7. Assessment
Note: See also the Assessment Policy and Assessment Procedures
7.1 Assessment procedures and requirements
7.2 Unsatisfactory progress
7.3 Assessment grades
7.4 Supplementary assessments
7.5 Cheating, plagiarism, collusion and recycling
7.1 Assessment and Unit requirements
7.1.1 Unit Outline
Prior to the commencement of the study period, the Lecturer in Charge of the unit will make a Unit Outline available to all students enrolled in that unit. The Unit Outline includes details of unit learning outcomes, content, schedules, assessment requirements, and any special requirements of that unit1.
It is the responsibility of students to familiarise themselves with and complete all assessment and other requirements set out in the Unit Outline.
7.1.2 Completion of unit requirements
To complete the requirements for a unit a student must:
- comply with all University statutes, policies, procedures, regulations and rules:
- pay all relevant fees and charges;
- successfully complete all unit and assessment requirements as prescribed in the Unit Outline within the timeframe of the relevant study period.
Failure to complete all such requirements will result in failure (NN) in the unit.
7.2 Unsatisfactory progress
7.2.1 Undergraduate and non-award students
7.2.1.1 Students at risk
An undergraduate student or student in a non-award program who has:
- failed 50% or more of the credit points for which they are enrolled in any standard study period; or
- failed any unit on two occasions
will be warned that further failure may lead to liability for termination of their enrolment. Such a student will also be encouraged to seek academic advice before continuing in the program.
7.2.1.2 Requirement to show cause why enrolment should not be terminated
A student will be required to show cause why their enrolment should not be terminated if the student has:- failed 50% or more of the credit points taken over the last two standard study periods in which the student was actively enrolled; or
- failed any professional experience or community engagement unit.
A student in an Honours program will be required to show cause if the student has achieved less than a Pass in any individual coursework unit in the Honours program.
The Course Coordinator will normally notify any student of the requirement to show cause within 20 working days from the date of finalisation of their results for the relevant study period.
7.2.1.3 Timing of submission showing cause why enrolment should not be terminated
Any submission from a student showing cause why their enrolment should not be terminated must be in writing and be submitted within 20 working days from the date of notification of the requirement to show cause.
7.2.1.4 Consideration of show cause submission
The submission from a student showing cause why their enrolment should not be terminated will be considered by the relevant Course Coordinator who may determine:
- that the cause shown is of sufficient merit to warrant the student's continuation in the program;
- that the cause shown is of sufficient merit to warrant the student's continuation in the program, subject to specified conditions; or
- that the cause shown is not of sufficient merit to warrant the student's continuation in the program.
The student will be advised of the decision of the Course Coordinator within 20 working days from the date of the student's lodgement of the show cause submission.
7.2.1.5 Termination of enrolment
Unless otherwise determined by the Course Coordinator, a student's enrolment in an undergraduate course or non-award course is terminated if the student:
- has failed any unit or its equivalent on three occasions while enrolled in any program(s); or
- has failed the same professional experience or community engagement unit or its equivalent on two occasions or failed two separate professional experience or community engagement units while enrolled in any program(s); or
- having previously been required to show cause, has failed to do so or has been notified that the Course Coordinator determined that the cause shown was not of sufficient merit to warrant the student's continuation in the program; or
- having been allowed for cause shown, to remain enrolled in the same program, or having been readmitted to the same or another program following termination of enrolment, subsequently:
- in any standard study period failed more than one credit bearing unit;
- failed any unit or its equivalent which has previously been failed on three occasions while enrolled in any program(s);
- failed any professional experience or community engagement unit, having previously failed that unit or another unit of that type; or
- cumulatively, failed 50% or more of the credit points for which the student enrolled.
7.2.2 Postgraduate students
7.2.2.1 Students at risk
A postgraduate student who has failed more than 30 credit points or more than 30% and up to 40% of the total credit point requirements of the course will be warned that further failure may lead to liability for termination of their enrolment. Such a student will also be encouraged to seek academic advice from the Course Coordinator before continuing in the course.
7.2.2.2 Requirement to show cause why enrolment should not be terminated
A student will be required to show cause why their enrolment in a postgraduate course should not be terminated if the student has:
- failed 40% or more of the total credit point requirements of the course; or
- failed any professional experience or community engagement unit.
A student in the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology will be required to show cause if the student has achieved less than a Pass in any individual coursework unit in that course.
The Course Coordinator will normally notify a student of the requirement to show cause within 20 working days from the date of finalisation of the student's results for the relevant study period.
