SYSTEMS _ .._

Manual

on

Student Registration

&

Evaluation Systems & Procedures

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l

Manualon

Student Registration&

Evaluation Systems & Procedures

Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityMaidan Garhi, New Delhi-l10068

August 2003

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Concept, Design & Compilation

Shri D.C PantPro -Vice- Chancellor

Editors

Dr. P.K.MehtaDirector, Student Registration & Evaluation Division

Shri CA. ThakurEx-Deputy Registrar, Consultant

Shri LC SharmaEx-Deputy Registrar, Consultant

Print ProductionShri B. Natarajan, Shri Jitender Sethi & Shri Rajiv Girdhar

August, 2003

© lndira Gandhi National Open University, 2003.

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form by mimeograph or any other means withoutpermission, in writing. from the lndira Gandhi National Open University.

Printed and published 011 behalf of the lndira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi by Registrar (MPDD).

Typeset by: Rajshree Computers, SA/l77, WE.A., Karol Bagh, New Delhi-ll000S.Printed at : Dee Kay Printers, S/16, Kirti Nagar Industrial Area, New Delhi-ll001S.

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6. Ordinance on Recognition of Examinations/Degrees 18

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CONTENTS

FOREWORD

Page No.

( ix)

I PART A-ORDINANCES

1. Ordinance on Conduct of Examinations and Evaluation of Student Performance 1-5

2. . Ordinance on Research Degree Programmes 6 -11

3. Ordinance on Admission, Eligibility, Duration and Structure of Various Degree,Diploma and Certificate Programmes and Courses

12 - 13

4. Ordinance on the Convocations 14

5. Regulations for Convocations 15 - 17

7. Ordinance on Fees Payable by Students 19

8. Ordinance on Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates 20 - 21

9. Ordinance on Discipline Among Students in Relation to University Examinations 22 - 24

I PART B - STUDENT REGISTRATION

Chapter-l - Student Registration 27 - 40

Chapter-2 - Step-by-Step Activities Relating to Admission Process 41 - 56

Chapter-3 - Credit System 57 - 60

Chapter-s - Admission and Examination Procedure for International Students 61

Chapter-S - Regional Centres in Relation to Admissions, Examinations and EvaluationActivities 62 - 70

Chapter-S - Check Points for Examination Superintendents 73 - 74

I PART C -CONDUCT OF EXAMINATIONS

Chapter-7 - Appointment of Personnel for Examination Centres 75 - 84

Chapter-S - Seating Arrangements in Examination Halls 85 - 86

Chapter-S - Procedure for Conduct of Examinations 87 - 90

Chapter-If - Conduct of Examinations & Evaluation Process at SR&E Divisionat Headquarters 91 - 97

Chapter-Ll - Packing, Despatch and Maintenance of Record of Answer Books 98

Clapter-12 - Special Provisions for Students with Disabilities in Admissionsand Examinations 99 - 102

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Page No.

I PART D -ASSIGNMENTS

Chapter-IS - Assignments in IGNt)U - Procedures and Operations

Chapter-Id - Submission of Project Reports and their Evaluation

Chapter-IS - Laboratory Courses.Functional Assignments and Term-end PracticalExaminations

105 - 125

126 - 142

143 -164

Chapter-Le Grading System in IGNOU 165 - 190

I PART E - FINANCES FOR EXAMINATIONS & EVALUATION

Chapter-I7 - Finances for Examinations and Evaluation 193 - 209

PART F - APPENDICES

1 Application form for Re-registration/Re-admission 213

2 Application form for Change of Programme, Medium and Course of Study 214

3 Application form for Change / Correction of Address /Stud y Centre 215

4 Application Form for Issue of Migration Certificate 217 - 218

5 Specimen of Weekly Statement of Sale of Handbook and Prospectus· 219

6 Application for Credit Transfer in Bachelor's Degree and other Programmes 221-222

7 Application for Internal Credit Transfer in Management Programmes 223-224

8 Application form for seeking Exemption in submission of assignments in ManagementProgrammes 225

9 Proforma of Inspection Report of Examination Centres 226

10 Proforma of Acknowledgement of Examination Stationery and Answer Books 227

11 Proforma of Undertaking regarding Submission of Assignments before taking Term-endExamination 228

12 Proforma for maintaining Daily Account of use of Main Answer Books 229

13 Certificate of Opening of Question Papers 230

14 Proforma of Daily Account of Use of Supplementary Answer Books .231

15 Speciman of Stock Register - of Main Answer Books 232

16 Speciman of Stock Register - ofSupplementary Answer Books 233

17 Attendance Sheet of Candidates Appearing in Examination 234

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18 Despatch Memo of Answer Books 235

19 Attendance Sheet of Stray Candidates taking Examination Due to Change of Study Centre /Examination Centre '"i;:" 236

20 Report of Centre Superintendent regarding Unfair Means Cases 237(A) Form for Reporting Cases or Acts of Unfair Means by Invigilator 239 - 240(B) Statement of Centre Superintendent and Student about incident of Unfair Means 241

21 Students Absentee Statement 242

22 Proforma of Entry of Packets of Answer Scripts Received By Post 243

23 Speciman of undertaking by the Centre Superintendent/Invigilator /Staffon Examination Duty 244

24 Proforma of Statement of Students Attendance 245

25 Daily Session-wise Attendance Sheet of Staff Engaged for Examination Duty at theExamination Centre 246

26 Remuneration Bill for Invigilators and Other Personnel engaged for Examination Duty 247-248

27 Application Form for Term-End Examination 249-250

28 Application Form for Re-checkin.g of Term-end Examination Result 251

29 Application Form for obtaining Duplicate Grade Card/Mark-sheet 252

30 Application Form for Issue of Provisional Certificate 253

31 Letter regarding Recognition of Degrees/Diplomas of IGNOU by UGC 254

32 Letters regarding Recognition of Degrees/Diplomas of IGNOU by Association ofIndian Universities 255-257

33 School-wise Stock Register of Manuscripts of Question Papers 258

34 Stock Register of Printed Question Papers 259

35 Register of Course-Wise Packets of Question Papers Received and Despatched toExmination Centres 260

36 Control Register of Examination Forms 261

37 Remuneration Bill for setting of Question Papers, Valuation of Answer Books/Projectt Reports/Dissertations, Conveyance and Contingent Expenses 263-264,

38 Speciman of Award List of Term-End Examination 265

39 Requisition Form for Fresh Set of Assignments 267-268

40 Assignments Remittance-cum-Acknowledgement Card 269

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41 Record of Assignments Received from Students at Study CentresPage No.

