4.21.1 Addendum to Examination Conventions (2019/20)
Module indicators to be used in semester two 2020
|
No indicator |
Passed mark, module assessment completed |
|
Y |
To be 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. There will be an opportunity to resit these modules for the full mark even if the module has been passed. Modules with Y indicators count in the credits used to calculate the class of award. Y will not be used for failed module marks |
The following indicators are used for derived module marks and module marks of less than 40% for undergraduate modules (50% for M Level modules and postgraduate marks):
|
A |
To be used as a holding indicator for a missing mark because of an allegation of Unacceptable Academic Practice for which an investigation is not yet complete |
|
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) |
|
H/M |
To be used either where a module mark is unavailable at the time of the exam board, e.g. field trip, but will be available at a later date, or where the module has not been passed to show a resit for the full mark will be offered in August. |
|
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) |
|
Q |
Less than 50% of the assessment or no assessment has run and there will be no module mark. There will be 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. |
|
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) |
Special circumstances
1. Students do not need to complete special circumstances forms in semester two, either for non-submission or because they believe special circumstances have adversely impacted their performance. Students in both categories will be given the opportunity to request an uncapped resit. Departments should not advise students to submit forms and evidence for Covid-19 or other circumstances.
Progression rules
All part one students
2. Normal progression rules apply, i.e. to progress from one year of study to the next students must pass a minimum of 100 credits, which can include modules with Q and Y indicators. Where students are required to achieve an overall average in order to progress, modules with Q indicators will not be included in that calculation, i.e. an average of 40 for progression at part one.
3. Resits in August, including semester one resits, will not be compulsory. There will be no cap on the number of resits in August 2020 only.
All part two students
4. Normal progression rules apply: i.e. to progress from one year of study to the next students must pass a minimum of 100 credits, which can include modules with Q and Y indicators [1]. Where students are required to achieve an overall average in order to progress, modules with Q indicators will not be included in that calculation, e.g. an average of 55 for progression on integrated master’s degrees.
5. Resits in August, including semester one resits, will not be compulsory. There will be no cap on the number of resits in August 2020 only.
6. For semester two modules:
(i) ALL students will be allowed an uncapped resit for ANY module assessed in semester two, whether they have failed it, (automatic H indicator, i.e. resit for a full mark) or passed it, with the exception of where a Unacceptable Academic Practice (UAP) penalty has been applied.
(ii) Where a student chooses to resit a passed module the higher mark will stand.
7. Semester one resit indicators already confirmed by the semester one Examination Boards will stand; students who are resitting a capped semester one module in August will be eligible for a further capped resit opportunity (S indicator).
8. Second year student with Y, Q and H indicators may choose to withdraw at the end of semester two and return in September 2021 or 2022. If they have more than 20 credits of H they will repeat the year. Y and Q indicators may still appear in awards determined in the future to September 2025.
Postgraduate taught students
9. Resit indicators as above.
10. Resits in August, including semester one resits, will not be compulsory. There will be no cap on the number of resits in August 2020 only.
Exchange students
11. 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. Using H, Q and Y indicators.
12. Incoming exchange students will receive module marks on the above terms.
Degree awards and classifications
Undergraduate awards
13. The number of failed credits allowed to achieve a degree has not changed. For example, to obtain a Bachelor’s degree a student may only fail 20 out of 240 credits taken at part two.
14. Bachelor’s and Integrated Master’s degrees will be classified where at least two thirds of the credits required have been passed, including those with Y indicators.
15. Modules with Q indicators will not count toward the classification.
16. Worked examples:
|
Bachelor’s degree - 240 credits at part two, at least 220 of which must be passed credits (excluding Level S modules) |
||
|
160 credits with pass marks (including Y indicators) |
80 credits deemed to have been passed with Q indicators |
No fail credits |
|
160 credits with pass marks (including Y indicators) |
60 credits deemed to have been passed with Q indicators |
20 credits of fail |
|
200 credits with pass marks (including Y indicators) |
40 credits deemed to have been passed with Q indicators |
No fail credits |
|
Integrated Master’s degree (entry between Sept 2013 and Sept 2016 – may fail no more than 20 credits; entry after Sept 2016 – may fail no more than 20 credits at level 2 and 3, and 20 credits at level M) - 360 credits at part two, at least 320 of which must be passed credits (excluding Level S modules) |
||
|
240 credits with pass marks (including Y indicators) (entry between Sept 2013 and Sept 2016) |
120 credits deemed to have been passed with Q indicators |
No fail credits |
|
240 credits with pass marks (including Y indicators) (entry between Sept 2013 and Sept 2016) |
100 credits deemed to have been passed with Q indicators |
20 credits of fail at Pt2 |
|
240 credits with pass marks (including Y indicators) (entry from Sept 2016) |
120 credits deemed to have been passed with Q indicators |
No fail credits |
|
240 credits with pass marks (including Y indicators) (entry from Sept 2016) |
100 credits deemed to have been passed with Q indicators |
20 credits of fail at level M OR at level 2 or 3 |
|
240 credits with pass marks (including Y indicators) (entry from Sept 2016) |
80 credits deemed to have been passed with Q indicators |
20 credits of fail at level M and 20 credits of fail at level 2 OR 3 (not both) |
|
Ordinary degree - minimum of 60 credits at Level 3 or above and passes in at least 160 credits over part two as a whole (excluding Level S modules). |
||
|
110 credits with pass marks (including Y indicators) |
50 credits deemed to have been passed with Q indicators |
80 credits of fail |
17. Results based on incomplete assessment will be presented as indicative degree classes which students will be able to:
(i) accept and graduate, results will then be final
(ii) wait for marks to become available
or
(iii) resit affected modules before receiving the degree.
