(1) This Procedure is effective from 21 January 2022. (2) This Procedure is pursuant to the Academic Board Regulations and includes the following schedules: (3) This Procedure governs assessment in undergraduate and postgraduate award courses other than higher degree by research theses. (4) This Procedure applies to undergraduate and postgraduate award courses other than higher degree by research theses (see Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) Assessment procedure). (5) This Procedure is pursuant to the Higher Education Courses policy. (6) Assessment tasks: (7) Assessment design: (8) Changes to the types and weighting of assessment may only be made part way through a study period in exceptional circumstances with the approval of the Faculty Board or Executive Dean. (9) As part of the continuous quality improvement process, the means of assessment for courses and units are reviewed during major course reviews in accordance with the Higher Education Courses Approval and Review procedure. (10) Assessment panels are appointed by Faculty Boards for each unit offered in a study period to: (11) Assessment panels comprise at least two continuing or fixed-term (at least three years) academic staff members, including the Unit Chair who chairs the assessment panel. (12) Every unit is assessed by thesis, portfolio or has at least two summative assessment tasks that occur during the study period. (13) The following weighting patterns for summative assessment apply to all units unless exemptions are approved by the Faculty Board: (14) Assessment tasks, including examinations, must not be repeated in subsequent offerings of a unit in a way that compromises academic integrity. (15) When an assessment task allows students to choose from alternative questions or topics, the standard and degree of difficulty of the options must be the same as far as is reasonably practicable. (16) Any hurdle requirements are clearly linked with the course learning outcomes and standards. (17) Students who fail a hurdle requirement are ineligible for a pass conceded grade for that unit and will receive a result of no more than 44% for that unit, unless the hurdle requirement is waived in accordance with clause 55. (18) To ensure that feedback to students is meaningful and formative, it must be clearly linked to the assessment criteria and must be aimed at assisting learning, rewarding achievement, providing encouragement, explaining results and enabling students to improve their understanding and performance. (19) Unit Chairs ensure that the purposes, processes, requirements and standards of assessment in a unit are clearly communicated to students at the beginning of and throughout each study period. Information about assessment is included in the University Handbook and unit guides as specified in the Course Design and Delivery procedure. (20) Students should receive feedback on assessment tasks in time to benefit them in preparing for the next assessment task. Students who submit their work by the original due date should normally be provided with feedback within 15 working days. (21) Students may request feedback from the Unit Chair on their performance in an examination within four weeks of the examination. (22) Students must be notified of any change to the means of assessment made after the publication of the University Handbook within ten working days of the commencement of the study period in which the Unit is offered. (23) Examinations are designed as assessment tasks which aim to authenticate the student’s sole contribution to the task through invigilation or other means. Examinations may be written, computer-based, oral, practical or by performance. They may be conducted in person or online. (24) Examinations will be a minimum of one and a half hours and a maximum of two hours in duration, except where professional accreditation requirements specify otherwise. (25) Where the assessment task for a unit includes an examination, two versions of exam questions for each examination, or an equivalent bank of questions if using randomized questions in online exams, are prepared for use during the examination period to minimise the risk to exam security. One exam is randomly allocated for use in Australia and the other for use in other time zones, or questions randomized in an online exam. An additional exam may be required to ensure examination security as determined by the Academic Registrar. For the purposes of special or supplementary examinations an additional version of exam questions is required where the learning outcomes or teaching materials are different between the current trimester and the trimester from which the special or supplementary exam was granted. (26) Statutory declarations stating that a student will not reveal the contents of an examination must not be used as an alternative to the above. (27) Each different examination is at least 75% different from each of the other examinations set in any one study period. (28) The Division of Student Administration administers examinations and schedules examinations to ensure wherever possible that examinations within each time zone will commence at the same time or in overlapping periods of time. (29) To facilitate anonymous marking, examination instructions specify that students must not provide their name on their examination documentation. The examination supervisors will verify, at the time of an examination, the accuracy of the student identity information entered by students on their relevant examination documentation. (30) Students are not permitted to remove examination materials from the examination venue, or use devices to photograph, record, video or otherwise document/copy examination materials. (31) Past examinations may