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External Examiners Staff Development October 2010 Quality Standards, Review and Enhancement Registrar and Secretary’s Office
External Examiners Staff Development
October 2010
Quality Standards, Review and Enhancement
Registrar and Secretary’s Office
External Examiners
Welcome Introduction Roles and responsibilities of External
Examiners/Advisers The assessment cycle Remit of Boards and Committees Progression and Awards
Roles of external examiners
The primary role is to confirm that the awards made to students are comparable in standard with awards in UK higher education generally
A second important role is to ensure fairness and equity to students
The third role is to assist the University and the course team to maintain and enhance the quality of its courses
Roles of external advisers & mentors
Subject advisers
Appointed for their subject expertise and primarily confirm that the awards made to students are comparable in standard with awards in UK higher education generally
Mentors
Appointed for one year to support an inexperienced external examiner in ensuring that the proper processes of assessment take place
Rights & responsibilities ofexternal examiners (1)
The external examiner must:
be able to judge each student impartially
confirm the standards for the awards are appropriate by referencing relevant national subject benchmark statements framework for higher education qualifications university approval documentation any appropriate professional/statutory body requirements
compare the performance of students
Rights & responsibilities ofexternal examiners (2)
The external examiner must:
be consulted about and agree to any major proposed changes to the approved assessment regulations
attend examiners meetings – have right of access to all assessed work
approve the form and content of proposed examination papers, coursework and other assessment that count towards the award
see a sample of the work of all students proposed for the highest available award and for failure
Rights & responsibilities ofexternal examiners (3)
The external examiner must:
have the right to moderate the marks awarded by internal examiners
have the right to conduct a viva voce examination of any candidate
attend the meetings of the relevant examination committee / board of examiners
report to the university on the effectiveness of the student assessment
Please see Regulations C11.3.3 and C13.6
Powers of external examiners
No recommendation for the conferment of an award above the level of Certificate of Higher Education can be made without the written consent of the external.
Matters of principle.
Disagreements between external examiner(s) and Boards of Examiners.
Disagreements between external examiners.
External examiners’ reports (1)
Need to include:
the overall performance of the students in relation to their peers;
the strengths and weaknesses of students; the structure, organisation, design & marking of all
assessments; the quality of teaching as indicated by student
performance; comments on the curriculum, learning/teaching
methods & resourcing.
External examiners’ reports (2)
Should directly address the issues listed on the report form
… Must not identify individual students
… Should be submitted electronically
… Can be rejected for being too short
… Are read within faculties and within the Registrar and Secretary’s Office
… Form the basis for internal university reports
… Will be anonymized and printed on our web pages
Response to External Examiner Reports
Written response is required from the course leader within 60 working days.
The response is submitted to Faculty by course leader for distribution to the External Examiner and QSRE Team.
Administration
Appointment
Examiners are proposed by the Faculty, and approved by the Univesrity External Examiners Sub Committee
After approval, a letter and appropriate documents are sent from the QSRE office
Thereafter, the Faculty/College will communicate key dates to the Examiner and liaise regarding specific duties
AdministrationFees and Expenses
A claim form should be submitted for all expenses and your examining fee
Expenses can be claimed at any time during the year, but you must submit your annual report before claiming your examining fee
Receipts are required for ALL expenses claimed
For more information on expenses claims allowances, please refer to the guidance on our website
Administration Please try to fill in all
parts of the claim form
We will fill in the ‘Payroll No.’, ‘SBC’ and ‘Project Code’ sections of the form
Please ensure you sign the form, otherwise payment could be delayed
EXTERNAL EXAMINER FEES AND EXPENSES
You will be sent from the QSRE team via e-mail after Easter
a report template, an expenses and fees claim form and a P46 to fill out when you have completed your duties
You may claim your reasonable expenses for visits to the university prior to claiming your examining fee
You are required to submit receipts for any expenses claims i.e taxi, train, plane, bus and subsistence
You are required to fill out a risk assessment and insurance declaration for EACH year of your tenure for any car journeys that you make during your duties
The assessment cycle (1)
Assessments approved by External Examiner(s) Coursework and deadlines
- Late submission penalties, not Bank Hols or weekend- Full Time-5% per day, Part Time-5% per 2 days- 0% if more than 10 days late
Written examinations Invigilators’ reports
Marking and Internal Moderation Unfair Practice investigations and Panel Mitigation Panel
Principles
Assessment Fairness and equity to all students Comparability/consistency across the whole
student body Assurance of national standards(Role of external examiners)
The assessment cycle(2)
Examination Committee Board of Examiners pre-meeting Board of Examiners Publication of results (5 working days) Re-assessment Reconvened board of examiners Appeal panel of Academic Board
Unfair Practice Boards for Proven cases
Requirement to undertake the assessment again at the next available opportunity
Each case considered and on the basis of:- the gravity of the case- the circumstances of the case- the level at which the offence took place- whether the offence was a repeat offence
Penalties in practice Full range of marks, 20%, 40%, Requirement to
Withdraw
Mitigation Panel: remit
Established at scheme, school or faculty level Student claims and provides evidence Considers the extenuating circumstances category to be
presented to Boards of Examiners Determines: Assessments affected Category of seriousness:
– A: very serious, range of options open to Board– B: sufficient to warrant deferral– C: not sufficiently serious to warrant deferral
Examination committee: remit
Determine the standard of student module assessment outcomes– Consider amendment of cohort’s marks as appropriate
(not individual students)– Record credit where the student is not presented for
progression or award• Part time, postgraduate etc.
