University Centre Colchester | Assessment Procedures

University Centre Colchester
Assessment Procedures 2024/2025

Policy Details

Policy Owner: UCC Academic Services

CE Sponsor: Principal and Chief Executive Officer

Date created this year: 24th September 2024. Version: 2.2. Approved by: College Executive. Date approved: 26.09.2024. To be reviewed: September 2025.

Version Control

Version Number: 2.2. Changes from previous 12 months policy
Update to job titles to refer to new college structure
Removal of late submission information, instead refer to extenuating circumstances policy.
Inclusion of updated level and grade descriptors.
Changes to policy in year

Equality Impact Assessment Tool

Name of Policy: UCC Assessment Procedures 2024-25
Yes/No Comments
1. Does the policy/guidance affect one group less or more favourably than another on the basis of:
Race or ethnicity: No
Disability: No
Gender: No
Religion or belief: No
Sexual orientation: No
Age: No
Marriage and Civil Partnership: No
Maternity and Pregnancy: No
Gender Reassignment: No
2. Is there any evidence that some groups are affected differently? No
3. If you have identified potential discrimination, are any exceptions valid, legal and/or justifiable? N/A
4. Is the impact of the policy/guidance likely to be negative? No
5. If so, can the impact be avoided? N/A
6. What alternatives are there to achieving the policy/guidance without the impact? N/A
7. Can we reduce the impact by taking different action? N/A

1. Assessment Procedures

1.1 A schedule showing the assessments for each module, together with the dates on which each shall be issued and on which each shall be required to be handed in, shall normally be issued to all students taking the module during the induction week at the start of the Semester. At latest, this schedule shall be provided by week three of the module delivery.
1.2 The submission of work for assessment is the sole responsibility of the student. Students are required to ensure that:
• assignments are submitted by electronic method (Moodle/ATS2) or physical hand-in by 12 noon on the due date;
• hard copy physical hand-ins to be securely fastened with a University Centre Colchester (UCC) front cover assignment sheet;
• for hard copy physical hand-ins they receive a University Centre Colchester (UCC) Assignment Receipt duly notarised and dated as proof of submission. University Centre Colchester will not be responsible for any assignment which goes missing without proof of submission. The assignment will be deemed a failure in this situation;
• Students who have been assessed as having specific learning difficulties (dyslexia, dyspraxia or has a significant hearing impairment) should contact UCC Academic Services to be considered for Reasonable Adjustments including consideration for specialised marking polices.
1.3 All coursework deadlines are set by course areas. If a student is unable to meet a specified deadline, their work will be classified as ‘late’. For students studying on a University of East Anglia, validated programme work submitted after the published deadline date but no more than 7 days late will be penalised and capped at a maximum mark of 40 (postgraduate submissions will be capped at a mark of 50). For students studying on a Pearson HNC/HND programme work submitted after the published deadline date, but no more than 14 days late will be penalised and capped at a maximum mark of pass. It should be noted that no allowance will be made for UCC closure due to statutory holidays. For re-submissions there will be no late submission period and all work submitted after the published deadline will be awarded a zero or fail mark.
1.4 Where assignments are marked on a pass or fail basis, an assignment submitted after the published deadline date will be failed.
1.5 Students who submit their work late but within 7 days of the deadline (14 for students on Pearson HNC/HND programmes) may apply for their work to be uncapped through the extenuating circumstances regulations.
1.6 Work submitted more than one week after the published deadline date (two weeks for Pearson HNC/HND programmes) will not be accepted or marked.
1.7 Students are required to retain all marked written assignments together with cover sheets and tutor comments until the module has been considered by the Board of Examiners and the period of Appeal (four weeks after notification of results) has been completed.

2. Presentation of Assessed Work

2.1 Written Submissions
2.1.2 A word target, or equivalent, will be specified for all written assignments. Students must declare the actual word count on the title page of the submission. Assignments may not be marked where an actual word count is not clearly indicated.
2.1.3 Please note, the following contents of a written document are excluded from the word count:
• cover page;
• abstract (except undergraduate dissertation abstracts, which are included);
• contents page;
• headers and footers;
• headings;
• headings of charts and tables;
• appendices;
• reference list.
2.1.4 The following are included in the word count:
• citations (including ‘indented quotes’) and in text referencing
• footnotes and/or endnotes
• words contained within charts and tables.
2.1.5 The following features should be applied to ensure the marker can read written assignments clearly:
• Font style: Ariel, Calibri or New Times Roman;
• Font size: 11/12;
• Line spacing: 1.5;
• Page numbers.
2.1.6 The following information should be included to identify whose assignment it is and what module it relates to:
• Module title;
• Module code;
• Student number (work should be anonymised).
2.1.7 Appendices and footnotes/endnotes should only include material which markers are not required to read, but to which they may refer if they wish. Appendices therefore include information which supports the assignment, such as, for example, data sheets and anonymised survey feedback. Appendices must not be used as a device for extending the main text. Quotes from secondary sources can be used to illustrate or support the points of your assignments but should be referenced and included in the reference list.