be made available at the Unit Chair's discretion. (32) Student performance is assessed by an assessor or group of assessors against predetermined standards and criteria, not against the performance of other students. (33) For each assessment task in a unit, the assessment panel selects one of the approved methods for ensuring comparability of assessment in Schedule B: Approved Methods for Ensuring Comparability of Assessment. Other methods for ensuring comparability of assessment may only be used with the prior approval of the University Teaching and Learning Committee. The assessment panel informs all relevant staff members of the method the panel has selected. (34) The assessment panel develops a marking rubric for each assessable task where the marking involves an exercise of academic judgement. (35) To facilitate reliable and consistent judgments about student performance, all staff who assess student work must use the assessment panel's marking rubric and the approved method for ensuring comparability of assessment. (36) A student may request the Unit Chair to check that their mark for an individual assessment task is correct, or to provide additional feedback on their performance. Students may also apply in writing to the Unit Chair to have work re-marked, where they can demonstrate that it was not initially marked in accordance with the marking criteria. (37) Where there are academic grounds for re-marking the work, the Unit Chair is responsible for arranging the re-marking and for finalising the student's mark using the same mechanisms as outlined in clause 38c to 38f. (38) Before recommending that a student be awarded an overall unit mark between 44% and 49%, assessment panels must ensure that the following process has been undertaken: (39) The above process, set out in clause 38, does not have to be undertaken for assessment tasks that: (40) To ensure that all students have a consistent and fair opportunity to demonstrate their achievement of learning outcomes, alternative assessment arrangements may be provided for students with a disability or health condition. In accordance with regulation 29 of the Academic Board Regulations, the Disability Resource Centre liaises with the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) to prepare an Access Plan for the student and to ensure that the assessment is equivalent in academic standard to assessment provided for other students enrolled in the unit. The Division of Student Administration will also be consulted where the Access Plan involves a change to examination arrangements (including the provision of extra time, changes to the physical environment or alternative examination materials). (41) Students must write to the Unit Chair as soon as possible (and no later than the assessment due date) where unexpected circumstances will prevent them from undertaking or completing an assessment task (other than an examination) as scheduled. Where an application is based on circumstances resulting from a personal trauma experienced by the student, including sexual harm, the application may be made on the student’s behalf by the relevant university support service. (42) Where appropriate, the Unit Chair may grant an extension of up to two weeks or may arrange for the student to undertake the task at a different time. (43) Extensions will normally only be approved when students apply no later than the assessment due date. (44) The Unit Chair may require evidence of the work completed so far and/or appropriate supporting documentation for the extension request. (45) Where rescheduling is impractical or the student requests more time than the Unit Chair grants, the student may apply for special consideration. (46) A due date and time will be set for the submission of each summative assessment task. A marking penalty will be applied where the assessment task is submitted after the due date without an approved extension as follows: (47) The Unit Chair may refuse to accept a late submission where it is unreasonable or impracticable to assess the task after the due date. (48) Where circumstances outside a student’s control prevent the student from attempting or completing an assessment task or end-of-unit examination at the scheduled time, or meant that their performance was significantly affected, the student may apply for special consideration. If granted, special consideration provides an opportunity for a student to take additional time to complete an assessment task or to attempt the same or equivalent task at another time. (49) Applications for special consideration may only be made under clause 48 on one or more of the following grounds: (50) Circumstances within a student's control (such as misreading timetables, exam stress or holidays, lack of preparation, failure to follow instructions) and minor ailments (such as colds or sleeplessness) will not be accepted as grounds for special consideration. (51) Applications for special consideration must be submitted via the special consideration website no later than three working days after the due date of the assessment task or the date of the examination. Late applications will only be considered where the student can demonstrate to the Faculty Committee and/or the Division of Student Administration that extenuating circumstances prevented them from lodging the application any earlier. Where an application is based on circumstances resulting from a personal trauma experienced by the student, including sexual harassment or assault, the application may be made on the student’s behalf by the relevant university support service. (52) Current and relevant documentary evidence (such as a verifiable statement from a recognised authority, relevant university support service or a treating