Assessment and Feedback Policy

Introduction
Assessment Design
Assessment, Moderation and Marking
Management of Assessment
Feedback
Disability
Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Exemptions
Appendices

1. Introduction ¹

1.1 Introduction and purposes of assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback are fundamental parts of the student learning experience, whether on-campus, by distance or blended learning. The UEL Assessment and Feedback Policy seeks to:

actively promote student success and academic achievement
provide clear, accurate, accessible information and guidelines to all staff and students on assessment and feedback
maximise the potential for consistency and fairness in assessment
locate assessment and feedback as an integral part of learning and teaching processes.

Assessment, from a student perspective, is the vehicle for obtaining feedback on progress in their learning, enabling them to improve. This is indicated in terms of:

knowledge acquired
skills gained, both generic and specific
general understanding developed.

Assessment, for both staff and students, can be used to determine whether a student:

has achieved the learning outcomes
is ready to progress to a higher level
has the capacity to demonstrate competence
is able to qualify for an award.

Assessment, from a staff perspective:

enables evaluation of the success of their input into the student learning experience
provides an external measure of recognition for the public, the student, the employer and other stakeholders of a student’s achievement (as determined by the award of credit or a qualification).

Assessment may be diagnostic, formative or summative - all assessment will contain one or more of these elements (see Glossary and Supporting Information, Appendix 1).

The roles and responsibilities of Field, Programme and Module leaders, Schools and Students with regard to the Assessment and Feedback Policy are summarised within Appendix 4 of this document.

1.2 Principles of assessment

In order to serve the above purposes, assessment will be treated in accordance with the following principles and be:

based on learning outcomes and assessment criteria
integral to programme design
fair and free from bias
valid, transparent and reliable
timely and incremental
consistent
demanding yet manageable and efficient.

All documentation regarding assessment tasks, assessment criteria, submission deadlines and any accompanying guidance, including information relating to the return of work, will be:

clearly worded
presented to students at the beginning of each module
published together in the relevant document
easily available in the relevant module guide which will be accessible to students via the module’s virtual learning environment

2. Assessment Design

2.1 Introduction to Assessment Design

Within programmes, a variety of assessment tasks will be used to provide flexibility for students and to assess students’ skills, knowledge and understanding. This may include innovative assessment tasks such as those embraced within e-assessment.

Effective assessment design, within all modules, ensures that:

assessment tasks enable students to demonstrate the learning outcomes detailed in the module specification
all learning outcomes are assessed through summative assessment tasks
assessment tasks are efficient in terms of student and staff time and over-assessment is avoided
assessment is both formative (with more emphasis at levels 0/1) and summative
each assessment task is accompanied by, and mapped to, a set of assessment criteria which:
- ensures assessment of the learning outcomes
- is appropriate to the demands of the level of the assessment undertaken

student effort and the amount of work involved is consistent across modules at each level and aligns with the UEL Assessment Tariff and Equivalences (see Appendix 5)
students experience a range of assessment types within their programme of study
the likelihood of academic misconduct is reduced

all students have an equal chance of understanding the assessment task and of demonstrating their achievement of the learning outcomes

Reassessment offers students fresh opportunities to demonstrate achievement of module learning outcomes. Repetition of coursework and examination questions will therefore be avoided (unless Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body requirements indicate a need to repeat assessment), particularly since repetition increases the likelihood of plagiarism and/or importation into examinations.

2.2 Relation of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

All assessment tasks will be clearly mapped to identified learning outcomes.

Learning outcomes will be devised at programme and module level.

Programme level outcomes enable students to gain an overall understanding of their learning across the programme.
Module learning outcomes enable students to gain an appreciation of what will be learned by the end of the module.

Learning outcomes will be monitored to ensure that they:

are each described as specifically as possible in terms of what the student will be able to do, and /or know
are devised according to the appropriate subject benchmark statement
are set at the appropriate level for the module /programme.

