Conventions Governing Part I Examinations

These should be read in conjunction with the Undergraduate Examination Handbook 2014 (revised September 2014)

A. University Requirements
B. Resits
C. Professional Exemption
D. Absence from Examinations/Non-submission of Coursework
E. Unacceptable Academic Practice

 

A. University Requirements

Part One Progression rules and resit requirements for all students studying full-time in Part One of an undergraduate degree scheme from September 2012 as follows:

  1. To progress to Part Two, students must pass a minimum of 100 credits, and must achieve an average mark of 40% across all their modules. The aim has been to simplify the conventions and therefore there should not be any additional requirements at the departmental level for progression. Any mark below 40% in up to 20 credits will be condoned for progression purposes;
  2. There will no longer be ‘C’ indicators denoting marks between 30-39% which previously could be condoned.  Indicators will either be R or M (except for Foundation Degree students where different progression rules apply);
  3. Students will only be allowed to register for resits in the August Supplementary Examinations if they have failed 60 credits or fewer. It will not be possible for Part One students to resit more than 60 credits.

'Credits' - Modules are worth 10, 20 or 30 credits. The last two digits of a module identifier number indicate how many credits the module is worth.

 

B. Resits

See the webpage "Resits".

 

C. Professional Exemption

The Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Council ordinarily insist on a minimum pass mark of 40% in specified core subjects

  • Students who commenced their studies prior to September 2012:  Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Contract Law, Criminal Law, European Law 1 and 2, Land Law, Tort, and Equity & Trusts
  • Students who commence their studies from September 2012 onwards:  Law of Contract, Criminal Law, Public Law, Equity & the Law of Trusts, European Law, Tort, and Land Law 

They regard a mark of 35-39% as a marginal fail (notwithstanding that it may be condoned under the University regulations) and would expect it to be resat (see Resits, above). Only in exceptional cases, and at the special request of the University, will the professional bodies consider condoning a mark of 35-39% in a single core subject.

While the professional bodies may be willing to condone a marginal fail (not below 35%) in a single module, you are strongly advised to resit any failed exemption module at the next available opportunity. This allows you to keep your option to have a single module condoned for a module you fail in the final year.

Students commencing studies in the academic year 2001-2002, and thereafter, have three opportunities to attempt a module for professional exemption purposes. Resits must be taken at the next opportunity. The next opportunity is the next occasion at which the University schedules an examination in that module.

 

D. Absence from Examinations/Non-submission of Coursework

If you are absent from an exam you must inform your department in writing of the reasons for your absence as soon as possible and in any case before your results are confirmed, submitting a 'special circumstances' form and supplying appropriate corroborating evidence.  The relevant form is available at: http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/academic/special-circumstances/.

For rules concerning coursework submission, please see http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/law-criminology/informationforcurrentstudents/partiundergraduates/essaysubmissionandrota/.

 

E. Unacceptable Academic Practice

Regulation on Unacceptable Academic Practice - introduced at the start of the 2014-15 session, replacing the previous regulations on unfair practice.  For the Departmental Statement, see: Unacceptable Academic Practice.