This policy should be read in conjunction with the Participation and Attendance as Items of Assessment Guidelines.

Definitions:

• Extracted from the Examinations Rules

R3(1) examination, in relation to a course, includes any task that is required to be performed by a student for the assessment of the student's performance in that course;

R5(1) final examination for a course means the final assessment for the course that is in the form of a compulsory formal sit-down theory examination where a student must perform the whole of the examination on a given day at a given time.

R5(2) For subrule (1), an examination is a final examination for a course only if there is no alternative to examination as the final piece of assessment for the course.

R5(3) The Delegated Authority may extend the definition of final examination for a course to include other forms of examination, including, but not limited to, practical examinations, take-home examinations and essays representing the final assessment in the course.

• "study break" means the three days preceding the commencement of the examination session

1.  Introduction

1.1  The University recognises that while lecturers must explain their assessment systems to students in the course and respond to student comments and suggestions, the lecturers in each subject are responsible for determining the assessment system.

1.2  This policy applies to all coursework courses, both undergraduate and postgraduate, offered in the University.  (Some provisions, eg 2.2, 4.2 and 5.1, may not be applicable to non-standard or intensive courses.  However, the underlying principles should be followed as far as practicable.)

2.  Consultation on assessment

2.1  That no later than the first week of each semester, and preferably before, the proposed assessment system for each course to be taught in that semester will be made available to prospective and enrolled students, both in hard copy and in electronic form.  This information should state clearly and precisely when assessment tasks would be due, their nature, duration or length, the weighting of each assessable item in the total assessment scheme, and penalties for late submission.  Students should be advised to check the Undergraduate Handbook

 and the web for policy statements concerning special consideration and special, further and supplementary examinations.

2.2  That in classes during the first two weeks of each semester the Course Authority/Coordinator or lecturer will discuss and explain to students the assessment system outlined in 2.1. 

2.3  Statements of course content and assessment will be published by the Course Authority/Co-ordinator or lecturer on the course information website.

2.4.  The College Dean should monitor the distribution of assessment and deadlines for submission in the semester across courses offered by their areas.  Excessive clashes or congestion should be taken-up with Course Authorities/Coordinators with a view to achieving a reasonable distribution in respect of major assignments as far as is practicable. 

3.  Disagreements over the assessment system

3.1  The appropriate avenue for raising questions about the assessment system is with the lecturer in the first instance.

3.2  In the event of significant disagreement between students and academic staff about the assessment system the matter may be referred for mediation to the College Dean.

3.3  Any changes to the announced assessment system after week two of the semester must be discussed with students.  Where the proposed change does not have the agreement of the whole class, it requires the approval of the College Dean before it may be implemented.

3.4  The College Dean will ensure that a student's performance in a course and program of study is not affected by the making of a complaint of an academic nature by the student.

4. Examinations 

4.1  All students enrolled in coursework who have followed the confirmed assessment system for the respective courses are eligible to present work/sit any examination required for the purpose of the final assessment in the course.

4.2  Other than in exceptional circumstances, no single item of assessment should constitute the sole assessment in any course.  An exception to this is in the case of postgraduate coursework programs, which require one substantial piece of research in a course.

4.3  Every effort should be made to remove ambiguity from examination questions and assignment topics.  If there are ambiguities, spelling mistakes or incorrect instructions, the College Dean should ensure that students are not penalised.

5.  Timing of assessment and feedback

5.1 (a)  Other than in exceptional circumstances, all final examinations should be held in the examination period and not in the final two weeks of the semester; where possible, mid-semester undergraduate examinations should be held in a common period agreed upon by all Colleges.  No examinations will be held during the study break.  This refers to all examinations (see subrules 3(1), 5(1) and 5(3) of the Rules). 

(b)  In courses where there is no final examination, i.e. a compulsory formal sit-down theory examination where a candidate must perform the whole of the examination in a given time, the final piece of assessment may be scheduled for submission during the examination period, but not during periods ruled out in 5.1(a).

5.2  Other items of assessment (i.e. assessment which counts towards the final result in a course including essays, reports, field trips, etc) should not be scheduled for submission in the last week of the semester, during the examination periods or during the study break.  Exceptions are: 

(a)   laboratory reports and tutorial presentations/papers (including simulations, reflective diaries etc) which have to be scheduled in the final week; and

(b)   work which does not form part of the assessment for the final result in a

course (eg short examination preparation tests).

5.3  The results and feedback for each assignment should be made available to students within a reasonable time before they sit the final examination in the course. (Sub-theses are exempted from this provision).

6.  Reporting

6.1  The College Dean will report annually to the Education Committee on whether or not these principles and procedures have been complied with. 

1974; revised 1993; 2002 1423/2002; amendment March 2006 32/2006; minor update 9 April 2009 32a/2006 (previous file 200205262)