2.3 Assessment Criteria

A student’s performance will be marked and graded according to pre-specified and clear assessment criteria. These will normally be presented in one document combining marking and grading criteria (see example at Appendix 3). Assessment criteria will:

be given to students with the assessment task (plus any guidance on what the markers expect the student to address when undertaking the assessment task)
examine whether learning outcomes have been met by the student, and whether this has been addressed by the markers
be set at the required standard and level for the module
reflect the published aims and learning outcomes
be of a comparable standard to equivalent awards elsewhere in the UK and in keeping with appropriate subject benchmark statements
be available within the module guide, which will be accessible to students via the module’s virtual learning environment

inform the use of any rubrics utilised within e-Submission ² (see Appendix 6 Guidelines: e-Submission, marking and feedback of coursework).

2.4 Levels of Assessment: Qualification descriptors

Qualification descriptors are used to ensure consistency and equity. These have been presented by The Quality Assurance Agency within the UK Quality Code for Higher Education – Chapter A1: The national level and identify the characteristics and context of learning expected at each level, against which specific learning outcomes and assessment criteria are derived.

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria reflect the appropriate level specified by the qualification descriptors, and reflect increasing levels of demand, complexity and depth of study.

2.5 Assessment Processes

Schools will have effective mechanisms in place for reviewing and monitoring assessment processes. These will ensure that activities are appropriate and are not excessive for students or staff. Monitoring and review processes might be undertaken by a separate School panel or within Field meetings. The following will be considered when reviewing assessment processes:

assessment tasks are appropriate and enable students to demonstrate the learning outcomes of a module
submission deadlines are scheduled to be spread throughout the semester wherever possible
student effort and the amount of work involved is consistent across modules at each level and aligns with UEL Assessment Tariff and Equivalences (see Appendix 5)
full use is made of e-Submission for appropriate coursework submission, marking and feedback

All information relating to assessment tasks, assessment criteria, submission deadlines and feedback processes will be clearly provided within module guides, which will be accessible to students via the relevant module’s virtual learning environment. Programme approval panels need to:

be satisfied that a proposed programme requires students to achieve appropriate standards of work at each level of the award
ensure assessment within a programme incorporates a varied and appropriate diet of assessment tasks
consider the overall coherence of the programme of study and progression through the programme.

Periodically, programme teams will review the spread and variety of assessments undertaken across modules that comprise the programme of study. This will acknowledge changes that may have been undertaken within individual modules since the previous approval/review and will ensure that a varied and appropriate diet continues to be offered across the programme.

3. Assessment, Moderation and Marking

3.1 ASSESSMENT PREPARATION: Internal Moderation of Assessment Tasks

Each school will have effective systems and procedures in place for the internal moderation of all methods of assessment for all modules.

Draft assessment and reassessment tasks for each module will be produced simultaneously by module teams. This process will be co-ordinated by the module leader to ensure that assessment at each opportunity is equitable.

All assessment task(s) for each module will be proof-read and checked for fairness and consistency prior to being sent to External Examiners. It is preferable for this process to include academic colleagues from outside the module team, in order to improve objectivity. The assessment task(s) will:

meet module specifications
assess the learning outcomes
be set at the correct level
conform with expectations of External Examiners (as laid out in the External Examiners’ Manual).
be designed to limit academic misconduct

Following this scrutiny, assessment task(s) may need to be modified.

3.2 ASSESSMENT PREPARATION: External Moderation of Assessment Tasks

Every component of assessment that contributes to an award, at all levels, is subject to External Examiner moderation. This ensures the maintenance of standards both internally and in comparison with similar programmes delivered at other higher education institutions.

Once finalised, assessment tasks will be forwarded to the relevant External Examiner for comment, prior to being published to students. Any changes required by an External Examiner must be approved by them prior to release to students.