– Notes cases of cheating, plagiarism and unfair practice and mitigation (spent?)
– Determine student progression (level 4 only)– Publication of results – 5 working days
Board of examiners: remit
Assess students in accordance with the regulations
Determine student progression Determine student awards Consider mitigation outcomes Category A only Implement outcomes of Unfair Practice Boards Determine the outcomes of re-assessment (where
relevant)
Reassessment – failed modules
Student’s decision Maximum of 50% of the credit points of a level Opportunity given once only Cannot be used to increase mark if 40% achieved
in the module overall Component reassessment possible Maximum mark 40% for reassessment
Progression
Undergraduate - Levels 4 to 5- Levels 5 to 6
Depends on - Level - Professional, statutory or regulatory body
requirements (PSRB)- Prerequisites
Progression - Undergraduate
From level 4 to level 5At Level 4 Completed study of 120 credit points
and submitted work for all assessments no non submissions (NS)
Achieved an average of 40% or more across all modules
Achieved 40% or more in 90 credit points
Achieved between 20% and 39% in no more than 30 credit points
Satisfied all pre-requisite requirements Discretion to compensate up to 10% in
30 credits of reassessed modules
From level 5 to level 6At level 5 Completed study of 120 credit points
and submitted work for all assessments no non submissions (NS)
Achieved an average of 40% or more across all modules
Achieved 40% or more in 105 credit points
Achieved between 20% and 39% in no more than 15 credit points
Satisfied all pre-requisite requirements Discretion to compensate up to 10% in
15 credits of reassessed modules
Achievement of award at final level
Foundation Degree – Level 5
Completed study of 120 credit points at level 5 and submitted work for all assessments no non submissions (NS)
Achieved an average of 40% or more across all modules
Achieved 40% or more in 105 credit points
Achieved between 20% and 39% in no more than 15 credit points
Satisfied all PSRB requirements if appropriate
Honours Degree - Level 6
Achieved the requirements for level progression from level 5 to level 6 or has been admitted directly to level 6, i.e. via AP(E)L or Top-up
Completed study of 120 credit points at level 6 and submitted work for all assessments no non submissions (NS)
Achieved an average of 40% or more across all modules studied at this level
Achieved 40% or more in modules equivalent to 105 credit points at level 6
Achieved between 20% and 39% in no more than 15 credit points at level 6
Satisfied all PSRB requirements if appropriate
Foundation Degree – Merit, Distinction
Available dependant on particular course regulations
Merit – An average of level 5 module marks between 60% and 69%
Distinction – An average of level 5 module marks 70% or more
Determination of Classification of Honours
Should take account of which is the better of: a profile of achievement producing the relevant
classification the average performance in relation to numerical
conventionsConsidering 100% of Level 5 work at 25% weighting 100% of Level 6 work at 75% weighting.Top Ups consider 100% of Level 6 only
Classification Profiles
The profile is comprised 25% level 5 and 75% Level 6– Level 5 modules count at 0.25 x the number of 15 credit
modules in the classification – Level 6 modules at 0.75 x the number of 15 credit modules in
the classification– Making a total of 8 overall
The profile is established where more than 50% of the credit points fall within one classification band.
The model is predicated on 16 x 15-credit modules, double modules count as the equivalent of two 15-credit modules.
More than 4 in the classification total column are required.The outcome from this example is a profile at 2:2 because less than 4 (less than 50%) of the classification total falls into the 2:1 or higher classification categories.
Success at Masters Level
Studied 180 credit points at Level M or above, or has been accredited with no more than 90 credit points on admission;
Achieved an average of 40% or more across all modules studied at this level and submitted work for all assessments
Achieved 40% or more in modules equivalent to 160 credit points at Level M or above
Achieved between 20% and 39% in no more than 20 credit points
Outcome of Board of Examiners
Decision codes – PA Pass Award– PP Pass Proceed– DE Deferred not allowed to proceed– DP Deferred – allowed to proceed– FW Fail withdraw (little evidence of engagement NS)– CP Components Pending – unable to progress to next level
To recover from failure– FR Fail Repeat (failed less than 50% of level - repeat failed modules only)– FL Fail Level (more than 50% of modules failed – repeat the level)– Final level only required to repeat failed modules
Credit given for failed modules if progressing but no change in marks
Contained Awards Undergraduate
Certificate 60 credits Level 4
Certificate of HE 120 credits Level 4
Diploma 120 credits Level 4 + 60 credits level 5
Diploma of HE 120 credits Level 4 + 120 credits level 5
Bachelor Degree without honours 60 credits at Level 6
Contained Awards Postgraduate
Postgraduate Certificate 60 credits at Level M
Postgraduate Diploma 120 credits at Level M
Questions???
QUESTIONS ???
