School of Life Sciences Honours Exams

1. School of Life SciencesHonours Exams Things you need to know – rules and regulations.

2. Where can I find Information on the Regulations Documents available online at School of Life Sciences Web: Click: Information for Current Students Click: Information for Level-3 & Level-4 students http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/lifesciences/informationforcurrentstudents/informationforlevel-3level-4students/ Links to two relevant documents: Information and Advice for L3 and L4 students– Regulations and Advice for…… Understanding the marking system - a guide for students – obvious.

3. Honours Degree grades Eligible to apply for PhD

4. Where does my final Honours Degree grade come from? Exceptions: Combined Honours Degrees (check course coordinator) Computing Science and Physiology (Combined) Physiology and Psychology (Combined) Neuroscience and Psychology (Combined)

5. How are Honours Degree grades calculated? All assessed components of final honours year – double marked. For each Course: Components marked –> Grade Point (e.g. 14, 13, 13) –> Grade Point Average (GPA) calculated using relative weightings –> GPA of 13.33 –>rounded to an integer –> 13 = C2. For final Degree Grade: Rounded GPAs for all component courses averaged using relative weightings of courses: = 14.83 And rounded to one decimal place = 14.8 14.8 = LOWER SECOND CLASS (2.2) but may be raised to UPPER SECOND CLASS – see next slide “Discretionary Zones” There is one exception: You must pass (minimum D3) your Project Course to be awarded any Honours classification.

6. Discretionary Zones • Examination Boards with their External Examiners consider reasons for discretion. • Some degrees and external examiners use viva voce (viva) - oral examination. • Viva performance can be used as part of a process of deciding discretion. • Never the sole reason – and some degrees do not use viva in decision. • If you are called for a viva – you cannot lose grades. Also, you may not be in discretionary zone as viva is also used benchmarking. • Decision of Examination Board is final – no appeal (unless exam process flawed).

7. What if I am ill during exams? For a classified Honours degree – you must complete at least 75% of assessment. Each Honours course is 16.67% (for BSc) – so MUST complete 5/6 courses. Exam Board can award on basis of the completed proportion (if reason for absence is accepted). Complete less than 75% but at least 30% - if Examination Board considers work of Honours standard, Unclassified Honours Degree may be offered by the Clerk of Senate. (You can opt NOT to accept – you are regarded as not having presented – see below) If complete less than 30% of assessment - regarded as not having presented for Honours exams. If you are regarded as not having presented for the Honours assessment with good cause, with the permission of the Head of School you might be permitted to present for final Honours assessment at a later date (no re-sits - so the following year). However, this means you will repeat all of final year including your Project course, even if you completed it at first attempt. With good cause – possible examples include appendicitis, bereavement death of parent or sibling close to exam time. Without good cause – sore throat - unless confined to bed on medical instruction.

8. What if I am ill during exams? • There are no re-sits for Honours exams. • Any absence MUST be documented on MyCampus and supported by medical certificate stating exam attendance on date was IMPOSSIBLE. • Your responsibility to obtain valid documentation – pay for private medical report if necessary Appeals - I want a higher grade. The only grounds for appeal are for defective exam processes. Examples: The examination was defective – incorrect instructions in the exam paper. The Examination Board failed to consider a pertinent fact – for example, MV for one course with good reason, but final grade calculate from 6/6 courses (rather than 5/6). Disagreement with grades awarded for components – not subject for appeal.