Marking Criteria for 35-hour Masters level open assessments
The following general criteria will be applied to the marking of ALL
SCSE/SSE, GTC and EngD open assessments:
Examiners want to see evidence of candidates' thoughts and understanding.
Marks will be given for the presentation and evaluation of views and ideas,
and for justified and well-supported conclusions.
Students are expected to not just repeat material from the lectures or
reference texts but to apply the knowledge and, where appropriate, seek out
state of the art knowledge from their own reading
to complete the assessment.
Note: The
"vocabulary"
section of the
open
assessment FAQ web page gives
guidance on the interpretation of a range of common question words and
phrases.
Marks are awarded for how well the material submitted answers the
specific question that has been asked.
A short, relevant answer will attract more marks than a long,
irrelevant essay, no matter how interesting.
Where a question requires the application of a particular method or
technique, marks will reflect how well that specific activity has been
carried out.
There will be no marks for applying methods other than that required.
The method should be applied as it has been defined and described in
the lectures or standard reference texts, bearing in mind hints and guidance
that have been given about good practice or common errors to avoid.
If a candidate believes there is justification for deviating from the
standard method, it is essential that this justification is carefully
presented and explained.
If a question requires an analysis but does not specify a method, marks
will be allocated for the selection and justification of (an) appropriate method(s)
as well as for the application of the chosen technique(s).
If a question requires a calculation, proof or similar activity, marks
will be allocated for the method.
Candidates must show all working. If a
candidate presents an answer (even if correct) without showing how it has
been achieved, this may result in no marks being awarded for that answer.
Part of the purpose of open assessments at MSc level is to evaluate
candidates' ability to identify, structure and prioritise the information
that should be presented in response to a question.
Some assessments will contain questions with a single large mark allocation.
The marks awarded for this type of question will reflect the organisation and
structure of the answer, as well as the accuracy of the information presented.
Note: Questions with single large mark allocation are usually "essay type"
questions which require some degree of background reading and research.
The marks awarded will reflect the quality of the background work (e.g.
how well literature citations are "focused" on the specific question).
Some tasks may be expected to generate a lot more output than can be
included in the assessment submission (for example, application of certain
analysis techniques). In this case, the mark awarded will reflect how well
the candidate has selected material to demonstrate the approach they have
taken and the key conclusions they have reached.
Marks are allocated according to the expected amount of work required to
produce a good answer.
The marks available for each question / sub-question should be used as a
guide to how much time to spend / space to use for an answer.
Answers submitted to open assessments are expected to be clear and well presented.
Work should demonstrate candidates' understanding through careful structuring and
clear, accurate writing.
There are no marks awarded for presentation, spelling and grammar (and
accordingly no penalties for poor presentation, spelling or grammar) BUT
if it is difficult to read, interpret or understand the points being
made, the effect may be that the student fails to demonstrate their own
understanding.
Candidates are expected to have read and reviewed their own work
before submission.
Procedures exist for candidates to declare dyslexia or similar disabilities which
may impact the quality of their written work. These procedures must be
followed for every assessment submitted.
Hand-written answers and hand-drawn diagrams are perfectly acceptable
provided they are neat and legible.