270

42 Assessment Sheet for Programmes l!D.derNumerical Marking System 271

43 Assessment Sheet for Programmes under Grading System 272

44 Award List for Assignments 273

<is Remuneration Bill for Evaluation of Assignments/Handling Charges 274

46 Proforma for Forwarding of Assignment Scores to SR&EDivision by Study Centres 275

47 Summary of Remuneration Bill for Evaluation of Assignments/Handling Charges 276

48 Proforma for Receipt of Score of Assignments at Study Centres 277

49 Speciman of Response Sheet for Computer Marked Assignments 278

50 Programme-wise Record of Receipt of Score of Tutor Marked Assignments from Study Centres/Programme Centres/Work Centres in Student Registration & Evaluation Division 279

51 Control Register for Receipt of Computer Marked Assignments in Student Registration &Evaluation Division 280

52 Application form for obtaining Degree/Diploma in Absentia 281

53 Schedule of Delegation of Financial Powers relating to expenditure on Examinations &Evaluation 282

54 Proforma of award list of term-end practical examinations 283

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PART-D•II

d,

ASSIGNMENTS

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CHAPTER - 13

ASSIGNMENTS IN IGNOU - PROCEDURES AND OPERATIONS..•..

THE CONTEXT

Distance Learners are located away from the teacher and get very little opportunity to interactwith them in face-to-face situation. For most of our Programmes, attendance in counseling sessionsat study centers is not compulsory, and learners not attending counseling sessions do not havemteraction even with the counselors. In such a situation, two-way communication throughassignments assumes considerable significance. Assignments have an important role in theteaching-learning process. It is the only compulsory component of all Programmes. In addition,assignments also form a part of evaluation. In IGNOU, assignments generally carry 25% - 30%weightage towards the final grades. As per the present policy of the University, there should beone assignment for every two credits of a course, and the maximum number of assignments foreight credit course should not exceed three. However, for operational reasons, the best two arecounted towards the computation of final grade. The instructions to candidates about the natureand type of assignments and the schedule for their submission are given in respective ProgrammeGuides and / or in the assignment booklet itself.

As a part of continuous assessment IGNOU uses two types of assignments, namely Tutor MarkedAssignments (TMAs) and Computer Marked Assignments (CMAs). These assignments comprisea variety of questions such as essay type, short-answer type, objective, problem-solving exercises,etc. Assignments are invariably prepared by the concerned in-house faculty and are printed bythe respective Schools of Study. These are dispatched to learners course-wise along with thecourse materials. Though time limits are prescribed for submission of assignment responses bythe learners, and evaluation is required to be done on the spot at the Study Centres immediatelyafter the last date is over, the evaluators do not evaluate the assignments at the Study Centres onthe spot and hence time limit is not followed by the Evaluators for evaluation and the StudyCentres to return them after evaluation to the learners for their use. As a result, turn-around timevaries from a few months to more than a year.

13.1 THE ISSUES

A number of academic and operational issues are involved in assignment development,distribution, evaluation and recording of grades in grade cards. These include:

• Designing the assignments (TMA,CMA);

• Preparation and production of assignments at the school level;

• Timely despatch to current year learners;

• Despatch to previous year's students;

• Despatch to study centers/programme centers/Regional Centres;

• Submission by learners to Study Centre Coordinator within stipulated time;

• Distribution by the Centre Coordinator to Counsellors(Evaluators) for evaluation;

• Submission of grades as well as evaluated assignments by the counselors to theCoordinator;

• Returning the evaluated assignments to learners within a specified time frame;

• Despatch of grades/marks to the Students Registration and Evaluation Division(SR&ED), keeping a copy for Study Centre's record;

• Entry of TMA grades in grade cards at Headquarters (SR&ED);

• Receipt of CMAs at SR&ED;

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• Entry of CMA grades in grade cards by SR&ED;

. • Monitoring the receipt of grades from study centers at SR&ED;

• Monitoring evaluated .assignments received from the.study centers by the School!Regional Centre from:

(i) the teaching point of view

(ii) the assessment point of view, and

(iii) process of evaluation.

13.2 REVIEW OF THE EXISTING POLICY

Following issues arising out of the experience of the past were considered while formulatingthe guidelines: . .

(i) Need for assignments in different courses and Programmes.

(ii) Need for change in the design and format with a view to prevent plagiarism.

(iii) The method and extent of monitoring of assignments by the faculty.

13.3 REVISED PROCEDURES AND OPERATIONS

This constitutes an elaborate scheme of development of assignment, feedback on assignmentsto learners, transmission of grades to SR&E Division and their entry on grade cards. Theknowledge of all the procedures and operational details will help all concerned units inperforming their roles more effectively.

13.3.1 Preparation of Assignments

Care should be taken to ensure that more emphasis is given to the usefulness ofassignments from effective teaching point of view. Development and production ofassignments will be planned-in such a way that the printed assignments are availablein the Material Production and Distribution Division at least three months beforethe proposed dates of material distribution. While preparing the assignments, allimportant guidelines about writing assignments/responses and submission ofassignments will be provided. The faculty may also send guidelines/solutions forassignments/questions subject to the needs of the course and also the markingscheme, wherever required, to facilitate the work of counselors.

Training workshops may be arranged for faculty to learn newer ways and formats ofdesigning assignments.

13.3.2 Deciding the Print Run

As soon as admissions are finalized, SR&E Division will provide course-wise data onstudent enrolment for each programme of a School. It will also put the enrolmentfigure in the database which can be accessed through LAN.

