Extract from Examination and Assessment Regulations Handbook 2012/13
The 2012/13 examination and assessment regulations will be applied to all students taking assessment in 2012/13, subject to there being no detriment to returning students in relation to degree classification.
1.4.2 Rounding of marks
The mark for a module, stage mean and grand mean (overall degree weighted mark)
shall be a whole number rounded up (≥ 0.45%) or down (≤ 0.44%).
1.5.5 Borderline for degree classification
Rounding of marks at module level may result in a grand mean mark coming close to but below a degree classification boundary. The PAB shall give consideration to such students falling within a borderline area of one percent below each classification boundary as follows:
69-70 Boundary for 2:1/1st and for postgraduate merit/ distinction
59-60 Boundary for 2:2/2:1 and for postgraduate pass/ merit
49-50 Boundary 3rd/2:2 and for Masters borderline fail
39-40 Borderline fail for undergraduate
The PAB shall review an individual student profile, based on the marks array, for all stages of study contributing to the award to inform the academic decision of the Board on the treatment of students falling within the borderline zone. In considering whether to raise a student to the higher class the PAB should consider the preponderance of credit for which the higher class has been obtained as the borderline grand mean may have occurred as a result of exceptional performance in a heavily weighted component of assessment which does not reflect performance overall. The External Examiner may exceptionally review a heavily weighted assessment, for example a dissertation or final stage project, and make a recommendation for reclassification based on his/her academic judgement. Where such a review is undertaken by an External Examiner, Schools must ensure that all such assessments are reviewed for all borderline candidates on that course. No marks may be changed as a result of this activity and only projects/dissertations may be considered.
Whilst the PAB has discretion regarding the preponderance of credit in the higher class for undergraduate candidates, the PAB is guided to consider cases where at least 50% of the credit that contributes to classification was in the higher class. In relation to postgraduate students the PAB only has discretion to consider borderline candidates who have achieved 50% of the credit in the higher class.
Mitigating evidence does not provide grounds for reclassification of an award as adjustments will have already been made to lateness penalties on the marks array under scrutiny and the PAB will have had the opportunity (at each stage) to offer such students a sit to retrieve their performance as a result of their circumstances where the overall module mark appears to be out of line with the marks array for the individual.
Extract from Examination and Assessment Handbook for UG Examiners and Examination Boards 2011/12
Borderlines
13.16The use of a weighted mean to calculate the grand mean may result in some students coming close to, but below, the class boundaries. Subject examination boards should consider those students falling within a borderline area just below each classification point. Subject examination boards will seek to identify borderline students in advance of the formal classification meeting in order to enable external examiners to scrutinize scripts and to provide further guidance to the board on the treatment of students falling within the borderline zone.
13.17In considering borderline students, the following rules will apply:
(a)all students falling below a borderline by up to 2% (e.g. 58.001 to 59.999 for the 2.2/2.1 boundary) will automatically receive the consideration of the subject examination board with the purpose of determining whether their class should be raised on the basis of the student’s overall performance on the degree programme;
(b)in considering whether to raise a student to the higher class, the subject examination board may consider the following points:
(i)the class achieved by considering the final year alone;
(ii)the proportion of credit for which the higher class has been obtained (in relation to which the subject examination board may take account of the general profile of those students who have been awarded the higher class);
(iii)the proximity to the borderline (i.e. a student scoring 69.9 is more likely to be raised a class than one scoring 68.001);
(iv)performance in a heavily weighted project or dissertation;
(v)any combination of the above;
(vi)mitigation (subject to advicefrom the Mitigating Evidence Committee);
(vii)other such matters relating to the student’s performance as may be considered appropriate.
(c)no student shall be raised a class where they have achieved no marks in the higher class being considered (for example, thismeans that a student scoring 69% in every course would not be raised to first class);
(d)For each student considered a clear minute will be maintained by the subject examination board secretary.
Borderline scrutiny scheme for Major/Minor and Joint degrees
13.18The procedures for dealing with borderline cases for major/minor and joint major cases by a single discipline subject examination board are set out in the following URL: