevant arguments well developed and supported by evidence. Considerable critical and analytical ability; clear insights and competent evaluation of material, some evidence of abilities to select and synthesise.
Lower Second
Satisfactory knowledge of the subject area and its principles, concepts and terminology with clear evidence of additional reading; mainly accurate work. Well structured work with some clearly presented supporting material. Good appreciation, application and critical ability; some thoughtful discussion of material.
Third
Some knowledge of the subject area and its principles, concepts and terminology, with some evidence of additional reading; reasonably accurate work. Reasonable structure and clarity; assertions usually supported by appropriate evidence. Reasonable appreciation, application and critical ability.
Pass
Basic knowledge of the subject area and its principles, concepts and terminology with limited or no evidence of additional reading; occasionally inaccurate work with significant errors or omissions. Limited structure; hard to follow; assertions not supported by appropriate evidence. Little critical appraisal of material.
Fail
Minimal knowledge with no evidence of relevant reading; work contains grave inaccuracies with major errors and omissions. Little or no structure; absence of coherent argument; assertions unsupported by relevant evidence. No critical appraisal of material.
2.2 The degree classification is calculated as follows:
2.3 An upgrade to the next highest classification is invoked for candidates who achieve 6 Level 3 unit results in the higher category provided that they have recorded no fails in Level 3.
2.4 A mark of zero is awarded when a unit has been failed and either not retaken or has been failed at a second attempt. In these circumstances unit results of zero are included in the full results profile used for the calculation of degree classification at levels 2 and 3.
2.5 Condonement of failure is not permitted under these regulations. The treatment of special circumstances is dealt with under Section 15.
3.2 Any student who has accrued 120 Level 2 credits is eligible for a Diploma of Higher Education.
3.3 Students who are progressing to Level 3 are not eligible for the award of a Diploma of Higher Education.
5.1 In order to qualify for the award of Certificate of Higher Education students must achieve a Level 1 average mark of 35 or above (i.e. the total of all 8 Level 1 unit results, including zeros, divided by 8).
*Where the programme consists of more than 8 units per level, average marks for the units are weighted according to credit rating.
5.2 Any student who has accrued 120 Level 1 credits is eligible for the award of a Certificate of Higher Education.
5.3 Students who are progressing to Level 2 will not be eligible for the award of a Certificate of Higher Education.
7.1 Retakes in Levels 1, 2 and 3
It is every student's right to retake a unit which they have failed at first attempt. Success at the retake will result in a pass mark of 35% where the entire unit was originally failed and then passed on retake. In circumstances where the unit is passed overall but students fail a component part of it which Subjects require them to pass, students retake the failed component only. On successful completion, they may only be awarded the pass mark of 35 for the failed element which will is then be added to the original mark for the original successful component and the new unit result calculated. Declining a retake will result in a failed mark of zero. Zero score unit results are contributory to degree classification, other exit awards and progression score calculations.
7.2 Students must be aware that failure in a unit may affect their future programme of study. Certain units are designated as pre-requisites or core and may need to be passed before units at a higher level can be taken.
7.3 Students must be aware that failure in a dissertation/project unit may affect the Honours classification of their degree.
8.1 Every student is entitled to one resit opportunity at some point during their award registration.
8.2 If students fail retake examinations in the Autumn, they will be required to resit all 8 papers at the next normal time of examination at the end of Semester 1 and Semester 2 in the following year. During that following year their registration will be suspended.
8.3 Resit papers will be based on the syllabus as taught originally to the student and not to any changes in curriculum which occur subsequently.
8.4 Where students resit all papers, they will only be eligible to receive the basic pass mark of 35% for such papers.
10.2 Conduct of Examinations and Extra Time
Normally no candidate will be permitted to enter the examination room more than ½ hour after an examination has begun and no candidate will be permitted to leave the room during the first ½ hour or the last ½ hour of the time allowed for the examination.
In cases of illness or dyslexia, students may be allowed extra time on the recommendations of their Programme Co-ordinator or be allowed to sit the examination in a separate room. In these cases it is the Programme Co-ordinator’s responsibility to organise notification to the Examinations Office so that special arrangements can be made. Students should speak to their Programme Co-ordinator as early as possible. In all normal circumstances, reading time is included in the total time for an examination. Where extra time is agreed, appropriate medical evidence may be required.
11.2 Use of a Scribe
A person engaged as a scribe must have approval of the Co-ordinator of the subject concerned. Every effort must be made to avoid any opportunity for cheating: in some cases it will be necessary for the scribe to be conversant with the subject area. A scribe must transcribe only that which is indicated by the candidate and should only converse with the candidate to clarify his/her instruction. Where the services of a scribe are employed, separate examination accommodation will be necessary. A note on the conduct of the examination will be included in the invigilator's report.
11.3 Use of a Typewriter/Word Processor
For certain disabilities candidates may produce their script on a typewriter with separate arrangements for the examination and invigilation of the student being made.
11.4 Enlargement of Examination Papers
Where a candidate is partially sighted the College may produce enlargements of the papers where requested.
