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Examination Conventions DIFF 20.01.2010

proposed:

Grading: dissertations

A slightly different interpretation is applied in the assessment of the project and dissertation, where students set and report upon their own assignment tasks:

  • a mark between 50 and 69 denotes a pass. A student will have demonstrated an ability to select and apply appropriate principles and techniques, and to reflect upon their application in a specific domain.
  • a mark between 70 and 100 denotes excellence. A student will have demonstrated an ability: to select, apply, extend, and adapt these principles and techniques to novel situations; to evaluate the potential for application across different domains.

The application should be sufficiently challenging as to allow scope for a convincing demonstration of professional competence and academic ability at Masters' level, and the student's understanding must be clearly demonstrated through a coherent, logical presentation of context, application, and reflection.

The assessors are asked also to consider a set of guidelines, in terms of the application of concepts, ideas, techniques, methods, or tools, and the quality of explanation or reflection:

  • 50–59: indicates knowledge and understanding of the concepts, as demonstrated through routine application to a situation that, though novel, fits within a standard prescription; with adequate documentation, a factual or minimal explanation of work presented; satisfying the basic criteria for competence.
  • 60–69: indicates an appreciation of the applicability or effectiveness of techniques, as demonstrated by the selection of appropriate techniques in original situations; with a good explanation of the approach taken, and the motivation for choices made.
  • 70–79: indicates knowledge and understanding of the underlying mechanisms determining the applicability and effectiveness of different techniques, as demonstrated by deeper, reasoned arguments in support of selection; an account of the context of the work and clear consideration of alternative approaches; close, but not good enough to serve as a model for how this should be done.
  • 80–89: indicates a wider appreciation of applicability and effectiveness, as demonstrated by an understanding of the alternative perspectives, and of the scope or possibilities for improvement, integration, or innovation; good enough to serve as a model or exemplar.
  • 90–100: indicates an ability to successfully extend or innovate the underlying principles or techniques, independently of specific application domain; dissertations marked at this level are exceeding expectations, in terms of depth and clarity, or through the presentation of some significant insight or contribution.

Results

existing:

To be awarded a distinction for excellence in the examination, candidates must achieve an average mark of 70 or above in the assignment submissions considered. At MSc level, a mark of at least 60 in the dissertation is required for a distinction, together with an overall average at least 70 (with the dissertation given twice the weighting of an assignment submission).

proposed:

Candidates awarded a distinction for excellence will have achieved an average mark of 70 or above in the written assignment submissions considered; candidates awarded a distinction at MSc level will have achieved also a mark of 70 or above in the dissertation. The examiners must be satisfied also that the overall profile of scores reflects an excellent level of knowledge and understanding: no more than 25% of the written assignments considered will have been awarded a mark lower than 70.