Window of opportunity
18. See Appendix 1 Covid-19 Window of Opportunity: Undergraduate Degrees and Appendix 2 Covid-19 Window of Opportunity: Master’s Degrees.
Postgraduate taught awards
19. The same module indicators will apply as for undergraduate students apart from T (capped resit indicator).
20. The number of failed credits allowed to achieve a degree has not changed. For example, to obtain a Masters’ degree a student may only fail 20 out of 180 credits. Degrees will be classified where at least two thirds of the credits required have been passed, including those with Y indicators. Modules with Q indicators will not count toward the classification.
21. PGCTHE – note external accreditation issues.
22. PGCE, with or without QTS, requirements must be met in line with recent guidance published by Welsh Government which provides for the early termination of school placements.
Undergraduate and postgraduate taught exit (fall back) awards
23. Classified exit awards (PGCert, PGDip, BSc/BA where it is an exit point on an IM scheme):
(i) Q modules will count towards the number of passed credits required for the award but not towards credits used in the classification.
(ii) At least two thirds of required credits for classification must by actual marks or Y modules; Q modules cannot be counted.
24. Unclassified exit awards CertHE, DipHE, Ordinary Degree: Q indicators must not contribute to more than one third of any exit award.
Other undergraduate level awards
25. PCE and PRGCE – All module assessments have been set as normal, with no requirement for Q or Y indicators. Practical teaching requirements have been amended for semester two only, and students who have not completed these to the satisfaction of the examiners will defer the final award until they can complete the remaining practical requirements.
Examples of possible scenarios and outcomes:
| Scenario | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Student was set an alternative assessment, did it and passed the module | Receives a pass mark |
| 2 | Student was set an alternative assessment, did it but failed the module | Receives a failed mark and an H indicator |
| 3 | Student was set an alternative assessment, decided not to take it. However they have completed other assessments. | 0 penalty applies to all non-submissions. H indicator if not passed by virtue of marks from other components |
| 4 | Student was set an alternative assessment, decided not to take it. Has no other marks for the module. | Receives a 0 mark for non submission and H indicator |
| 5 | Student was NOT set an alternative assessment. They have completed some assessments but not worth 50% or more but they have a component mark. | No partial mark, blank and Q indicator |
| 6 | Student was NOT set an alternative assessment. They have completed assessments worth 50% or more of the module. | Receives a derived mark with a Y indicator where the module has been passed. If the module is not passed the appropriate fail indicator is applied, this would be an H or M except in cases of confirmed UAP |
| 7 | Student will be offered the assessment at a later date (such as fieldwork). | Blank mark and an H indicator |
| 8 | Student taking resits from last session for a capped mark, but fail or do not submit assessment. | 0 for non-submission. S indicator (UG) or T resit indicator for level M modules |
| 9 | Student wishes to leave their course and receive a classified exit award, where this is available, e.g. PGCert, PGDip, BSc/BA where it is an exit point on an IM scheme |
Q modules will count towards the number of passed credits required for the award but not towards credits used in the classification. At least two thirds of required credits for classification must by actual marks or Y modules, Q modules cannot be counted. |
| 10 | Student wishes to leave their course and receive an exit award (not classified), e.g. CertHE, DipHE, Ordinary degree | Q indicators must not contribute to more than one third of any exit award |
| 11 | Students who were set alternative assessments, did them in May but failed. Did them again in the resit period and failed again and end up with more than 20 credits of H | Student will need to repeat the failed credits next session |
| 12 | Students who have H resits for marks due at a later date (such as fieldwork) and they also have up to 20 credits of H in other modules. | Allowed to progress. These fieldwork modules must have been identified in advance and recorded in the exam board minutes |
| 13 | Finalists not happy with their indicative class of degree | Finalists may opt to reject the indicative degree class and resit any semester two module, apart from F or N indicators. (In semester two, F indicators will only apply in UAP cases) |
| 14 | Part two non-finalist student who has met the progression requirements but wishes to repeat the year | Student may be able to repeat failed modules (from semester one) and request to repeat modules assessed in semester two |
| 15 | Students with too many credits of fail and have to repeat the year may argue they wish to repeat Q indicator modules in order to gain full time status for financial support from the SLC | Students will be allowed to repeat Q modules if they wish to. |
[1] DGES/Field work module which must be assessed in order to meet the learning outcomes of the scheme should be recorded with an H indicator, and students will be allowed to trail this module into the next year.