Coursework is marked by one individual. Only for assessments up to and including 40% of an individual module.
Students have the right to request that the work is re-marked if they disagree with the original mark (see Requests from students to have their work re-marked).
This is usually found in science departments. Normally there should be some kind of clerical check to ensure that the marks have been added up correctly, and assigned to the correct candidates where OMR is used. Where marking schedules are used for exams, they must be sent with draft exam papers to the External Examiner for comments and approval.
Moderation must take place on individual assessments worth more than 40% of an individual module. Moderation must also take place where the original marker is a Graduate teaching assistant (GTA) or recently appointed member of staff, or where a team of markers is involved in marking coursework. Students do not have the right to request that their piece of work is re-marked if they disagree with the original mark unless procedural/administration error is suspected.
All fails must be second-marked and a random sample (10%) must also be moderated.
A moderator would not change the individual marks for the work, but would liaise with the first marker if s/he believed that the marks were not at the correct level, with a view to the first marker reviewing and adjusting the marking. In the case of a major discrepancy it might be necessary for all the work to be second marked.
This is where a second marker marks the work but has access to the first marker’s marks and/or comments. Marks must be reconciled – see Reconciliation of Marks.
This is where two markers mark the work independently without access to each other’s marks or comments about the work. Marks must be reconciled – Reconciliation of Marks.
This is all assessment carried out under invigilation or supervision – for example: examinations, multiple-choice tests, time-controlled essays, open-book essays, presentations, performances, group discussions.
This is assessment that that is written in a student’s own time – for example: essays, journal articles, lab reports.
This is coursework such as presentations, acting and dance, where the student does not provide an output capable of being shown to the external examiner. (A presentation where output such as a PowerPoint presentation is submitted would still count as performance-based coursework with non-permanent output, unless the key learning outcome being assessed is academic content rather than presentation skill.)
Page last updated: 22 July 2013