The following formula will be applied to decide print run:

Expected enrolment +( 3 x number of study centers activated + number of regionalcentres) + ( 30% of expected enrolment for students belonging to earlier year) =Print Run

13.3.3 Last Dates For Submission By LearnersIt is important to specify the dates clearly and prominently. The optimum turn-around time for an assignment is 4 to 6 weeks so that assignments do not lose theirspecificity and relevance. One also has to take cognizance of the fact that assignment

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--,,,,---------,----- ---- - -

submission by a learner is compulsory before she/he can appear in the term-endexaminations. Therefore, the last dates for submission will be worked out sequentiallyand at a reasonable date before the term-end examination on the following pattern:

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(1) Six month programmes: All the assignments to be submitted by 30thApril or3pt October depending on the cycle (January cycle/July cycle)

(2) One year programmes: Assignments for about 50% of the courses to besubmitted by 30thApril and remaining by 31stOctober. However, the readingmaterials and assignments may be dispatched in one-go.

(3) Programmes of more than one year duration: Submission dates will be workedout on the basis of one year schedule as in (2) above. With this schedule, learnerswill receive their evaluated assignments in time. Proper comments will be givenso that they may serve as tools for two-way communication and would givelearners some confidence and guidance for Term end examinations.

13.3.4 Assignment Distribution

(i) To learners: Assignments pertaining to a course must accompany the coursematerials and must reach before the commencement of the session.

(ii) To Study Centres and Regional Centres: English and Hindi medium assignmentsto Study Centres and Regional Centres must be sent as and when materials aresent to learners. A minimum of two sets will be dispatched to all Study Centresand Regional Centres. While assignments of all the courses will be sent to RegionalCentres, in case of Study Centres, assignments of only those courses/Programmeswill be sent for which they have been activated.

Efforts will be made to put all these assignments on the website so that they areaccessible to every learner and study center.

13.4 REQUEST FOR A FRESH SET OF'ASSIGNMENTS

If a student had failed to do the assignments in the year of the enrolment or is unable to securepass marks/ grades, she/he has to submit the assignments of the current year. For this purpose,she/he must obtain fresh set of assignments and all such requests must be addressed to the Registrar,Material Production and Distribution Division, IGNOU in prescribed form as Appendix-39

MPDD will fix a day in every week or fortnight, depending on the workload, for dispatch ifrequests are received by mail. In this way, it will be possible to send assignments to every studentwithin two weeks of the receipt of their requests.

In case the students approach in person to collect assignments, days and timings will be fixedand given wide publicity through Prospectus, Programme Guide, Newsletter etc. to avoidinconvenience to students and the normal work may not disrupt.

The fresh assignments can also be obtained by learners from the Regional Centres/Study Centresby paying for photocopying/ duplication cost.

13.5 SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS BY LEARNERS

(i) Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs): All TMAs are to be submitted at the Study Centre/Programme Centre to which a student is attached.

(ii) Computer Marked Assignments (CMAs): All CM As are to be submitted to StudentsRegistration & Evaluation Division, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-ll0068. Studentsshould be advised through instructions on assignments to mark on the envelope "ProgrammeCode/ Course Code".

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Withdrawal of the component of assignments from all Certificate Programmes: TheAcademic Council at its 29thmeeting held on 23rd June, 2003 considered the matter andobserved that the assignments in the case of Certificate Programmes did not serve thedesired purpose. Hel!-S~it was decided to withdraw the component of assignmentsfrom all Certificate Programmes with effect from July 2003. The students shall berequired to secure qualifying score only through term-end examinations.

13.6 VALIDITY OF ASSIGNMENTS

Till now dates specified for submission of assignments are within 6 months of their receiptby the learner. (For example, if the materials are dispatched in January cycle, the assignmentsare to be submitted before May and in case materials are dispatched in June, they are askedto submit before November). This makes assignments valid for less than six months. Now,the validity of assignments is extended to one year. The Scheme will be operated as follows:

(a) If a learner submits all assignments of a first despatch course by 30thApril, she/hemay be permitted to appear in June examination. And, if, assignments are submittedby 31't October, she/he will appear in December examination (in effect, the last datefor submission of assignments has been extended to 31't October).

(b) If the assignments sent in the second despatch (i.e. in July / August), are submitted byOctober, a learner will be eligible for December term-end examinations. However,they may be allowed to submit the same assignment till April next year and be eligiblefor June examination. The Schools of Study will indicate this provision prominentlyin the instructions.

13.7 OPERATIONS AT STUDY CENTRES

(1) All Tutor Marked Assignments are submitted by learners at study centers. Every studycenter should identify one person, preferably an academic, who would be incharge ofall matters pertaining to assignments. In case of large number of programmes/ courses/students at a study center, the responsibility may be given to two or more persons. Tooptimize efficiency, the number of students assigned to one study center should notexceed 1200. If it does, a new Study Centre/Programme Centre may be opened. Theperson charged with the responsibility of handling assignments will look after thefollowing functions:

(a) Receipt of assignments from learners.

(b) Distribution to approved counselors/ evaluators.

(c) Collect evaluated assignments back from counselors along with grades on aprescribed proforma in stipulated time frame.

(d) Returning evaluated assignments to learners.

(e) Consolidate and send the grades to SR&ED at Headquarters through the studycenter co-ordinator only twice i.e. in January and July every year with a copy toRegional Centre.

(f) Providing a copy of the fresh set of assignments to previous year students, incase they approach them.

(2) The Study Centres will maintain all records in respect of above activities in the prescribedproforma given as Appendix-36 to facilitate monitoring.

13.8 EVALUATION OF ASSIGNMENTS OF MODERN INDIAN LANGUAGES (MIL)

If the assignments of MIL prescribed in foundation course in Bachelor's Degree Programmeare submitted at a study center where there is no approved counselor / evaluator availablein the Study Centre or even in the Region, the University has declared one Regional Centre

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as nodal agency for each language and assignments of that language deposited in thestudy center outside the jurisdiction of nodal Regional Centre be sent to it. Such assignmentsmay be sent to identified Nodal Regional Centres as given below:

MIL NODAL REGIONAL CENTREFOR EVALUATION

Asamese GuwahatiBengali CalcuttaGujrati AhmedabadMarathi PuneMalayalam CochinKannada BangalorePunjabi KarnalOriya BhubaneshwarTamil ChennaiTelugu HyderabadUrdu Delhi- IIFHD-1 Patna

LucknowFDH-2

13.9 ASSIGNMENTS SUBMITTED IN HIND I MEDIUM

Students who submit assignments in Hindi medium and counselors to evaluate in Hindi mediumare not available, such assignments can be sent to identified Regional Centres as follows:

Programme Nodal RC for Evalution

Degree Programmes Jaipur

Diploma & Certificate programmes Bhopal

Note: (1) In case of new or small programmes and non-availability of counselors, even the Schoolscan be requested to undertake the job on terms compatible with counselors.