All first and second opportunity assessment and reassessment tasks for each academic year will be submitted to the relevant External Examiner using secure means, by the end of the semester prior to required first use (e.g. for assessment due to be used in Semester B, the External Examiner should receive the proposed assessment for comment prior to the end of the previous Semester A). All assessment tasks sent to External Examiners will be accompanied by:

a copy of the relevant module specification
the published assessment criteria
clear guidance notes i.e. expectations of the assessment task(s)

All information received by External Examiners will duplicate that which the programme team intends to provide to the students (except indicative answers which will only be sent to External Examiners).

External Examiners will be asked to comment on the suitability of the assessment tasks with regard to the module specification, level of work expected and in particular, in relation to the standards of the tasks in comparison with similar programmes at other institutions. They are also asked to comment upon the clarity of the task, and on the guidance provided.

3.3 Preparing to Mark

For each module, relevant teaching teams agree a marking plan at the beginning of each academic year. This plan will identify:

first and second (and third, if subsequently needed) markers, and timetables
indicative content of answers to coursework and/or examination questions/tasks
provision in relation to e-Submission
assessment (marking and grading) criteria, which will ensure appropriate use of the full spread of marks

3.4 Marking

Consideration will be given to ensure the full spread of marks is used.

When e-Submission has been used for the submission of coursework, marking and second marking will be conducted within e-Submission or other formats appropriate to the module e.g. Audio file or Video file.

In order for marking to be equitable between all markers:

questions, assessment criteria and a copy of guidance provided to students regarding expectations for the specific piece of assessment will be provided to all markers
less experienced or probationary colleagues new to the institution or sector will be supported, and guidance and personal development in marking skills provided. Their marking will normally be second marked by experienced members of staff, and will be monitored to ensure:
- the development of necessary skills
- that students are receiving equitable marks

3.5 Anonymous Marking

Anonymous marking is a process undertaken to avoid the possibility of unconscious bias entering the marking process. To this end, wherever possible, the identity of students will be masked from markers and work only identified by student number.

Where the method of assessment does not allow anonymous marking (e.g. dissertations, oral presentations, oral examinations, practical examinations, laboratory tests, performance etc.) all work will be second marked (see Appendix 2, Second Marking).

For some types of assessment it may be impractical either to second mark or to mark anonymously. On rare occasions where neither anonymous, nor second marking is practicable (normally this would only occur in settings such as the workplace), methods by which students may be protected from unfair or biased assessments in these situations, will be made explicit by the programme leader. These could include for example, bringing in a visiting tutor from UEL to the workplace.

3.6 Second Marking

Second (also known as double) marking is a process undertaken to ensure that the marking scheme has been applied fairly and uniformly. Although several types of second marking have been identified across the sector (see Appendix 2, Second Marking) the preferred method at UEL is “second marking as sampling or moderation” for both written and practical assessments. Where other methods are preferable, such as in the case of Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body exemption, a justification will be provided to the Dean of School.

Every component of summative assessment that contributes towards an award, at all levels, will be subject to second marking in order to ensure the maintenance of standards.

At least 10% or 10 individual pieces of each assessment task (whichever is the greater) will be second marked. The sample should be taken from the full range of student performance, having sight of the full range of marks.

Where the first marking of any module is undertaken by more than one marker, the sample will include a minimum of 10% of the work marked by each individual marker, again relating to a range of performance.

Where e-Submission has been used for first marking, it will be used for second marking.

Resolving differences between markers within modular assessment tasks:

NB Significant differences are defined as where the difference is 10 marks or more; and/or where marks spread across critical boundaries (even if fewer than 10 marks) i.e. pass/fail or grade boundaries:

if there are NO significant differences revealed by the second marking process, the first mark stands as the agreed mark
if there ARE significant differences revealed in the sample that has been second marked, the second marker will mark ALL remaining work marked by the first marker
after work has been marked by both first and second markers, a revised mark will be agreed by discussion and negotiation. This will ensure moderation to an agreed and consistent standard.
where agreement cannot be reached, resort to a third internal marker will take place.
should the second marking process reveal significant differences in more than one first marker’s marking, the process described above will apply to ALL first markers’ marking

Significant Differences Flowchart

Flowchart: Significant Differences

Where e-Submission is used, should a second marker disagree with the first mark, this must not be changed within the e-Submission tool before discussion and negotiation between the markers (see Appendix 6 Guidelines: e-Submission, marking and feedback of coursework).

