Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies

BRIEFING NOTE FOR STUDENTS ON THE 17 POINT MARK SCALE

Your work will be marked using the University’s 17 point marking scale.

This scale has 17 mark (or grade) points on it; each of which falls into one of the five classes of performance which correspond to the overall degree classification. The University uses these classes of performance for all of its undergraduate modules.

70-100 / First Class
60-69 / Second Class, Upper Division (also referred to as "Upper Second" or "2.1")
50-59 / Second Class, Lower Division (also referred to as "Lower Second" or "2.2")
40-49 / Third Class
0-39 / Fail

The University has generic descriptors for work which is given a mark that falls within the range(s) of marks in each to the class. So, there is a description for work in the Upper Second class range, another for work in the Lower Second class range etc.

The mark which each piece of your work will be given is dependent upon the extent to which the work satisfies the elements in the generic descriptors.

For the purposes of the 17 point mark scale, each of the five classes is further subdivided into the positions shown in the table below (high 2.1, mid 2.1 etc).

One of the 17 mark points is assigned to each of the subdivisions.

The person marking your work will consider your work alongside the generic criteria to decide which class of performance the work falls into. The marker will then determine the extent to which your work meets the criteria in order to arrive at a judgment about the position (high, mid, low) within the class. The work will be awarded the mark assigned to the relevant position in the class.

If a module has more than one ‘unit’ (or piece) of assessment, (e.g. the assessment comprises two assessed essays), the mark for each unit is determined using the 17 point mark scale and then the marks are averaged, taking account of the units’ respective weightings, in order to produce the module result. This is expressed as a percentage (and therefore may be any number up to 100 and so is not limited to one of the 17 marks on the scale).

The tables attached show each class of degree (including the subdivisions) and the marks assigned to each position in the class on the 17 point mark scale, alongside the University’s generic descriptors for work in the class.

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FIRST CLASS

Class / Mark Point / Generic University Descriptor
Excellent 1st / 96 / Exceptional command of the subject, including material which ranges well beyond that covered in lectures/classes. Work of exceptional insight, bringing new perspectives to bear on the materials, or developing new knowledge or techniques. Achieves or is close to publishable standard.
High 1st / 89 / Very high quality work, with full understanding of the subject matter. Work that demonstrates intellectual maturity, and is perceptive with highly developed organisation. An ambitious project carried out successfully, with sophisticated handling of primary and secondary material, reasoned, analytical argument. Some degree of originality, independent research and thought.
Mid 1st / 81
Low 1st / 74

SECOND CLASS: DIVISION I (UPPER SECOND)

Class / Mark Point / Generic University Descriptor
High 2.1 / 68 / Highly competent in organisation and presentation, evidence of individual research; appropriate and intelligent use of primary and secondary material, good understanding of subject matter allied with perceptive analysis.
Mid 2.1 / 65
Low 2.1 / 62

SECOND CLASS: DIVISION II (LOWER SECOND)

Class / Mark Point / Generic University Descriptor
High 2.2 / 58 / Conscientious work, attentive to subject matter and title/task set; a focused response to the task demonstrating good knowledge, balanced more towards the descriptive than the analytical. Good knowledge, reasonable understanding of material and task. Descriptive rather than analytical.
Mid 2.2 / 55
Low 2.2 / 52

THIRD CLASS

Class / Mark Point / Generic University Descriptor
High 3rd / 48 / Some relevant knowledge, some accurate repetition of lecture/class notes/work. Partial or pedestrian description.
Mid 3rd / 45
Low 3rd / 42

FAIL CLASS

Class / Mark Point / Generic University Descriptor
High Fail (near miss) / 38 / Work does not meet standards required for the appropriate stage of an Honours degree, albeit with some basic understanding of relevant concepts and techniques.
Fail / 25 / Ineptitude in knowledge, structure, academic/professional practice. Failure or inability to answer the question/respond to the task. No evidence of basic understanding of relevant concepts/techniques.
Low Fail / 12
Zero / 0 / Work of no merit OR absent work not submitted, penalty in some misconduct cases.

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