12.2 Invigilation and 'On-Call' Arrangements
The Registry will appoint a Chief Invigilator and sufficient invigilators for each examination venue, and will issue instructions to them. Candidates may not use calculators unless the rubric of the examination paper states that they are allowed. Normally no candidate will be permitted to enter the examination room more than half an hour after an examination has begun and no candidate will be permitted to leave the room during the first hour or the last 30 minutes of the time allowed for examination. Whenever it may appear that a candidate, through circumstances beyond his/her control, may deserve extra time in which to complete a paper, such extra time may be allowed only at the discretion of the Subject Co-ordinator or of the person nominated as his/her representative, who will arrange for invigilation during the extra time. The Chief Invigilator has authority to ask any candidate who is guilty of misbehaviour to leave the room at once. The Chief Invigilator will give the script of such a candidate separately to the Registry with such information as may be needed to provide the College Board with a full report of the incident. The Registry will communicate both to the Assistant Registrar and the Subject Co-ordinator/School Head. Together they will decide on appropriate action consulting the Chair of LTQC if necessary.
Academic Staff responsible for setting individual papers must be available on call when their paper is being sat. They must be available in the College or provide telephone numbers at which they are easily accessible so that any queries about the paper can be dealt with immediately without inconveniencing students or other College staff.
12.3 Collection of Examination Scripts
Academic Staff are responsible for collecting examination scripts from the Registry: They will be required to count the scripts, assure themselves that none are unaccounted for and sign for their release for marking.
12.4 Student Absence from Examinations
Registry is responsible for informing staff of absences from examinations. It is very important that any unexplained absences are followed up as quickly as possible. If good reason is established with evidence, it is the responsibility of the Examination Board to determine an alternative way of assessing the candidate either through deferred examination or alternative forms of assessment. Condonements may not be used. If the absence is not explained to the satisfaction of the College, the candidate will be deemed to have failed the examination.
12.5 Methods of Moderation of Examination Scripts
12.6 External Moderation
The College is committed to implementing the CVCP Code of Practice guidance on moderation consistently across all departments. A copy of the policy on moderation is available from the College registry on request.
12.7 Internal Moderation
Independent Marking for Dissertations/Projects
In cases of dissertations or projects at level 3, the written piece of work will be marked independently by two markers who do not refer to each others' marks or comments. They will then jointly consider their comments and marks to arrive at an agreed mark. Where differences occur, every attempt will be made to resolve the disagreement within the Subject with the involvement of another colleague who may read the project in the knowledge of the other markers' comments and marks. Once a mark has been agreed internally, the External Examiner shall be sent the work plus the agreed mark, along with the comments of all internal examiners and their original marks. The External will be asked to comment on the standard.
Moderation of All Other Units
The College complies with the University policy on moderation of all assessment. A copy of the policy on moderation is avalable from the College registry on request. 1
13.2 Procedures for Submission
All students (unless given exemptions - see below) are required to submit essays with an assignment proforma attached. Deadlines for submission must be clearly stated. After 4pm on the day of the deadline, the work will be marked 'late submission, date and time'. If students post work to College, it must be sent recorded delivery and students are advised to retain a copy.
13.3 Extensions and Penalty for Late Submission
Any student wishing to request an extension for the submission of an assessed piece of coursework must do so in writing in advance of the due date to the designated tutor, using the appropriate pro-forma. There is provision for appeal to the Head of Academic Division should this request be declined. If the request is approved the tutor must annotate the assignment proforma with the revised due date and his/her signature and date of approval. Students who submit coursework between one and five working days late without an approved extension may receive a maximum possible mark of 35. Work submitted thereafter without an approved extension will be deemed to have failed and will be assigned zero.
14.2 At the end of the year Registry will issue pass lists for finalists in each programme, by classification and these will be displayed in College following confirmation by the Exam Board. These are subject to the approval of Senate.
14.3 Registry will also produce computerised records of each student's profile of unit marks.
14.4 Registry will issue to a letter notifying students of any units they have failed and are required to retake/resit. The letter will refer students to subject staff for precise information about what the coursework or examination requirements are.
Principles
In no circumstances will any mark obtained in an examination be amended to take account of the candidates special considerations.
The College will only uphold Special Considerations if it is satisfied that there is academic evidence that the special consideration may have affected student performance.
Marks will not normally be adjusted. A retake as a first attempt will be offered to the student. This may result in a student being conditionally eligible to proceed to the next level.
Procedures for Special Consideration by an Exam Board.
Students should collect a special consideration request form from the Student Information Office. The special consideration request proforma requires the student to identify which unit(s)/assessment(s) they believe were affected by the special consideration. the submission should include 'formal evidence' (see definitions below) if not already on file.
Students must submit a completed special consideration request form direct to the Examinations Officer in the Registry.
The Examinations Officer will inform students in writing whether:
For Special Considerations claims under 3iii above, Registry will present full academic profiles (all levels) to the Special Considerations Meeting and provide oral reports which inform:
The Special Consideration Meeting is required to decide whether there is any evidence that the student's academic performance could have beeen affected by the Special Consideration circumstances. If a student's academic performance is not deemed to have been affected no compensation will be made for the Special Consideration claim.
Registry will record the decision of the Special Considerations Meeting and report the outcome to the Faculty Award Board.
Definitions of Evidence
Formal Evidence
Doctor/medical certificate, police report, court letter, solicitor's letter, letter from funeral director, copy of death certificate, hospital appointment card, insurance documentation.
Academic Evidence
The Examination Board agrees that there is a significant drop in Performance i.e. compared to previous academic profile in an element(s) of assessment(s).