Course Handbook - Faculty of History

APPENDIX B: MARKING AND EXAMINING SCHEME, AND GUIDELINES FOR EXAMINERS
B.1 MPHIL IN MEDIEVAL HISTORY MARKING AND EXAMINING SCHEME 2010-11
The criterion of judgement in determining a pass in the MPhil is the achievement of the
‘equivalent of an Upper Second in Part II of the Tripos, extrapolated for one year of study’.
Candidates are required to pass in all elements in elements of the course. All work is marked
out of 100. The mark scheme is as follows, the pass mark being 60:
75 and above = ‘Distinction’, in all components apart from Palaeography, for which the
distinction mark is 90
60 to 74 = Pass
59 = Marginal Fail
below 59 = Fail
All work, apart from the Palaeography, is double-marked. The separate and independently
reached marks of the two Examiners are agreed and are reported to the Secretary along with
the agreed mark. If the examiners are unable to agree, or the candidate has been awarded an
agreed marginal fail or fail, the essay or dissertation is to be sent to a third independent reader
as outlined below.
The External Examiner
The External Examiner normally examines a representative cross-section of the Part I written
work that is double-marked, drawn from all three options, and a cross-section of dissertations
within his/her field of expertise. He/she does so as the second, independent marker and not in
a moderating role. The External Examiner also acts as a moderator elsewhere in the
examination (including all marginal fails and fails), and may be called upon to act as a third
independent reader where examiners are unable to agree, or in cases where there is an agreed
fail or marginal fail. In all problematic cases, the External Examiner’s advice will be sought.
He/she attends the Part I meeting in the Spring and the final meeting in late September or early
October. The External Examiner is also asked to write a report on the examination processes
and procedures, as for Tripos, for presentation to the Degree Committee.
Third Independent Reader
The External normally provides a third independent mark in those cases where the examiners
are unable to agree, or in cases where the candidate has been awarded an agreed marginal fail
or fail. However, where the External was one of the original examiners, the third mark will be
provided by the Chairman. If the Chairman was also one of the original examiners or the
supervisor of the candidate concerned, a third examiner will be appointed by the Chairman and
Secretary. In the case of dissertations, a third examiner who is not the External may be
appointed by the same process, if the External’s expertise in the particular area of the
dissertation is not thought to be sufficient. In case a third examiner has to be appointed, this
person should first reach an independent conclusion on the basis of the written work and only
then look at the marks and comments of the two examiners before giving a final mark. Where
all the marks are pass marks, if the third mark is between the two original marks, it will be
taken to be the agreed mark. If it is higher than both original marks, the higher of the original
marks will be taken; if lower, the lower of the two original marks will be taken. The mark
derived by these means will be presented to the MPhil Examiners’ meeting, the History
Faculty Degree Committee and the Board of Graduate Studies. This mark will also be the one
used to calculate the scaled average. In the case of an agreed marginal fail or fail, however, all
three marks are presented, with the third mark confirming whether that element is deemed to
be a pass, marginal fail or fail. If it is a pass, the procedure described above will be used to
derive the mark from which the scaled average will be calculated and this is the mark that will
30