2.2 Word Targets
2.2.1 Students may submit assignments with a variation of the required word target by plus or minus 10% without incurring any penalty.
2.2.2 A specified word target serves two purposes. Firstly, the upper end of the available word count range requires a writer to be selective in the information included and concise in the manner in which it is presented. Secondly, the lower end of the word count range is indicative of the detail required to respond satisfactorily to the assignment task.
2.2.3 Should an assignment fall outside the permitted variables of the specified word target, the marker will be required to deduct 3 percentage points from the mark awarded. (e.g. a mark of 50% will be reduced to 47%).
2.2.4 Should the 3% reduction of a mark result in the assignment’s mark being below 40%, the penalty will be capped at 40%.
2.2.5 Direct citations should not make up more than 10% of your total word count.

2.3 Live and Pre-Recorded Performance/Presentation/Creative Work
2.3.1 Performance/presentation work at the UCC enables students to demonstrate their engagement with, and response to, a range of subject-specific tasks. Performance/presentation work should evidence the ability of the performer’s/presenter’s skills, as well as the ability to communicate the material in a professional way.

2.3.2 Framework for Performance Work
• The overall playing time of a performed programme, or recording, needs to adhere to the playing time stipulated in the respective module description.*
• Unless the module specification indicates otherwise, there is a permitted variation from the overall playing time of +- 10% of the stipulated requirement.
• If the playing time of performed or pre-recorded material does not fall within the +-10% regulation, the marker will be required to deduct 3% (out of 100%) from the mark awarded.
• In the case of over-long performances, the examiners are entitled to stop the performance when they have heard sufficient to form a judgment.
*This includes improvised material.

2.3.3 Framework for Presentation/Creative Work
• The overall delivery time of a presentation/creative work needs to adhere to the time stipulated in the respective module description.*
• Unless the module specification indicates otherwise, there is a permitted variation from the overall delivery time of +-10% of the stipulated requirement.
• If the presentation time does not fall within the +-10% regulation, the marker will be required to deduct 3% (out of 100%) from the mark awarded.
• In the case of over-long presentations/creative work, the markers are entitled to stop the delivery when they have heard enough to form a judgment.

2.3.4 Exceptions to the Above Regulations
• Films, Film Music, Computer Games – These are likely to be made to a brief, which may or may not stipulate a duration. Where a precise duration is required, the student is expected to meet this requirement without deviating from the brief at all. The 3% (out of 100%) reduction applies, unless the brief is met precisely.
• Where the module specification suggests an indicative duration, the +- 10% clause applies, as does the 3% (out of 100%) reduction in the case of non-conforming to the submission requirement.

2.4 Mood Boards/Mind Maps/Sketch Books/Artifacts/Other Annotated Creative Work in Non- Essay Format
Neither the word target policy, not the 3% (out of 100%) reduction applies to work of this nature, because the establishing of such parameters runs contrary to an element of the assignment itself, in which the identifying and applying of a format for a submission are deemed to be part of the assignment task.
2.5 Submission of Presentation Materials (Including Group Presentations)
2.5.1 Presentation assessments are defined as the physical presentation, and any supporting materials required to be submitted as per the assignment brief in the relevant module guide.
2.5.2 Submission deadlines for supporting materials should be prior to the physical presentation taking place.
2.5.3 Submission of the required supporting materials is a pre-requisite for marking. For students’ work to be graded, both the physical presentation and the submission of supporting materials must have taken place. Failure to submit either will result in a grade of 0 being awarded for both. If supporting materials are submitted late, a student’s grade will be capped accordingly.
2.5.4 All individual members of a group are expected to submit supporting materials independently of each other. It is the student’s responsibility to submit their work to be considered for grading, including group presentations.
2.5.5 If one member of the group fails to submit supporting materials, or submits late, they will have their individual grade capped accordingly.