Marking conducted in all forms of assessment including e-Submission, will ensure that students are only presented with one final (agreed) mark, although comments from all markers will be available.

In order to eliminate arithmetic errors, for any component of assessment that requires aggregation of marks, all calculations undertaken by hand will always be checked by a second marker in order to correct, if necessary.

Second markers will provide a short report to the module leader, following the second marking process.

3.7 External Moderation of Marking

For each module, External Examiners will be provided with the following materials and information:

Module specification
Details of assessment task(s)
Assessment criteria
Any assessment guidance
Sample of assessed work
The record of marks and comments from 1st and 2nd (and 3rd) markers
Schedule of all marks agreed for all candidates assessed in the module following internal moderation

Brief report from the Module Leader providing general comments on the outcomes of the assessment process (e.g. trends in questions answered by candidates, common errors, questions generally answered well/poorly, Second marker’s report etc). For guidance on the use of e-Submission in this regard, please refer to Appendix 6 Guidelines: e- Submission, marking and feedback of coursework) A minimum of 10% or 10 individual pieces of each assessment task (whichever is the greater) will also be made available to the External Examiner for moderation.

This sample will be taken from the full range of marks and will include some work that has been second marked.

External Examiners will not be requested to act as a second or third marker or to adjudicate on disagreements between internal markers.

A record of agreed marks for all candidates, evidence of second and/or anonymous marking from all internal examiners, and comments from second markers, will be kept and will be made available for scrutiny by External Examiners. This information will also contribute to the module report.

External Examiners may, based on their moderation process, recommend to the Field Board that:

all marks for a particular assessment task are raised or lowered
request that all candidates’ work be reconsidered if significant discrepancies and/or inconsistencies are revealed

External Examiners are expected to attend all Field and Award Board meetings, including resit Award Boards. (Further information is available from Quality Assurance and Enhancement).

All marks for summatively assessed work (both examinations and coursework) are subject to Field Board approval.

4. Management of Assessment

4.1 Timing of assessment

Appropriate advance notice of the timing and form of assessments, examination arrangements and the timing of notification of results will be clearly provided to students at the start of each semester in the module guide, which will be accessible via the module’s virtual learning environment.

Coursework questions will be released to students at the start of each semester in the module guide, which will be accessible to students via the module’s virtual learning environment. All reasonable adjustments are therefore built into this process for all students.

Published results for both Field and Award Boards will normally be produced within 8 working days of the Award Board. Students will be entitled to a transcript each academic year identifying their progress.

4.2 Integrity of Examinations

All examinations will be conducted in a fair, consistent and secure manner. This requires the identification of at least one identified member of staff within the School with responsibility for:

the maintenance of examination papers throughout the development process

the coordination of the invigilation process, in association with Timetabling (the team responsible for managing that process)

Students will be instructed to familiarise themselves with the guidelines on conduct for examinations and conduct themselves in the appropriate manner.

4.3 Invigilation

The invigilation process is managed by the Timetabling Team who produce Good Practice Guidelines for Invigilation and train invigilators

Invigilation will be led by module leaders (or their nominee(s)) and supported by trained external invigilators where appropriate.

Invigilation arrangements for students with disabilities/specific learning difficulties are set out below in Section 7. Where relevant, Schools make the agreed arrangements for students with disabilities/ specific learning difficulties, when these have been notified to the School (normally at least 3 weeks in advance).

Question papers may not be removed from the examination room after completion of the examination, although questions may be made available for students through the virtual learning environment at the time of the release of marks (with the exception of Multiple Choice Question papers, which are not released to students).

4.4 Submission of CourseWork

Students will be instructed that all coursework should be submitted by the required submission date, and in accordance with module guidelines (e.g. using student number, word count, word-processed)

In keeping with institutional targets for the use of e-Submission, marking and feedback, all single pieces of text-based coursework will normally be submitted via e-Submission.