7.2.2.3 Timing of submission showing cause why enrolment should not be terminated
Any submission from a student showing cause why their enrolment in a postgraduate course should not be terminated must be in writing and be submitted within 20 working days from the date of notification of the requirement to show cause.
7.2.2.4 Consideration of show cause submission
The submission from a student showing cause why their enrolment in a postgraduate course should not be terminated will be considered by the relevant Course Coordinator who may determine:
- that the cause shown is of sufficient merit to warrant the student's continuation in the course;
- that the cause shown is of sufficient merit to warrant the student's continuation in the course, subject to specified conditions; or
- that the cause shown is not of sufficient merit to warrant the student's continuation in the course.
The student will be advised of the decision of the Course Coordinator within 20 working days from the date of the student's lodgement of the show cause submission.
7.2.2.5 Termination of enrolment
Unless otherwise determined by the Course Coordinator, a student's enrolment in a postgraduate course is terminated if the student has:
- failed 50% or more of the total credit point requirements of the course;
- failed any unit or its equivalent on three occasions while enrolled in any course(s);
- failed the same professional experience or community engagement unit or its equivalent on two occasions or failed two separate professional experience or community engagement units while enrolled in any course(s);
- having previously been required to show cause, has failed to do so or has been notified that the Course Coordinator determined that the cause shown was not of sufficient merit to warrant the student's continuation in the course; or
- having been allowed for cause shown to remain enrolled in the same program, or having been readmitted to the same or another course following termination of enrolment, subsequently:
- in any standard study period failed one or more than one credit bearing unit;
- failed any unit or its equivalent which has previously been failed on three occasions while enrolled in any course(s);
- failed any professional experience or community engagement unit; or
- cumulatively, failed 50% or more of the total credit point requirements of the course.
7.2.3 Effective date of termination
Any termination of enrolment under this Regulation will take effect from the end of the study period during which the student became liable for such termination.
7.2.4 Request for review of termination
A student may apply for review of any termination of enrolment under the provisions of Regulation 9.
7.2.5 Application for re-admission
An applicant whose enrolment, at this or another university, has been terminated or suspended, may only be considered for admission into a course or individual unit(s) after two semesters have elapsed from the date of termination.
7.2.6 Application for re-enrolment in units failed
A student who has failed a unit on three occasions may not enrol in units in that discipline until at least two standard semesters have elapsed from the date of termination; re-enrolment in such units is subject to the approval of the Head(s) of School(s) concerned.
7.3 Assessment grades
7.3.1 Result grades
7.3.1.1 Allocation of grades
Grades in a unit are assigned by the Lecturer-in-Charge, and must be ratified by the Head of School or nominee prior to release to student.
7.3.1.2 Change of grades
A student's grade in a unit may be changed within six months of the original allocation of final grade and then only with the approval of the relevant Head of School, or as provided under Regulation 9. The Executive Dean of the relevant Faculty must approve a change of grade if a period of six months or more has elapsed since the allocation of a final grade and Regulation 9 does not apply.
7.3.1.3 Unit grading codes
All units will be assessed and unit results will be recorded according to the codes listed in Table 1.
Table 1 – Academic Grading Descriptors
Final Result Grade | Notation | Range Guide (%)2 | Numerical Equivalent | |
High Distinction | HD | 85-100 | 7 | Consistent evidence of comprehensive understanding of the unit content; demonstration of an extremely high level of interpretive and analytical ability and intellectual initiative; substantial originality and insight in identifying, creating and developing arguments, perspectives and critical evaluation of problems; and high level of communication and application appropriate to the discipline. |
Distinction | DI | 75-84 | 6 | Consistent evidence of very high level of understanding of unit content; development of relevant skills to a high level; evidence of creative insight and ability to apply relevant skills and theories as well as interpretive and analytical ability; and demonstration of appropriate and highly effective communication. |
Credit | CR | 65-74 | 5 | Evidence of a good level of understanding, knowledge and skill development in relation to unit content; and demonstration of high level of interpretive and analytical ability. |
Pass | PA | 50-64 | 4 | Evidence of satisfactory understanding of basic unit content; development of relevant skills to a competent level; adequate interpretive and analytical ability; and adequate communication of information and concepts in terms of disciplinary requirements or conventions. |
Pass Ungraded3 | PS | 50-100 |
| Evidence of satisfactory understanding of basic unit content; development of relevant skills to a competent level; adequate interpretive and analytical ability; and adequate communication of information and concepts in terms of disciplinary requirements or conventions. |
Fail | NN | 0-49 | 1 | Little or no attainment of learning outcomes, with limited understanding of course content or skill development. |
7.3.1.4 Administrative grades
The following administrative grades will be recorded in accordance with these Regulations.