(2) Every Regional Centre should draw a pool of counselors/ evaluators. These personsbe provided with proper orientation and training and be requested to undertake thejob. If RDs deem it proper, they can arrange to get such assignments evaluated centrallyat their Regional Centre.

(3) The Regional Centre will arrange to get grade lists dispatched directly to the SR&EDivision and evaluated assignments be returned to individual students underintimation to the concerned Study Centres. The time schedule and other procedureswill 'remain the same. The payments to the counselors should also be made by theRegional Centre which received the assignments from different parts of the country.

(4) If Counsellors are not available at any point of time at any Study Centre, thenassignments will be sent to the concerned Regional Centre.

(5) In all cases of (2 & 3) above, the concerned Regional Centres will get them evaluated,make payment to the evaluator, send grade lists to SRE&D and evaluated assignmentsto the concerned Study Centres/Students.

13.10 EVALUATION OF ASSIGNMENTS(1) The Counsellors who receive assignments from study centers must be given a definite

time schedule for evaluating and providing tutor comments. Timely evaluation is

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very important, if comments do not reach students in time, the entire purpose ofhaving continuous evaluation through assignments gets defeated ..

(2) To enable the counselors to appreciate the role of assignments in open/ distanceteaching, the Counsellors must be provided continuous orientation and training.Besides, the guidelines as prescribed in this Chapter to facilitate newly appointed aswell as existing counselors should be followed. This will help the system because it isvery difficult to orient every Counselor face to face. Further, even after orientation,they might need to refer the finer points related to assignments and their role asevaluators in Distance Education system. For Certificate Programmes of six monthsor less duration, the continuous evaluation through assignments has beendiscontinued with effect from July, 2003 (AC decision dated 23-6-2003). Check yourprogress exercises do not carry any weightage for passing the examination. Theyhelp the student to assimilate the subject matter. Assignments carry weightage of25% to 30% to pass the examination. There are two types of assignments - (TMAs)Tutor Marked Assignments evaluated by the Academic counselors concerned and(CMAs) Computer Marked Assignments by a rapid computerised process. The TutorMarked Assignments are returned to the students along with teachers commentsafter evaluation. It is here that the student learn as much as from face-to-face contactprogrammes.

13.11 IMPROVEMENT IN THE SCORE OF ASSIGNMENTSITERM-END EXAMINATIONOF A COURSEThe Academic Council at its 22nd meeting held on 7-10-1999 vide resolution No.22.14.1considered the proposal relating to improvement in the score of assignments/term-endexaminations of a course and approved the following provisions to be incorporated inevery programme guide for information and guidance of the learners:(1) The assignments cannot be re-submitted with a view to improve the qualifying score

of a course.(2) In case a student has already done some assignments prescribed in a course, the

score of such assignments will be retained and he/she will be required to do only theleft-over assignments prescribed in the current year before taking term-end

, examina tion.(3) If a student qualifying a course on the basis of lesser number of assignments and

term-end examinations, he/she shall not submit the remaining assignments or re-appear at the examination or practicals with a view to improve the overall qualifyingscore of that course.

(4) In case the result of an examination is not declared before commencement of nextterm-end examination and the student re-appears in that course, the result of suchreappearing examination shall be declared only if the student failed to qualify thatcourse in previous examination.

(5) A student who fails to get qualifying score in an examination subsequently re-appearsto secure at least a qualifying score and obtain lesser score on such re-appearance,the latest score obtained by him/her will be accounted for towards result purposes.

13.12 GUIDELINES FOR COORDINATORS(1) The students are required to submit two types of assignments viz. Tutor Marked

Assignments (TMAs) and Computer Marked Assignments (CMAs) whereverprescribed in accordance with the schedule of last dates given in the ProgrammeGuide of the courses concerned or notified by the Students Registration & EvaluationDivision at the Headquarters.

(2) Unless otherwise specified in the Programme Guide, the Tutor Marked Assignmentsare required to be submitted to the Coordinator of the Study Centre to which thestudent is attached. The Study Centre will arrange for evaluation of these assignments.

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(3) The Computer Marked Assignments wherever prescribed will be submitted by thestudents directly to the Students Registration & Evaluation Division according to thespecified due dates.

(4) The assignments submitted by the student should not be entertained after the duedates. Besides, the students should be advised not to send assignments directly to theStudent Registration & Evaluation Division for evaluation once the due date is over,

(5) The students are required to submit their Tutor Marked Assignment responses alongwith duly filled in self-addressed stamped Assignment Remittance-cum-acknowledgement Card (See Appendix-40) only at their allotted Study Centre, Thestaff on duty at the Study Centre will ensure that the student is actually enrolled at thatStudy Centre. Thereafter, he should put serial number of receipt of assignment andsign the acknowledgement card. He will also put rubber stamp of the Study Centre,FIe will detach the acknowledgement card from its counter-foil and post it in the dakSimultaneously, he will record serial number, date of receipt of assignment at the StudyCentre, name of the Evaluator andthe date on which the assignment is sent to theEvaluator for evaluation as well as the date of its receipt back from the Evaluator onthe counter foil of the acknowledgement card.

(6) The Study Centre will arrange the assignments programme-wise (Degree/Diploma),course-wise (MS-I, MS-2 etc.) and within a course, assignment-wise i.e. assignrner :No.Oll and 012 of MS-l of Diploma in Management. The Study Centre will check 'hecorrectness of enrolment numbers recorded by the students on their assignments.Thereafter, these assignments will be arranged in order of ascending enrolment num er .of each batch of students: It is obligatory that the enrolment number is written in fulli.e.'DIM 880007842 to have complete identity of the student. Otherwise, the result orone student may go to another or the result may not be declared.