Where coursework is not suitable for e-Submission:

Published and secure mechanisms will exist within each school, and will be clearly explained to students within their module guides, accessible via the module’s virtual learning environment.
the receipt of work submitted will be logged and students will be provided with access to recorded evidence of submission (normally through use of the bar-code process)
feedback on submitted work will be provided in word-processed format unless the nature of the work prevents this e.g. mathematical formula (see Section 5, Feedback to Students)
a secure method for the return of marked coursework will be in place

4.5 AssessMEnt registration Responsibilities

Students are only eligible for assessment on a module if registered on the module. Schools will ensure that students have ready access to their module registration data via UEL Direct and will ensure that students are aware that this information is available in UEL Direct. (Students should be informed that it is their responsibility to ensure that the record of registration is accurate and must notify their School of any inaccuracies).

4.6 Breaches of Academic Misconduct Regulations

Assessment tasks are designed to reduce, as far as is practicable, the possibility of plagiarism and collusion and other instances of academic misconduct. Where an instance of academic misconduct is suspected, procedures detailed in Part 8 of Manual of General Regulations (Academic Misconduct Regulations) will be invoked.

Students should be made aware of both the Academic Integrity Policy and the Turnitin Policy as resources to assist in the avoidance of plagiarism.

4.7 Maintenance of scripts and archive

Scripts and/or assessed work are stored for academic reviews, appeals, and other purposes. These are stored and disposed of in accordance with the Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

5. Feedback

5.1 Feedback to Students

Feedback is central to learning and is provided to students to develop their knowledge, understanding, skills and to help promote learning and facilitate improvement.

All feedback will be:

timely (provided within 20 working days ³)
given in relation to the learning outcomes and assessment criteria
provided on both coursework and examinations
clear, relevant, motivating, and constructive
developmental, enabling students to both consolidate learning and achievement
word-processed where e-submission is not used (unless the nature of the work prevents this e.g. mathematical formula)
offered in a range of formats appropriate to the module e.g. electronically via Turnitin GradeMark or other e-Submission tools where used, Audio file, Video file, or Screencast

The nature and extent of feedback the student may expect will be indicated for each assessment task at the time it is set.

When feedback (including marks) is provided to a student before an Award or Field Board, all marks will be clearly identified as:

being provisional
available for External Examiner scrutiny
subject to change and approval by the Assessment Board
All students will be actively encouraged to collect feedback, review and consider its recommendations and implications, and seek further advice and guidance from academic staff when required.

5.2 Modes of Feedback

Feedback may be:

Individual – identifying specific issues relating to one student’s work, and Generic – referring to general points about the assessment as a whole, arising from an overview of the work produced by the student group
Given following formative assessment (i.e. that which does not contribute to the module mark, such as activities prepared for discussion in seminars, practice essays etc) and summative assessment (i.e. that which does contribute to the module mark, for example following Coursework and Examinations).

5.3 Feedback on Coursework

Feedback will be provided as soon as possible after the student has completed the assessment task:

feedback on formative assessment will be given in time for students to make use of it prior to summative assessment
feedback on summative assessment will be given within 20 working days of the submission date of the work.

Clear guidance will be given regarding the point in the module where it is no longer appropriate for staff to provide formative feedback e.g. when a student is undertaking final dissertation drafts. This will be communicated to students at the time the assessment task is set.

5.4 Feedback on Examinations

Feedback on examinations will be given within 20 working days of the conclusion of the examination period.

Clear guidance will be provided within the module guide, accessible within the module’s virtual learning environment regarding:

the type of feedback that will be given following examination i.e. individual or generic
whether feedback will include the return of examination scripts and/or work, or not, in accordance with agreed procedures within each School.

6. Disability

6.1 Assessment Needs

6.1.1 Assessment needs of students with disabilities, including specific learning difficulties e.g. dyslexia, are supported in compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA 2005) and the Equality Act 2010. They are also informed by the Students, within the UK Quality Code for HE - Chapter B4: Student support, learning resources and careers education, information, advice and guidance (until 2013 when it will have been integrated into each chapter of the Quality Code)and UEL’s Equality and Diversity Strategy 2011-15.

