What is Expected in Assessment?

There is a variety of means of assessment in the School, depending on the type of course, the discipline, and, often, the number of enrolments. These can include assignments, examinations, work sheets, take-home exams, and - in the area of Drama for example - performance.

Tutors or course convenors will explain the assessment requirements, and deal with any specific questions.

Forms of Assessment

In the School, students are encouraged to take an active part in determining how they will be assessed.  This is to ensure:

• that there is an understanding of the educational goals implied by any particular method of assessment;
• that there is knowledge of the workload required and that students have the opportunity of discussing this;
• that students have the opportunity of indicating any ways in which they believe the proposed assessment will unfairly discriminate against them because of age, sex, ethnic or racial origin, physical disability, or any other factor which the examiner may not have taken into account.  Examiners are urged to consult with the students taking a course before finalizing the method of assessment.

[It is School policy that students may only acheive a passing grade if all assessment has been attempted.]

In particular the following practices, while not binding on members of staff, are recommended:

• that time be set aside in the first week of each semester to discuss the method of assessment for a course, and that the final decision on this matter be postponed for a week (thus allowing students time to consider carefully the various alternatives);
• that alternative modes of assessment to compulsory examinations be made available, but that, where an examiner feels that a compulsory examination is essential, the examiner should be prepared to justify the reason for this decision to the students involved;
• that, where an examination is set, marked examination papers be made available for collection or discussion with course convenors.

The School employs various means of assessment. The main ones are:

• Research Assignment - a student submits a piece of written research, usually 2000-2500 words
• Group Work or Analytic Assignment - 2-3 students work together on a single project, each with specific analytic tasks to handle.
• Short Research Assignment - e.g. students comment briefly on a supplied text, guided by a set of questions.
• Dramaturgical Assignment - students are usually expected to contribute to aspect(s) of a drama production and present some form of written work.
• Tutorial Paper/Oral Presentation - students are required to speak or orally present a written paper to the tutorial group.
• Documentation of a Project
• Tutorial Attendance & Participation - students are assessed by their oral contributions to the class discussion.
• Mid-semester and Final Examinations  - forms for a Central or School Special Examination
• Take-home Examination - usually over a weekend.
• Fieldwork Report (usually used in ARTT or DRAM courses) - theorised analysis and documentation of a live event or site or art gallery exhibition.
• Slide Test
• Weekly Worksheets - usually designed as a learning aid rather than as assessment exercises and does not normally attract a large percentage of the assessment total.
• Poster Session - a short exercise, viewed anonymously by fellow students.

Plagiarism

All students should be aware of the rules regarding plagiarism.

Cut-offs for Grades

The following is the percentage range of final grades adhered to by the School.

Presentation of Assignments

All students should read carefully the page on Presentation of Assignments.

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