(7) Having arranged the assignments in sequence, the Coordinator will keep aproper record of assignments received from the students in prescribed proforma(Appendix-41) and hand over the assignments only to the Evaluator approved bvthe University for spot assessment at his Study Centre together with the following:

(a) adequate number of blank assessment sheets in duplicate. (Appendix-.t2 fornumerical marking scheme and Appendix-43 for letter grading system) shouldbe used;

(b) blank proforma of grade sheet in triplicate (Appendix- 44);(c) proforma for claiming the remuneration for evaluation of assignments by the

Evaluators (Appendix-45);

(d) the modalities of assessing the assignment (as given in this chapter) togetherwith a copy of assignment questions and the reading material pertaining to theassignments if the evaluator is not an Academic Counsellor;

(e) guidelines, if any, e.g. solutions to the problems and or marking schemespecifically provided by the School concerned for the guidance of Evaluators,and

(f) any other material as may be considered necessary for evaluation of assignmentsThe evaluator should not be allowed to carry the assignments home from theStudy Centre for evaluation;

(8) The assessment sheets and their accompaniments received from different evaluatorsshould be properly arranged at the Study Centre Programme-wise (Diploma/Degree-wise), Course-wise and within a course assignment-wise. The asstgnment responseswill have already been arranged by the Evaluator according to their ascending orderof enrolment numbers.

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(9) The Coordinator of theStudy Centre, for purposes of monitoring of the assignmentsby the University, will pick-up 2% of the responses submitted by an evaluator afterevaluation. Maintaining this ratio, each assignment responses picked up from a lotshould not be less than five and not more than 15 in number. One copy of each of theassignment responses and assignment sheet of such selected assignment for monitoringwill be xeroxed and sent to the Director of the School/Division concerned at the .i;.

Headquarters. Every care must be taken that these assignment responses arerepresentative of the lot of each assignment i.e. 011, 012 of MS-1 or 021,022 of MS-2in each course. While selecting these responses as far as possible, one or two may bedrawn from the higher grade achiever group, average group and the below averagegroup. Original assignments should not be sent for monitoring.

(10) The Registrar (SR&E)will provide data entry software package to all the Study Centresf for making entries of assignment score as recorded by' the Evaluators/Counsellors.~ .~ (11) The Coordinator after necessary re-arrangem.ent of all the evaluated (assignments,4 within 30 days of the last date prescribed for submission of assignments by the

students, will:

(a) get all assignment grades/marks from the Counsellors within 3-4 weeks of thelast date of submission and maintain a programme-wise record; get the dataentry done of the award lists of assignments only in the prescribed data structureprovided by SR&E Division in the software package;

(b) get the entered data checked and corrections carried out so that the data enteredat the Study Centre is cent percent accurate;

(c) send to the Registrar (Student Registration & Evaluation) at the Headquartersthe data stored in CDs/Floppies along with original copy of the a-ward listprepared and signed by the Evaluator and counter-signed by the Coordinatorfor comparing and checking the data at SR&E Division before taking the scoreof assignments on fin~l result record of students in the months of January andJuly under intimation to their Regional Directors. Despatch of grades in onego in the months of January and July would help, SRED to keep track of thenon-receipt of grades from any centre;

(d) Indicate the courses for which grades/marks are being despatched, the numberof assignments and the programmes activated in the covering letter forwardingthe CD / £loppies etc. These should be sent on a standardized proforma as performat given as Appendix-46.

(12) Send NIL report if a programme is activated at a particular centre but no assignmentis received from the students.

(13) Return to the students original copy of the assessment sheet and the original evaluatedassignment responses.

". (14) Retain the third copy of the grade list and duplicate Copy of assessment sheet in his~ office for reference and record; and

(15) Send Xerox copies of the assignment responses selected for monitoring to the School/Division concerned at the Headquarters along with a copy of assessment sheet relatingto such assignments. It should be ensured that these are not sent to StudentRegistration & Evaluation Division at the Headquarters.

(16) Send third copy of award list to the Regional Director concerned along with the bill~ for recoupment of expenditure incurred on evaluation of assignments.

(17) The last dates for submission of assignments by the students in a particular courseand for purpose of their evaluation and transmission of the assessment sheets and

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grade lists etc., to the Student Registration & Evaluation Division at the Headquartersshould be strictly adhered to so that the grades can be entered into the records of thestudents by the University on time. Score data sent after due date orincomplete records cause delay in declaration of the term-end examination results ordeclaration of incomplete results.

(18) Having monitored the sample assignments, the Schools will communicate theirobservations and suggestions to the Coordinator with respect to each lot monitored.These may subsequently be forwarded by the Coordinator to the concerned evaluatorsfor their future guidance. Such observations shall not, however, lead to any revisionof grades once awarded by evaluators. The purpose of monitoring the assignmentsis to help the concerned evaluators in making their assessment more uniform andconsistent with the expected norms while evaluating the assignments in future.

(19) It is expected that no revision in the grades will be done once they are awarded bythe Evaluator. Hard cases on a very restricted scale may, however, be reviewed bythe concerned evaluator. This could be done prior to the submission of the grade listsby the Coordinator to the Students Registration & Evaluation Division at theHeadquarters. Every such revision should be authenticated by putting initials at therequired place in assessment sheet(s), as well as in Grade list(s). No change thereafteris permissible under any circumstances. Overwriting in recording grades should beavoided at all costs.

(20) The Coordinator after due verification will make payment of the bill submitted bythe Evaluator out of the imprest granted to the Study Centre by the Regional Director.Thereafter, all the bills of the evaluators will be entered in Summary Statement inprescribed form (See Appendix-47). Summary Statement along with original paidremuneration bills of Evaluators and assignment handling charges will be forwardedto the Regional Director for scrutiny and final adjustment of imprest drawn in thename of Coordinator of Study Centre. Detailed guidelines for submission ofremuneration bills to the R~~ional Directors are given in Chapter 17.

(21) The Regional Directors will maintain a proper record of evaluated assignments inprescribed proforma as given in Appendix-48

(22) The Study Centre will keep a record of receipt of assignments and their evaluation inthe prescribed proforma in triplicate (see Appendix-36), the original copy of whichshould be sent to the Student Registration and Evaluation Division at theHeadquarters, duplicate copy to the Regional Director and the third copy to be retainedat the Study Centre.

(23) The Coordinator should not wait till the last date prescribed for submission of theassignments by the students. As soon as adequate number of assignments are receivedthese may be sent for evaluation.