6.2 Inclusive Approach

We aim to practice an inclusive approach in supporting our students with disabilities/ specific learning difficulties. This approach focuses on the capacity of our University to understand and respond to the requirements of individual learners and not to locate the difficulty or deficit within the student. In this way we move away from ‘labeling’ students and towards creating an appropriate learning environment for all students. In consultation between the student and DDAC, a Learning Support agreement will be drawn up and shared with Schools.

6.3 Coursework

All information including submission dates and coursework questions will be released to students at the start of each semester in the module guide, accessible to students via the module’s virtual learning environment. All reasonable adjustments are therefore built into this process for all students, ensuring adequate opportunity to explore taught material prior to assessment.

6.4 Examinations

Any student who discloses a disability to a member of staff will be referred to the Disability, Dyslexia and Access Centre (DDAC).

Students will be informed that they must be registered with the DDAC for any examination adjustments.

Students will need to provide valid professional evidence by the specified deadline date.

Deadline dates, by which students must apply to the DDAC in order to have reasonable adjustments in examinations, will be set by the Head of the DDAC at the start of each academic year for both Semester A and B

a minimum of four working weeks prior to the start of each examination period
published on all relevant websites and in all appropriate publicity and information material for students, applicants and staff.

6.5 Shared responsibility between Schools and DDAC

Schools and the DDAC will share joint responsibility for ensuring that reasonable adjustments are put into place in an efficient and timely manner and for ensuring that students are kept appropriately informed (see Appendix 4, Roles and Responsibilities for further details).

6.6 Exceptional Circumstances

In exceptional circumstances, where a needs assessment or learning support agreement has been undertaken, alternative forms of assessment may be required as a result of a student’s disability. In such cases, the Head of DDAC will approach the relevant Module and/or Field Leader to discuss. In line with our legal obligations, consideration will be given to any relevant competence standards that apply to the programme to ensure fairness and consistency of practice and the maintenance of professional practice requirements where relevant ⁴. A final decision will be made by the Chair of the Award Assessment Board (or Dean if the Chair has been previously involved) in consultation with the Director of Academic Practice and Student Experience.

6.7 Extenuation

If a student with a disability/ specific learning difficulty is unable to complete a piece of coursework on time or attend an examination (or feel their performance may have been seriously impacted during an examination), the only way in which a disability would come within the scope of the extenuation procedures would be if there was a serious, unpredictable, and unpreventable increase in the disability which might be expected to have a serious impact on performance. In this case full independent evidential support for the increase would need to be provided, in addition to evidence of the history of the disability. In these instances, students will be able to apply using UEL’s Extenuation procedures in the usual way.

7. Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Exemptions

Should any module/programme be unable to comply with any aspect of this Assessment and Feedback Policy as a result of requirements from a Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body, a written request for relevant exemption(s), together with associated evidence from the Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body, will be made to the Director of Academic Practice and Student Experience.

Exemption(s) will only be valid upon receipt of written approval from the Director of Academic Practice and Student Experience.

8. APPENDICES

1 The Assessment Policy is appropriate for all UEL programmes within the UEL Academic Framework. Programmes with permission from Academic Board to function outside the Academic Framework (e.g. credit ratings for modules; use of terms rather than semesters; other Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body requirements) may have alternative arrangements approved by Academic Board.

2 References to e-Submission throughout the Assessment and Feedback Policy apply to all tools utilised for e-Submission. Turnitin GradeMark is the preferred for e-Submission, marking and feedback of coursework at UEL.

3 Working days refer to ‘normal’ working days i.e. Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays and periods of university closure)

4 Individual programmes may have particular standards and other requirements relating to performance and skills that are set by external organisations, professional bodies etc. it is therefore important to ensure that any alternative forms of assessment do not compromise these requirements.

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