3. Marking of Work

3.1 Marking should take into account University Centre Colchester policy and guidance on the use of assessment criteria and grade descriptors (as attached in Appendices B-E). All assessments should conform to the basic requirements of this UCC-wide policy, though particularisation and contextualisation to meet the local needs of programmes is encouraged.
3.2 Work should be marked within four weeks of its submission by the student.
3.3 Information relating to internal verification and second marking can now be found in the University Centre Colchester Internal Verification and Marking Policies.

4 University Centre Colchester Reassessment Policy

4.1 When designing reassessment instruments for validated provision programme teams should refer to the following University Centre Colchester policy on reassessment:
i Reassessment should by default take the same form as the original mode of assessment.
ii Where this is not possible, the department must seek approval from the validating organization to offer a different form of reassessment setting out the reason why like-for-like reassessment is not possible.
iii Where approval has been given to offer a different form of reassessment, the department should normally operate a consistent approach across the modules for which approval has been given.
iv Notwithstanding iii, there should be consistency across University Centre Colchester in how certain modes of assessment are reassessed. departments should consult UCC Academic Services for a list of approved modes of reassessment before requesting approval to offer a different form of reassessment.
v In respect of each of their modules, departments are required to publish information on reassessment. Normally, this will be done through module guides.
4.2 Key Principles of Reassessment:
University Centre Colchester approves the use of original assessment instruments in the following contexts;
• Where the conditions of the original assessment instrument can be maintained;
• Where the original assessment instrument can be used in a reduced context or environment which does not negatively impact on the students’ ability to meet the learning outcomes of the assessment.
University Centre Colchester does not approve the use of original assessment instruments in the following contexts;
• Where students are asked to retake a previously blind written examination.
If a reassessment is unable to meet the above criteria programme leaders will be required to submit a request for an alternative reassessment to UCC Academic Services for consideration by the validating provider.
4.3 Requesting an Alternative Reassessment
Requests should be made prior to the start of the academic year, and explain the reasoning behind why the original assessment method cannot be used. Staff will be required to demonstrate how the reassessment assesses the learning outcomes of the original assessment without negatively impacting on either the students’ ability to achieve or to reduce the validity of the assessment.
If an alternative reassessment request is approved, details of the reassessment should be included in module guides.
The process for requesting an alternative assessment as a Reasonable Adjustment for a student can be found in the Code of Practice on Learning Support and Reasonable Adjustments.

Appendix A: University Centre Colchester Policy on Assessment

1 All assignments should indicate the assessment criteria that are relevant to the assignment.
▪ Assessment criteria should be categorised under the headings:
❖ knowledge (subject specific);
❖ cognitive skills (generic);
❖ practical skills (subject specific);
❖ and key /transferable skills (generic)
▪ Particular assessment criteria for a modular assessment should be derived from the relevant programme outcomes detailed in the module map (found in the programme validation document);
▪ Assessment criteria should be stated either on the assignment brief or on a marking sheet, if used;
▪ Programme teams are encouraged to expand upon a criterion and describe it in particularised and contextualised terms. For example: “You will be assessed on the extent to which you worked effectively with others in your committee meeting and met obligations to others (i.e. other committee members and relevant business stakeholders).”
2. Assignments should indicate the relative weighting given to each assessment criterium:
▪ Preferably, these should be stated in percentage terms;
▪ This indication should be stated either on the assignment brief or on a marking sheet, if used.
3. Guided by University Centre Colchester guidelines on grade descriptors, each assignment should indicate what achievement / performance is required to attain a mark in a particular grade band:
▪ The college wide guidelines on grade descriptors could be used, without adaptation, if appropriate;
▪ Alternatively, grade descriptors could be stated in terms that are specific to the subject and the assignment.
4. Feedback / feed forward to students should be provided against each of the module outcomes.
▪ Language used in feedback should be consistent with that used in the grade descriptors;
▪ It is often helpful to indicate what the student needed to have done in order to gain a higher mark. Language used in such feed forward should be consistent with grade
descriptors for higher mark bands;
▪ This does not preclude general comments.
5. Marking should be guided by the stated grade descriptors. An overall mark will be calculated / derived according to the relative weighting given to each assessment criterion
▪ If percentage weightings are used for assessment criteria, the overall mark will be a summation of the separate grades.
6. All work submitted is received on the understanding that it is the student’s own, except where
references and citations are clearly identified. Any work submitted under the student’s name but of their authorship will lead be processed as suspected academic misconduct.

Appendix B: Sample Level Descriptors – (Threshold Standards)