practitioner registered with a professional body) must accompany the application. This evidence must confirm that the student was unable to attempt or complete the assessment task at the required time, or that their performance of the assessment task was significantly affected. Documentary evidence in support of applications on medical grounds will normally not be accepted where it is: (53) Where the documentary evidence is inadequate, faculties and/or the Division of Student Administration may require students to supply additional information and/or original copies within five working days. (54) In consultation with the Unit Chair, the Division of Student Administration assesses applications for special examinations and the Faculty Committee or nominee assesses all other applications. (55) Where a student applies for and is granted special consideration, the Faculty Committee may approve the waiving of a hurdle requirement in exceptional circumstances based on the recommendation of the assessment panel. (56) There are four possible outcomes of an application for special consideration: (57) Where a student applies for special consideration and is granted an outcome 3 or 4 after attempting the initial assessment task, the initial task will not be marked. The student's unit result will be recorded as an RIE (outcome 3) or RIA (outcome 4) until the final result is released following the marking of their special assessment task or special examination. (58) Additional special consideration is only available where the initial application results in outcome 3 (special examination) or 4 (special assessment task) and will only be granted once, where extraordinary circumstances (such as hospitalisation) prevent a student from attempting the relevant task. Additional special consideration is not available where the application results in outcome 2 (for tasks scheduled while teaching is underway). Written applications, including verifiable supporting documentation, must be submitted normally no later than three working days after the initial special task was due to be completed. The Chair of the Faculty Committee and/or Division of Student Administration may consider the student’s progress to date and previous requests for special consideration when determining the outcome. (59) Incomplete results must be finalised as soon as possible and normally no later than the end of the next assessment cycle. (60) A student who meets the criteria set out below may be awarded a pass conceded or supplementary assessment where a single failed unit is preventing them from completing their course. (61) Applications for pass conceded grades and supplementary assessment must be made on the appropriate form and lodged with the Faculty Committee within five working days of the release of results. (62) The Faculty Committee may award a pass conceded grade in a unit where all of the following conditions are met: (63) The Faculty Committee or delegated subcommittee will consider the recommendations of the Course Director when deciding whether to award a pass conceded grade. (64) The Faculty Committee may determine that a student undertake supplementary assessment for a unit where: (65) The Faculty Committee may also award supplementary assessment as an outcome of a review of results or where there is other cause for genuine doubt about a student's academic performance in a unit. (66) Where supplementary assessment is awarded under clause 64, a mark of no more than 50% will be given for the unit. (67) The Unit Chair, on the advice of the assessment panel, recommends a result for each student enrolled in the unit and submits the results to the Division of Student Administration via the student management system. The results submitted are normally determined by accumulating the marks for individual assessment tasks and can only be adjusted by assessment panels with the approval of the Faculty Committee as set out in clause 69. Where other methods of calculating results are used they must be described in the unit guide in language understandable by students. (68) Faculty Committees review reports generated by the Division of Student Administration consisting of compilations of data on the results for each unit, and consider result distributions, any adjustments made by the assessment panel and other relevant information. Where the results reports show that marking criteria have not been appropriately set or applied, Faculty Committees may adjust the results, before approving them for release, in one of the following ways: (69) Any amendments to results must be submitted to the Division of Student Administration on an amendment to result form, with the approval of the Chair, Faculty Committee or nominee and one of the following staff members recorded: (70) Where the Unit Chair is not one of the approvers of the amendment to result form, the Faculty Committee sends the Unit Chair notification of the amendment. The Faculty Committee must retain the original copy of the amendment to result form, including the approval and any other supporting documentation. (71) After the date for the official release of results has passed, the approval of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education must be obtained before submitting late results for a whole unit cohort. (72) In circumstances where students have been awarded a special or supplementary assessment, results should be resolved and submitted to the Division of Student Administration within 10 working days after the completion of the special examination cycle to which the unit relates. (73) The date for the finalisation of a student's results may be varied: (74) The Faculty must notify the Division of Student Administration that results have been authorised for release