Guidelines on Marking Standards and Classing Conventions
Guidelines on Marking Standards and Classing Conventions
Guidelines on Marking Standards and Classing Conventions
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• The degree to which good performance in <strong>on</strong>e element of the exam can compensate for<br />
poor performance in another.<br />
• How the profile of marks for individual papers influences the final class.<br />
a. Is a c<strong>and</strong>idate classed <strong>on</strong> the basis of the aggregate mark <strong>on</strong>ly, or do examiners<br />
look at the mark profile to determining the class?<br />
b. Do c<strong>and</strong>idates have to pass all elements of the examinati<strong>on</strong> to pass overall?<br />
c. Are c<strong>and</strong>idates required to achieve a minimum number of First class (or, in the case<br />
of masters courses a distincti<strong>on</strong>) marks in individual papers to achieve a First Class<br />
(or distincti<strong>on</strong>) overall?<br />
d. Is this at the borderline <strong>on</strong>ly, or for all c<strong>and</strong>idates?<br />
In reviewing borderline c<strong>and</strong>idates, examiners should be aware that classing c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
can lead to situati<strong>on</strong>s where c<strong>and</strong>idates with the same aggregate mark may be awarded<br />
different classes, or c<strong>and</strong>idates with a higher aggregate marks than other c<strong>and</strong>idates are<br />
awarded a lower class. Without a clear explanati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> objective criteria for classing, such<br />
outcomes can, <strong>and</strong> have been the subject of examinati<strong>on</strong> appeals.<br />
Review of classing criteria<br />
In reviewing classing criteria, Faculty Boards <strong>and</strong> comparable bodies might track the<br />
performance of cohorts of students, <strong>and</strong> compare their own class distributi<strong>on</strong>s with those in<br />
other Triposes..<br />
Faculty Boards <strong>and</strong> Degree Committees are str<strong>on</strong>gly encouraged to keep under review data<br />
<strong>on</strong> performance by gender <strong>and</strong> disability. University-wide data are available for those<br />
purposes from the Student Statistics Secti<strong>on</strong> of the Planning <strong>and</strong> Resource Allocati<strong>on</strong> Office.<br />
Issued by the Educati<strong>on</strong> Committee June 2011<br />
Last reviewed: 26/08/11 Page 3 of 3 AB