(24) If the assignment of a student is reported by the Evaluator to be identical with theanswers of some other student, such assignment should be viewed with disfavour bythe Evaluator. Such assignment may either be returned unmarked to the student orawarded very low grade. In this respect, it is entirely at the discretion of theCounsellor /Evaluator to ask the student to re-do the assignment before the last dateprescribed by the University or.award very low grade. Such cases are decided by theCoordinator of the Study Centre. A report on such cases may also be sent to theRegistrar (SR&E) at the Headquarters for necessary action.

(25) In case any Evaluator retains the assignments given to him for evaluation beyond 20days of their receipt and willfully delays evaluation of assignments, such cases shall bereported to the Director, Regional Services Division at the Headquarters underintimation to the Registrar (SR&E).

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(26) In case the assignment questions are not received from the Material DistributionDivision and the evaluation of assignments is delayed, the Coordinator will reportthe matter to the Regional Director / Registrar (SR&E) indicating the courses forwhich assignments are J.v~quired. The Regional Director/Registrar (SR&E) willarrange dispatch of assignment question papers to the concerned Study Centre.

(27) Since submission of assignments is a pre-requisite for taking term-end examinationthe Coordinator of the Study Centre will not permit any student to appear in theexamination unless the student gives documentary evidence that he had submittedthe assignments on time.

(28) The Coordinator will explicitly make clear to the students that in case the statementgiven by a student in the undertaking is found to be untrue, the University will cancelthe examination of the concerned student for that particular course where hisassignments were not received and the student shall have no claim what-so-ever inthis regard.

(29) The Coordinator of the Study Centre will ensure that in case a student has alreadydone some assignments prescribed in a course, he is required to do only the left-overassignments before taking the Term-end Examination.

(30) The Coordinator of the Study Centre will ensure that if a student who has qualifiedin a course on the basis of lesser number of assignments arid Term-end Examination,he does not re-do the remaining assignments or examination with a view to improvethe overall qualifying score of that course.

(31) The Coordinator ofthe Study Centre will ensure that the assignments are evaluatedonly by the Evaluators approved by the University. No student of a particular courseshould be enrolled as Evaluator of the course he is pursuing.

(32) The Coordinator of the Study Centre will submit the claim of assignment handlingcharges in the prescribed form along with the summary statements and course-wisedetails of assignments handled by him in a year. The assignment handling chargesare payable only to the Coordinator / Assistant Coordinator and not to any othermember of staff at the Study Centre.

(33) There is no provision for re-evaluation of assignments. If any factual error is committedby the Evaluator in evaluation of assignment, it will be rectified by the Evaluatorgiving reasons for such re-evaluation and the Coordinator should not revise the awardlist on his own under any circumstances.

(34) Any problem relating to evaluation of assignments should be brought to the knowledgeof the Registrar (SR&E), IGNOU, Maidan Carhi, New Delhi-l10068 expeditiously.

(35) The Coordinator will bring to the knowledge of all the students enrolled at his studycentre the guidelines for submission of assignments by the students as given in thisChapter.

(36) In case any approved counselors refuses to evaluate the assignments of hisspecialization, the Coordinator will report the matter to the Regional Directorconcerned and the Director, Regional Services Division at the Headquarters ..

13.13 GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATORS

(1) The Evaluators will award letter Grades A, B, C, D, E for all courses except wherenumerical marking system has been prescribed in the respective Programme Guides.

(2) The Evaluators will assess the assignments and award grades/marks according totheir judicious estimation of student's performance. It is expected that the assessmentwill be accurate, objective and consistent in conformity with the norms laid down by

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the University. The grading/marking may be done in accordance with the schemeor solution to the problems, if any, provided by the School concerned or else theEvaluators would evolve their own marking scheme in order to be fair and uniformin their judgement. -..,.

(3) The evaluators should not award plus or minus attributes to letter grades A,B,C 0 &E (See also note given below). Numerical marks should be in whole numbers. Fractionof a number should not be used. The notional values of letter grades are as under:

Letter Grade Qualitative Value Equivalent Point Grade

A Excellent 5

B Very Good 4

C Good 3

D Satisfactory 2

E Unsatisfactory 1

Note: A+, B-, C+, or D- should not be used while awarding grades. Similarly,numerical marks should not be awarded in fraction of a number i.e. 4.75, or 2.50, or1.25 etc' marks. Instead whole numbers i.e. 5, 3, 2 etc., should be awarded. Fractionsof 0.5 and above in the marks should be rounded off to the next higher number.

(4) The grades/marks will be awarded against each question of a given assignment. Ifany question has been left un-attempted, award zero (0).

(5) If the assignment contains more than one question but equal weightage, the Evaluatorshould calculate their grade points for the grades awarded according to the valuesshown above for arriving a,t an Average Grade for the assignments as a whole.

Example

Q.No. Grades Obtained Equivalent Grade Points

1 D 2

2 A 5

C3 3

. 2+5+3 = 10The average grade points of an assignment = - = 3.33 i.e. Grade C.

3 3

(6) The average grade points so calculated may be converted into average letter grade inaccordance with the following ranges:

Grade Point Range Grade

4.50 & above A

B3.50 - 4.49

C2.50 - 3.49

1.50 - 2.49 o0.00 - 1.49

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(7) If the questions carry different weightage or percentages or marks i.e. one questionhaving 5 marks (%) and the other 15(%), then, the grade points for each question willbe arrived separately according to the weightage assigned:

Q.No. Marks(%) Grade Unit of multiplication" Grade Points

1 5 C 1 1x3=3

3 3 x 4= 12B152

"Least common number between 5 & 15Average Grade Point = (3+12)/ (1+3) = 15/4 = 3.75 = Grade B.

(8) The overall grades obtained in an assignment i.e., the total grade based on the awardsto different questions therein, will be reflected on the prescribed assessment sheetsupplied to the evaluators by the Coordinator of the Study Centre.

(9) The evaluators are also expected to give comprehensive but precise and specificcomments on each assignment and assessment sheet to help the students identifytheir strong points and weak points for further improvement of their performance.These remarks shouldbe suggestive and remedial in nature, helpful in motivating thecandidate for better learning and better performance in their subsequent assignments.

(10) Separate assessment sheets are required to be used for each assignment and for eachstudent. If two questions are required to be attempted in an assignment and gradeseparately, the assessment sheets should be prepared separately for each gradedresponse.

