Assessment policies for undergraduate and taught postgraduate
awards of the University of Essex
Marking Policy for Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Work
The policy applies to all taught course students (i.e. students on sub-degree
awards, Undergraduate awards and Taught Postgraduate awards).
The policy applies to assessment contributing to a mark at all levels,
including the bridging year, level three, level four, as well as the mark
appearing on the Examination Board grids from which a student's final degree
classification is derived.
A list of definitions and marking policies is given in the document below,
and includes a table showing the requirements applied to different forms of
assessment. Where a particular mode of assessment requires moderation,
second-marking or double-marking the requirements outlined in the policy are a
minimum. Departments can moderate, second-mark or double-mark more work if they
wish, or if they are required to do so by a professional body.
Definitions
Marking policies
Requests from students to have their work re-marked
and Reconciliation of marks
The use of internal and external staff for marking
Marking policy for all taught students
(Marking Policy Table)
Important changes approved by Senate June 2013
- Individual items of coursework contributing more than 40% of
an individual module must be moderated. In line with current
practice for examinations, all fails must be second-marked and a
random sample (10%) must also be moderated. Requirements for
performance-based coursework and group work with a non-permanent
output that contributes to more than 40% of a single module
remain unchanged.
- Although the policy is unchanged, it now clarifies where
students can request a re-mark. Where coursework is single
marked, students will retain the right to request formal
re-marking of a piece of work if they disagree with the original
mark. Where coursework is moderated, second marked or double
marked, students do not have the right to request that their
piece of work is remarked unless a procedural/administration
error is suspected. Students cannot request that their exams
are re-marked unless a procedural/administration error is
suspected.
- Guidance has been added on exceptional exemptions to the
University’s marking policy. If a department believes it
is not possible to comply with an aspect of the University’s
marking policy, the department must apply for an exemption to
this aspect and propose an acceptable alternative arrangement
for approval by the Faculty Executive Dean and PVC (Education)
New Marking Policy from 2013/14 (PDF)
Previous Marking policy (2012/13) (PDF)
Approved by Senate June 2013
Page last updated:
22 July 2013
