Re-marks and Moderations Procedure

Document Number	000769
Date Approved	19 December 2006
Date Last Amended	5 December 2011

This procedure has been superseded by Section 16.3 Quality Assurance and Marking of the Course Management and Assessment Procedure Manual [000996] from 1 January 2013.

1. Introduction

This procedure supports the implementation of the Rules Governing the Administration of Assessment Items 000113 and related policies. It will ensure that there is appropriate consistency and quality assurance in the management of the re-marking and moderating of students’ marks across the University

2. Definitions

In this document:

assessment item means any form of assignment, examination , quiz, test, laboratory assignment, tutorial exercise or any other work used to measure student learning outcomes by which the final result of a student in a course is determined;

external marker means a marker from outside the School responsible for the delivery of the course;

major assessment item means any assessment item, including the final examination, worth 20% or more of the final result; or an assessment item that is a compulsory course component (i.e. a compulsory assessment item that must be satisfactorily completed in order for a student to received a pass mark or better in that course) for a course;

re-mark means a review of the mark awarded to an individual student for a single assessment item, or part of an assessment item;

moderation means the process of reviewing the marks awarded to all students in the cohort undertaking that assessment for a single assessment item, or part of an assessment item, or final results.

3. Procedure

3.1. Re-marks

3.1.1. A student may only request a re-mark of an assessment item before the final result - in the course to which the assessment item contributes - has been posted. If a final result in the course has been posted, the student must apply under the Appeal Against Final Result Procedure 000261.

i) Students concerned at the mark given for an assessment item should first discuss the matter with the course coordinator responsible for the course. Students should be informed, before they proceed with a formal request, that as a result of a re-mark the original mark may be increased or reduced.

ii) If, within five days of receiving the mark, a student is unable to contact or is not satisfied with the discussion with the course coordinator, the student may request a re-mark, outlining in writing the case for a re-mark to the course coordinator.

3.1.2. In determining whether a re-mark should be granted the Course Co-ordinator must take into consideration all of the following:

          i)    whether the student had discussed the matter with the Course Coordinator;

         ii)    the case put forward by the student for a re-mark;

      iii)    the weighting of the assessment item and its potential impact on the student’s final mark or grade;

       iv)    the time required to undertake the re-mark;

       v)     the number of original markers i.e.

        a)     whether there was a single marker, or

        b)    if there was more than one marker whether there was agreement or disagreement on the marks awarded.

3.1.3. A re-mark may also be initiated at the request of the Course Coordinator, the Head of School, the School Assessment Committee, the Faculty Progress and Appeals Committee or the Pro Vice-Chancellor.

i) Where a re-mark is initiated by someone other than the student and the student has already been given a mark for that assessment item, the student will be informed that a re-mark is underway.

ii) In all cases the results of the re-mark are to be given to the Course Coordinator accompanied by a recommendation from the initiating body if that is other than the Course Coordinator.

3.1.4. Re-marks may be undertaken by:

          i)    the original marker; or

         ii)    an alternate internal marker; or

        iii)    an alternate external marker.

3.1.5. Where a re-mark is requested as part of, or as a consequence of, a grievance procedure or an action under the Student Misconduct Rule 000935, the re-mark must be undertaken by an external marker.

3.1.6. An alternate marker shall be provided with any marking guides and the assessment criteria for the assessment item and for the course. The course coordinator should ensure the integrity of the original markers comments are preserved by providing the alternate marker with a copy of the student’s answer(s) with the original markers comments removed.

3.1.7. The alternate marker will make a recommendation to the officer or body responsible for arranging the re-mark.

3.1.8. If an alternate marker is used, the original marker:

i) is to be informed that a remark is being undertaken; and

ii) should be involved in discussion with the Course Coordinator (if they are not the same person), where practical, and informed of the result of the re-mark before the student is informed.

3.1.9. The result of the re-mark and the recommendation of the body responsible for arranging the re-mark will be considered by the Course Coordinator who will determine the final mark. If the assessment item is a major assessment item the student may appeal the decision after the final result is posted by submitting an application under the Appeal Against Final Result Procedure 000261.

3.1.10. If necessary (where any doubt exists as to the result to be recorded for an assessment item) a supplementary or replacement assessment item may be administered.

3.1.11. Notification of changes to the mark for an assessment item as a result of a re-mark is the responsibility of:

i) the Course Coordinator; or

ii) the Pro Vice-Chancellor when the re-mark is the result of an appeal under the Appeal Against Final Result Procedure 000261.

3.1.12. The Course Coordinator shall provide a report on all re-marks on major assessment items in the Course Assessment Return.

3.2. Moderation

3.2.1. Moderation may be applied when those listed in clauses 3.2.1 ii) to 3.2.1 v) below detect:

          i)    a major discrepancy (or perceived discrepancy) between:

         a) the content of the course as against the content or nature of the assessment item(s);

         b)   the content or nature of the assessment item(s) as against those set out in the Course Outline;

         c)   the marks given by a particular examiner and those given by another in the same course;

         d) the results in a particular course and the results in other courses undertaken by the same students;

         ii)    a Course Coordinator, Head of School, Pro Vice-Chancellor or the University wishes to ensure that the results in an assessment item or the final results in a course are consistent across the course (particularly where group, self or peer assessment is being used);

        iii)    a Course Coordinator, Head of School, Pro Vice-Chancellor or the University wishes to ensure that the results in an assessment item or final results in a course are in keeping with benchmarks established for that assessment item or course;

       iv)     the Faculty Progress and Appeals Committee makes such a request under the Appeal Against Final Result Procedure 000261; and

        v)     the University is undertaking a quality assurance process in keeping with the Partner Organisation (including Off Campus) Delivery of Face-to-Face Teaching for a University Award Policy 000630.

3.2.2. Moderations may also be initiated by a course coordinator but must have the approval of the Head of School.

3.2.3. Moderation may be undertaken by:

         i)    a suitable internal moderator; or

        ii)

       iii)     a suitable external moderator (including the School Moderator as set out in the Rules Governing the Administration of Assessment Items 000113).

3.2.4. The Moderator will be given access to:

          i)    a copy of the course outline;

         ii)    the course description as approved by the Faculty;

        iii)    the criteria for the assessment of major assessment items of the course;

        iv)    weightings for the individual components of the course; and

         v)    weightings/marks for the individual components of the examination (if appropriate).

3.2.5. When a moderation is initiated, all students who may be affected will be informed that the process is being undertaken and warned that their marks may be varied upwards or downwards.

3.2.6. The moderator will make a recommendation to the officer or body responsible for arranging the moderation.

3.2.7. Changes to the results of an assessment item as a result of moderation are the responsibility of the Head of School.

3.2.8. Changes to the final results of students as a result of moderation are the responsibility of the Pro Vice-Chancellor.

3.2.9. Students may appeal the result of a moderation only after the final result has been posted under the Appeal Against Final Result Procedure 000261.

3.2.10. The Course Coordinator shall provide a report on all moderations on major assessment items in the Course Assessment Return.

4. Essential Supporting Documents

Rules Governing the Administration of Assessment Items 000113

Rules Governing Faculties 000305

Rules Governing Schools 000309

School Assessment Body Responsibilities Guideline 000771

Student Progress in the Program Management Procedure Manual - Coursework 000967

Appeal Against Final Result Procedure 000261

Adverse Circumstances Affecting Assessment Items Procedure 000940

Partner Organisation (including Off Campus) Delivery of Face-to-Face Teaching for a University Award Policy 000631

5. Related Documents

Student Misconduct Rule 000935