(11) Assessment sheet should be prepared in duplicate by using carbons. Original copy ofthe assessment sheet is meant for the student and the second copy is to be retained bythe Coordinator of Study Centre for his records.

(12) The grades/marks assigned'Ior the individual questions and the overall grade/markswritten in the assessment sheet need to be in consonance with the general attributes(traits) as identified by the evaluators at the bottom of the assessment sheet.

Inconsistent comments as per examples given below generate unwarrantedcorrespondence:

Tutor Comments Grade Awarded

a) A good attempt Bb) Good A~

, c) No analysis of own organisation made Ad) Very good Ae) Tendency to reproduce published text Bf) Tendency to reproduce published text Cg) Good attempt but a marked tendency A

to reproduce published text

h) Well attempted, keep it up Ai) Well attempted B

Such type of comments are neither in consonance with grades awarded nor educativefor the student to enable him to improve in his future assignments. The guidelines forwriting teaching comments are given in the paragraphs that follow.

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13.14 TUTOR COMMENTS

13.14.1 Tutor comments are classified into nine groups. They are:

(a) Harmfulcornments.-Rude comments are harmful to the students. They fail tobring any purposeful rapport between distance student and the teacher. Studentsfeel hurt. Consequently, there will not be communication between the teacherand the taught (Example: Horrible language, Funny answer etc.). The AcademicCounsellor should not write this type of comments as these are going to damagethe interest of the learner.

(b) Hollow Comments: The words make sentences but do not convey any meaningto the students. For example, the comment "Read the answer again and strikeout all the unnecessary details" does not convey any purposeful meaning. Bythat comment, student is not able to decide which is necessary and which isunnecessary.

(c) Misleading comments: Some of the comments written by the teachers may carrythe students on a wrong path. The comment, "Please read the lesson once againand re-db the assignment" is simply asking the student to re-read and re-writewithout telling the weaknesses. The student may follow another path that maynot lead to the destination.

(d) Null comments: Null comments are those which do not confirm or question,illustrate or explain, refute or approve of anything. These comments include alltypes of non-verbal remarks such as question marks, double question marks,underlining, check marks etc. These symbols indicate that the answer was readby the tutor but they are not helpful to the students. The Academic Counsellorshould write the comments in a way that they are helpful to the students eventhough writing comments take more time than putting symbols.

(e) Negative comments: Not clear, not adequate, too brief, incomplete etc., are theexamples for negative comments. Perhaps these are most important fromstudent's point of view. As corrections are needed to isolate student who isbadly in need for two-way communication, the teacher may as well write correctanswers in place of incorrect ones.

(f) Positive comments: Positive comments are those comments which approvethe stand taken by the student. They indicate that the student's answer is up to

-the mark. Such comments encourage the students to repeat and better theirperformance and result in further communication between the teacher and thetaught.

(g) Constructive comments: They are both negative and positive offering constructivesuggestions as to how the answer could have been improved. For example,"you could have discussed the issues further with the aid of your illustrations.Besides, 'you should have talked about the following points also: (1) .....(2) .....3) .... ".

(h) Global comments: Global comments are written on a separate assessment sheet(see Appendices 37 & 38-}-supplied with the assignment to give comprehensiveresponse on the assignments. They may also refer such drawbacks as spellings,syntax, legibility etc. These comments finally explain why a particular grade isgiven to the student by the teacher.

(i) Personal Comments: Personal comments are meant for undoing the 'isolation'which the distance student suffers. Breaking this isolation is more difficult than

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writing teaching type comments. The Academic Counsellors should have ahigh degree of patience and linguistic sophistication.

Comments in pares (a) to (e) above are non-teaching type whereas (f) to (i) areteaching type. However, null and negative comments can also function asteaching with suitable additions. Non-teaching comments are due to theAcademic Counsellors who are not aware of the significance of open assignmentsor not acquaintedwith how to write teaching comments. Academic Counsellorteaches the distance student who while living in isolation uses his comments asa tool to correct and improve him. While commenting on the assignments theevaluators must avoid writing harmful, hollow, misleading, null and negativecomments and should always write positive, constructive, global and personalcomments at the appropriate places. Therefore, the success of IGNOUprogrammes depend not only on high quality printed material, audio-visuals,effective face-to-face contact programmes at Study Centres but also on the skillsof Academic Counsellors and more than anything else the commitment of theAcademic Counsellor to the cause.

13.14.2 In situations where overall g'rades are awarded without assigning grades toindividual question, the boxes against the relevant traits should be ticked accordingto the degree of performance shown by the candidate. If the grades are required tobe awarded with respect to each question in the assignment, the sum of these traitsmay be kept in view in order to arrive at proper judgement and decision about theoverall grade.

13.14.3 The enrolment number and other particulars of the students such as the coursecode, programme code and assignment code as required in the assessment sheetshould be recorded so that the grades and assignments number can be properlyentered against the right candidate by the Computer. The assessment sheet shouldbe prepared in duplica~~ by using carbons.

13.14.4 Having written the grade rind comments in the assessment sheet, the particulars ofthe evaluators like name, code number, if any allotted by the University and date ofevaluation of assignment should also be indicated in the place provided at the bottomof the sheet.

13.14.5 The assessment sheet in duplicate should be tagged with the respective assignmentsand arranged in accordance with their enrolment numbers in the ascending order.While doing so it may also be ensured that the grade or the marks awarded in theassessment sheet tally with those awarded in the respective assignment responsesas in the grade list/ award list.

13.14.6 After arranging the assignment in the order required, the evaluators will preparea grade list in triplicate for all the assignments of students entrusted to him. Itshould be ensured that correct enrolment number, assignment code and coursecode are clearly indicated in the award list. The score should be clearly written.Over-writings and corrections should be avoided.

13.14.7 Having evaluated the assignments on the spot and completed other formalities asindicated above, the assignments should be returned to the Coordinator concernedimmediately along with a duly pre-receipted remuneration bill in prescribed form(Appendix-45), and get payment of his bill from the Coordinator.

