Assessment details
The important thing to remember is that assessment at University is not about passing the exam then forgetting the content; it is about testing your understanding in order for you to build on your knowledge and progress onto subsequent units and years.
Your school/department will provide you with details of how and when your work will be assessed. The type of assessment you experience will depend upon the unit taken and your course, but may involve some or all of the following:
Types of assessment
Broadly, every piece of work or exam you complete will be either for learning (sometimes referred to as 'formative') or of learning (sometimes referred to as 'summative').
It is important that you understand the purpose of each:
- Assessments for learning are designed to provide you with feedback on your progress and to inform your development, but do not contribute to the overall unit or programme mark. These assessments should help you gain further knowledge, understanding and skills.
- Assessments of learning provide a measure of achievement in relation to the learning outcomes of the unit or programme. These assessments are designed to test how much you have learnt, i.e. your knowledge, understanding and skills.
Different forms of assessment will be used to test different types of skills and the formats used will vary depending on your degree programme. Typically, assessment may include:
- Essays and reports
- Group projects
- Laboratory work and write-ups
- Online assessments
- Oral and aural assessments
- Peer-to-peer assessments
- Performance assessments
- Presentations
- Problem sheets
- Self assessment
- Written exams (both in teaching time and the formal assessment period).
Assignment deadlines
Assignments are a type of assessment which are completed outside of a timetabled examination. These can be coursework based and may be completed individually or in a group. Before you start, make sure you understand whether you are expected to complete it individually or whether group work is allowed.
These can also be in the form of individual or group-based presentations and assess a range of oral or visual communication skills.
At the start of each unit you will receive notification of when assignment is set, when it is to be submitted and when it will be returned to you. Clear statements about how to apply for an extension to the original deadline and the penalties for late submission will be provided by your school.
Log into eVision to check your assessment due dates, including extended due dates.
Online exam deadlines
You must work on all exams individually. Before you submit, check your answers thoroughly to ensure that you have answered every question. Clear instructions on how to finish and submit answers will be provided. For some exams, you may have 30 minutes after the finish time to upload your answers. Test style exams may not auto-submit for you. It is your responsibility to ensure your work has been submitted, following the instructions provided, before the deadline shown.
If you carry on working on the exam beyond the permitted submission deadline or submit your work after the deadline, the University Assessment Regulations state that your work may be disregarded. This means the work will be given a mark of zero.
Online exams can be held during teaching time or in the formal assessment period in January and May/June. Details about each assessment will be given in advance.
You can self-certify for exams if you are unwell.
Campus based exam deadlines
Campus based examinations are held in person, either in teaching time or in the formal assessment period.
Clear instructions on where these will take place, as well as the expected format will be provided in advance.
You can self-certify for exams if you are unwell.
Timed assessment deadlines
These are online assessments which need to be completed and submitted within four days (or five days if you have been awarded Alternative Exam Arrangements (AEAs) by Disability Services). These are distinct from written exams delivered online, which have more tightly constrained timing.
For timed assessments, students are given guidance as to the amount of time to spend completing the assessment and may choose when to complete the assessment within the given window. There is no additional time allowed for uploading answers and if you do not submit your work to meet the deadline you will automatically receive a mark of zero.
Assessment support options
Get advice and guidance on deadline extensions, extenuating circumstances and what to do if you are absent from teaching or exams: view assessment support options.
Preparing for your exams and timed assessments
What to do before the day to prepare for online exams and timed assessments.
Marking criteria for assessment
Marking criteria are designed to help you know what is expected of you in the assessment and to provide guidance on how your performance may be improved. Marking criteria may vary dependent on your programme and on the type of assessment you are undertaking. It maybe useful to refer to the University's generic marking criteria. Your school will be able to provide you with subject specific marking criteria for your assessment(s).
Assessment and progress
To progress to the next year of your undergraduate course, or on to the dissertation / project stage of a taught Master's programme, you will need to:
- meet the minimum prescribed mark (pass mark) for assessments,
- gain the necessary number of credit points.
Your progress will be discussed by your school and faculty. You can find more about the rules on progression in the regulations and code of practice for taught programmes.
Feedback on your work
Understand and interpret the different types of feedback that you may receive.