The University’s examination and assessment regulations

1. The University’s examination and assessment regulations Hilary Gilbert Academic Standards and Partnership h.gilbert@brighton.ac.uk

2. Regulations • General Examination and Assessment Regulations (GEAR) • Assessment, progression, award regulations (sections B,C,D) • examination boards (section E) • course–specific regulations • PSRB requirements • course handbooks

3. Common Academic Framework • aligns with FHEQ and HE credit framework • modules • multiples of 10 credits • mandatory, compulsory, optional • f/t ug programme 120 credits per academic year • f/t pg programme 180 credits per year • stages of study to allow progression • maximum registration period

4. Assessment • numerical marking 0-100% • pass mark for module • ug 40% (threshold for each assessment component 30%) • pg 50% (threshold for each assessment component 40%) • undergraduate - common marking/grading scale • postgraduate - 60-69% merit, 70%+ distinction

5. Extensions to deadlines mitigating circumstances • non-submission, late submission, non-attendance at exam = 0% • student can apply for an extension to deadline • students can submit a request for mitigating circumstances to be taken into account by exam board for: • absence from an assessment • failure to submit assessed work • failure to submit assessed work by deadline (late) • unrepresentative performance

6. Examination Boards • two-tier system • Area Examination Board (AEB) • Course Examination Board (CEB) • boards can be combined

7. Area Examination Boards • confirm marks and consider results of individual modules • possible module results • pass • refer • fail • determine the nature of any referral • moderate marks for whole group, if necessary • mitigating circumstances - not considered for individual students

8. Referral (discretion) • student must complete additional work to pass module • permitted at all levels • no minimum mark • module capped at 40%/50% • course-specific regulations indicate where not permitted • maximum 50% of total credit studied in a stage

9. Course Examination Board • consider results of individual students • may not change AEB marks • may use discretion but only where regulations allow • mitigating circumstances • pre-board meeting of small group, including the chair, reviews claims and make recommendations on acceptance to CEB • deferral opportunity for any failed module • note acceptance where module passed • academic misconduct • considers recommendation of penalty from investigating panel

10. Course Examination Board- decisions • Progression • progress - unconditional, conditional • endorse recommended referrals, progression decision deferred to next meeting of board • accept mitigating circumstances, permit deferral(s), progression decision deferred to next meeting of board • do not progress - require student to slow progress and repeat failed modules in part-time mode • Fail and exclude from course on academic grounds • Receive an award (borderlines)

11. Unconditional progression • passed all modules in the stage • compensation awarded (discretion) • credit awarded to enable student to progress to next stage or achieve award when not all modules passed • any level • maximum 20 credits per 120 credit stage • no change to mark for failed module • not for mandatory modules • no minimum mark/stage average

12. Repeat (discretion) • module repeated in full • permitted at all levels • module capped at 40%/50% • up to 20 credits for every 120 credits can be trailed into next stage (conditional progression)

13. Reassessment • referral - tied to original take of module (mark capped) • repeat – take module again normally with attendance (if in the following stage - trailing) (mark capped) • deferral – reassessment as if for first time due to upheld mitigating circumstances (mark not capped) • number of assessment attempts to pass a module = 3 • repeat a module once

14. Awards

15. Administration • External examiners’ homepage on: • http://staffcentral.brighton.ac.uk/quality • GEAR, external examiners’ handbook (contact details), fees and expenses form • school (or Faculty) • exam board arrangements, students’ work, assessment details, course handbooks, assessment policy • send your completed fees and expenses forms

16. How to keep in touch Registry • annual report by email to: • externalexaminers@brighton.ac.uk • Polly Kearsey (Academic Standards Administrator) • 01273 642619