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6. Supplementary Assessment
Supplementary assessment may be approved in accordance with the Academic Regulations.
6.1 Purpose of supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is provided to support transition into the University in the first year of an undergraduate coursework program and transition into the workplace in the final year of any coursework program. Supplementary assessment is not a re-assessment of the student’s overall grade or the mark for an individual assessment item or a deferred assessment. It is a new item of assessment designed to assist students to progress in and/or complete the requirements of their course.
6.2 Students transferring courses
Where students transfer between related ACU courses, supplementary assessments that have already been granted in the first course will be counted as having been taken within the second course. In cases where students transfer between unrelated ACU courses, supplementary assessments will be counted in the second course only if they were for units in the first course that are being credited towards the second course.
Where students gain credit towards a course on the basis of studies completed elsewhere, the relevant studies will be considered as equivalent to study at ACU for the purposes of Section 6.3.1
6.3 Supplementary assessment supporting transition into the University (First Year Experience)
Students may be granted one supplementary assessment in the first year of an undergraduate course. Supplementary assessment in the first year aims to support students in their transition to undergraduate study, by avoiding disruption of a standard program of study caused by failure in any such unit.
6.4 Supplementary assessment supporting transition into the workforce
Both undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students may be granted one supplementary assessment in a unit of study in the final year of a course to avoid delay in course completion caused by failure in that unit.
6.5 Grades allocated on the basis of supplementary assessment
6.5.1 The highest grade which can be awarded to students who successfully complete supplementary assessment requirements will be a Pass Supplementary (PP) grade.
6.5.2 Students who are unsuccessful in meeting supplementary assessment requirements will be awarded a Fail Supplementary (NX) grade.
Table 2 – Grading Descriptors
| Final Result Grade |
Notation |
Range Guide (%)2 |
Numerical Equivalent |
Descriptor3 |
|
High Distinction |
HD |
85-100 |
7 |
Clear attainment of all learning outcomes, with complete and comprehensive understanding of the unit content, development of relevant skills and intellectual initiative to an extremely high level. |
|
Distinction |
DI |
75-84 |
6 |
Substantial attainment of most learning outcomes, with a high level of understanding of the unit content and development of relevant analytical and interpretative skills to a high level. |
|
Credit |
CR |
65-74 |
5 |
Sound attainment of some major learning outcomes, with good understanding of unit content and development of relevant skills. |
|
Pass |
PA |
50-64 |
4 |
Satisfactory attainment of a range of learning outcomes, with basic understanding of unit content and development of relevant skills. |
|
Pass Ungraded |
PS |
50-100 |
See footnote 4 |
Attainment of the learning outcomes as per the unit outline. |
| Pass Supplementary | PP | 50 or more | 3 | Satisfactory attainment of a range of learning outcomes, with basic understanding of unit content and development of relevant skills. |
|
Pass Conceded5 |
PC |
3 |
Some attainment of learning outcomes with basic understanding of some unit content and some skill development. |
|
| Interim Fail6 | NF | 40-49 |
Some attainment of learning outcomes with basic understanding of some unit content and some skill development. Student may be eligible to apply for supplementary assessment, subject to meeting other eligibility criteria set out in the Academic Regulations. |
|
|
Fail |
NN |
0-49 |
1 |
Little or no attainment of learning outcomes, with limited understanding of course content or skill development. |
|
Fail (ungraded) |
NN |
0-49 |
1 |
Non-attainment of the learning outcomes as per the unit outline. |
| Fail Supplementary | NX | 0-49 | 1 | Little or no attainment of learning outcomes, with limited understanding of course content or skill development. |
1Thus a student who gains credit of 80 cp or more will not be eligible for a supplementary assessment under Section 6.3.
2 The percentage range for final results is a guide and should be interpreted in conjunction with the descriptors.
3 Adapted from Sadler, D. R. (2005). Interpretations of criteria based assessment and grading in higher education. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 30:2, 175-194.
4Results of PS (Pass Ungraded) are excluded from the calculation of the grade point average.
5This grade is awarded by Heads of School only in exceptional circumstances. See Academic Regulations.
6All Interim Fail (NF) grades which have not been converted to a Pass Supplementary (PP) or Fail Supplementary (NX) grade by the census date of the next standard study period will be converted to a Fail (NN) grade.