Table 2 – Administrative grades
Result Grade | Notation | Numerical Equivalent | Descriptor |
Withdrawn Without Academic Penalty | WW |
| When a student withdraws from a unit in accordance with Regulation 5.3.3 or 5.3.4. |
Withdrawn – Fail | WN | 1 | When a student withdraws from a unit outside the provisions of Regulation 5.3.3 or 5.3.4. |
Credit Granted4 | CG | When a student has been granted credit for the unit based on equivalent studies (Regulation 5.6.1). | |
Continuing Unit | CU |
| Temporary grade for a thesis, dissertation, project, research, performance unit extending over more than one standard study period:
|
Interim Fail | NF |
| Temporary grade pending supplementary assessment. |
Deferred examination | DE | Temporary grade pending a Deferred Examination5 This grade will be changed to a final result grade by the end of the third week of the next standard study period. | |
Current Exchange | CE | Temporary grade pending a final result when a student is studying an equivalent unit on a study abroad arrangement. This grade will be changed to a final result grade of Credit Granted (CG) or Fail (NN) within 12 months of the end of the study period. | |
Result Withheld | RW | When a student has been awarded a result but the result is withheld because of non-payment of any fee or fine or withholding of results has been directed because a matter concerning the student is under investigation under the Academic Honesty Policy or before a Discipline Committee or Discipline Appeals Committee. | |
Annulled | AN | When a result has been annulled by determination of a Discipline Committee or Discipline Appeals Committee. |
7.3.1.5 Honours course grading codes
All Honours courses will be assessed and recorded according to the codes listed in Table 3.
Table 3 – Grading Codes - Honours
Overall Honours Grades | Description | % Range | Code |
Final Honours Grades6 | First Class Honours | 85-100 | HI |
Second Class Honours - Division A | 75-84 | HIIA | |
Second Class Honours - Division B | 65-74 | HIIB | |
Third Class Honours | 50-64 | HIII | |
Fail | 0-49 | NN |
7.3.2 Fail grade
Subject to Academic Regulation 7.4 a student who fails a unit may either re-enrol in that unit in a subsequent study period in which it is offered or, if the unit is not a core unit, enrol in another unit consistent with the relevant course rules.
7.3.3 Grade point average
7.3.3.1 The grade point average is calculated as the average of unit grades obtained by the student, weighted by the credit point value of each unit. Numerical equivalent of grades for this purpose are as listed in Table 1 to Regulation 7.3.1.3.
7.3.3.2 Where the student has been granted credit towards his/her program for studies completed at another institution and/or in another program, whether as a cross-institutional enrolment or otherwise, results gained in those studies will be included in the calculation of the grade point average only if specified credit for individual units was granted under the relevant degree rules and the grade achieved has been recorded.
7.3.3.3 Units with Ungraded Pass (PS) grades will be excluded from the calculation of the grade point average. Units with Fail (NN) and Withdrawn Fail (WN) grades will be included in that calculation.
7.3.4 No final grade assigned
Where a student cannot be awarded a final grade for a unit at the end of the study period, the grade will remain blank. If no final grade has been assigned to the unit within twelve months of the end of the study period, a Fail (NN) grade will be assigned to the unit.
7.4 Supplementary assessments
Supplementary assessment may be approved in accordance with the Assessment Policy and the Assessment Procedures.
7.5 Cheating, plagiarism, collusion and recycling
7.5.1 Investigation and resolution of any allegation of cheating, plagiarism, collusion or recycling
Any allegation of cheating, plagiarism, collusion or recycling will be investigated and resolved in accordance with the Academic Honesty Policy.
7.5.2 Consequences of exclusion
In the event that a student is excluded for breach of the Academic Honesty Policy, any subsequent application for re-admission will not be considered until at least two standard semesters have elapsed from the date of exclusion. Re-admission is subject to approval by the relevant Head of School.
1 See also the Assessment Policy and Assessment Procedures.
2 The percentage range for final results is a guide and should be interpreted in conjunction with the descriptors.
3 Pass (PS) grades in units assessed on a Pass/Fail scale are excluded from the calculation of a grade point average.
4 Credit Granted (CG) grades are excluded from the calculation of a grade point average.
5 It should be noted that results from deferred examinations may be delayed and this can cause difficulties for students in terms of graduation, application for scholarships and applications to enrol at other institutions.
6 The award of Honours grades will be determined by the relevant School Committee on the basis of results obtained in all units required in the Honours course, weighted according to their credit point values.
Page last updated: 2017-06-27
Short url: https://handbook.acu.edu.au/573364
Page last updated: 2017-06-27
Short url: https://handbook.acu.edu.au/573364