on the specified date. (75) Results must be consistent with the grading schema set out in Schedule A: Grading Schema for Assessment in Higher Education Courses and Calculation of Weighted Average Mark. (76) Students who have completed a unit at another institution under an approved cross-institutional enrolment must provide an official academic transcript for that unit to the Division of Student Administration, for recording in the student management system, within two weeks of the result being released by the institution. (77) Following the release of results, students may apply to the Faculty Committee for a review of their overall result for a unit, including assessment in any part of the unit. (78) The Faculty Committee will normally only approve an application for a review where the student provides evidence that their work was not marked in accordance with the marking criteria or that there was a misapplication of other relevant University policies or procedures. (79) Applications must be made within five working days after the official release and publication of the student's results (unless the student can show the Faculty Committee that exceptional circumstances beyond their control have prevented them from lodging the application in time). (80) The Faculty Committee considers each request for review in consultation with the Unit Chair and determines whether a review of a result is warranted. (81) Where an application is rejected, the Faculty Committee notifies the student of the outcome and explains the reasons for the decision. (82) If the Faculty Committee determines that there will be a review of a result, the Committee will be responsible for: (83) In the case of group assessment tasks, all students' results will be reviewed, and, where appropriate students' results will be reviewed individually. (84) If, in the process of reviewing a result, it is determined that a systematic error has occurred that has affected the results for multiple students in a unit, the Faculty Committee will take appropriate action to rectify this. (85) Where the Committee has reviewed the result, the Committee's decision is final. (86) Results are published at the end of each study period on the dates specified in the University Handbook. Information about accessing results is available on the current students (results) website. In accordance with the Academic Board Regulations, the Academic Registrar and Executive Director Student Administration under the general direction of the Academic Board, will decide the form in which, and the dates on which, results are to be published. (87) Final unit results are not made available to students prior to the official publication of results. All marks for individual assessment tasks are provisional until the final unit results have been approved for release by the Faculty Committee. (88) Faculties and Division of Student Administration staff members are jointly responsible for the security of documentation relating to examinations and other types of assessment tasks. (89) Faculties ensure that records are retained in accordance with the Information and Records Management policy, including any supporting documentation for decisions about special consideration applications, mark adjustments made to individual assessment items, amendments to final results and supplementary assessment. (90) The identity of students completing summative assessment tasks is verified. The means of verification must be communicated to students and the University may refuse to enable access to or mark the assessment where the identity of the student has not been confirmed. (91) Unit Chairs provide students with information on what constitutes a breach of academic integrity at the beginning of a unit. (92) Students are required to make a declaration when submitting assignments to confirm that the work submitted is their own and that the work has not been submitted for assessment in any other unit or course (at the University or another institution) without the approval of the Unit Chair. In the case of group assessment tasks, each member of the group must make a declaration. (93) Breaches of academic integrity by students will be dealt with in accordance with Part 10 – Academic and Research Integrity of the Academic Board Regulations. (94) Assessment is regularly reviewed as an integral and central part of quality assurance processes for courses and units. Faculty Boards, Faculty Committees and assessment panels ensure quality assurance and continuous quality improvement within each Faculty. (95) The University monitors assessment practices and compliance with relevant procedures in accordance with processes approved by the Academic Board. (96) For the purpose of this Procedure:Assessment (Higher Education Courses) procedure
Section 1 - Preamble
Top of PageSection 2 - Purpose
Section 3 - Scope
Section 4 - Policy
Section 5 - Procedure
Assessment panels
Unit assessment task requirements
Hurdle requirements
Communication and feedback to students
Examinations
Assessing student work
Re-marking of failed assessment tasks
Alternative assessment arrangements for students with a disability or health condition
Rescheduling of assessment tasks other than examinations
Penalties for late submission of assessment tasks (other than examinations)
Special consideration
Final unit to complete
Pass conceded
Supplementary assessment
Finalisation of results
Cross-institutional results
Student requests for a review of results
Publication of results
Storage, security and records management
Breach of academic integrity
Quality assurance
Section 6 - Definitions
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'Day' means working day for paper submissions and calendar day for electronic submissions.