13.14.8 In case any inconsistency is noticed by the Coordinator, in evaluation of assignmentsthrough the student, it should be considered by the Evaluator and factual error, ifany, should be rectified by him under his initials indicating the reasons for reviewof the assignment.

t ~

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13.14.9 Partofthe lot of the assignments by the Evaluator will be reviewed by the University.This is done with the object of helping the evaluators in making their assessmentand assessment procedures more uniform and consistent with the expected norms.It is hoped that the evaluators would take due note of the observations andsuggestions communicated by the University through the Coordinator whileevaluating the assignments in future.

13.15 GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS

(1) Assignments constitute the continuous evaluation component of a course. Theassignments of a course carry 25%, 30% weightage while 70 to 75% weightage isgiven to the term-end examinations as per provisions made in the Programme Guide.The score that the Students get in their assignments will be counted in the final result.Therefore, the students should take their assignments seriously.

(2) The students have to attempt the assignments compulsorily. They will not be allowedto appear for the term-end examination of a course if they do not submit the specifiednumber of assignments in time for that course.

(3) The main purpose of assignments is to test students comprehension of the learning thematerials they receive from the University and also to help them get through the coursesby providing feed-back to them. The information given in the printed course materialsshould be sufficient for answering the assignments. The students should not worryabout the non-availability of extra reading material for working on the assignments.However, if they have easy access to other books, they may make use of them. But theassignments are designed in such a way as to help them concentrate mainly on theprinted course material and exploit their personal experience.

(4) There are two types of assignments: (1) Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) which isevaluated by the counsel or, and (2) Computer Marked Assignment (CMA) which isevaluated by the computer. However, the students are required to attempt theassignments as per provisions laid down in their programme guides.

(5) Whenever the students receive a set of assignments, they should check themimmediately and ask for missing pages, if any, from Registrar, Material Productionand Distribution Division, IGNOU, Maidan Carhi, new Delhi-110068 or theCoordinator of your Study Centre.

(6) The assignment response should be complete in all respects. Before submission, thestudents should ensure that they have answered all the questions in all assignments.Incomplete answer sheets bring poor grades.

(7) The students must submit their assignments of the courses opted by them accordingto the schedule indicated in the assignment itself. The University/Coordinator ofthe Study Centre has the right to reject the assignments received after the due date.The students are, therefore, advised to submit the assignments before the due date.

(8) Students should enclose a self-addressed stamped assignment remittance-cum-acknowledgement card [See Appendix-40] with each assignment response to ensurethe delivery of assignment to the Study Centre /Evaluation Division at the Headquartersbefore the last dates prescribed for' submission of assignments.

(9) In case the students have already done some assignments prescribed in a course theyare required to do the left-over assignments before taking the Term-end Examination.If they have qualified in a course on the basis of lesser number of assignments andTerm-end Examination, they will not be eligible to re-do the remaining assignmentswith a view to improve the overall qualifying score of that course.

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(10) The permission to appear in examination will be issued to the students by theUniversity provided they apply for taking Term-end Examination within the specifieddate only on submission of a documentary evidence of their having submitted therequisite number of assignments as referred to above or by giving an undertaking tothe effect that the assignments of the course(s) applied for taking the Term-endExamination have been submitted in time. An "undertaking" to this effect is printedin the Examination Form. The Examination Centre Superintendent will permit thestudents to take the examination of that course only if he is satisfied with thedocumentary evidence of their having submitted the assignments of that course.

(11) In case the declaration made by the student in the undertaking with regard tosubmission of assignments is found to be untrue, the University will cancel theexamination of that particular course.

(12) For their own record, the student should retain a copy of all the assignment responseswhich they submit to the Coordinator of their Study Centre/Evaluation Division atthe Headquarters. If they do not get back their duly evaluated tutor marked assignmentswithin a month after submission, they should try to get them from their Study Centrepersonally. This may help them to improve upon future assignments. Also they shouldmaintain an account of all these corrected assignment responses received by themafter evaluation. This will help them to represent their case to the University in caseany problem arises.

(13) In case any student is unable to submit the assignments or unable to obtain minimumqualifying score, he has to wait for the assignments meant for the next batch of students.The request for the new assignments in the prescribed form (see Appendix-39) maybe addressed to the Registrar, Material Production and Distribution Division, IndiraGandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-l10068.

(14) Once the students get the pass grade in an assignment, they can not resubmit it forimprovement of grade. Assignments are not subject to re-evaluation except for factualerror. The discrepancy noticed by the students in the evaluated assignments should bebrought to thenotice of the Coordinator of the Study Centre so that the correct scoreis forwarded by him to the Students Registration & Evaluation Division at theHeadquarters.

(15) The students should not send or express doubts for clarification, if any, along with theassignment responses. They should send their doubts in a separate cover to the Registrar(3R&E), IGNOU, New Delhi. While doing so, they should give their complete enrolmentNo., name, address, title of thecourse, and the number of the unit or the assignmentetc., on top of their letters.

(16) The students should submit their Tutor Marked assignment responses only to theCoordinator of their study centre and Computer Marked Assignments only to StudentsRegistration and Evaluation Division at Headquarters.

(17) SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENTS

(i) The students should write their Enrolment Number, Name, Full Address,Signature and Date on the top right hand corner of the first page of their responsesheet.

(ii) The students should write the Programme, Course Code, Course Title,Assignment Code and Name of their Study Centre on the left hand corner of thefirst page of their response sheet. Course Code and Assignment Code may bereproduced from the Assignment. '

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(iii) The top of the first page of response sheet for each assignment should look likethis.

ENROLMENT NUMBER :;7:.•.........•........... NAME .

PROGRAMME COURSE CODE .

ASSIGNMENT CODE COURSE TITLE .

STUDY CENTRE CODE STUDENT'S SIGNATURE .

DATE .

(iv) The student should read the assignments carefully and follow the specificinstructions, if any, given in the assignment itself.

(v) The students should go through the units on which assignments are based andmake some points regarding the question, rearrange those points in a logicalorder and draw up a rough outline of their answer. While answering an essaytype question, give adequate attention to introduction and conclusion. Theintroduction must offer their brief interpretation of the question and how theypropose to develop it. The conclusion must summarise their response to thequestion. They should make sure that the answer is logical and coherent, andhas clear connections between sentences and paragraphs. The answer should berelevant to the question given in the assignment. It should be ensured that theyhave attempted all the main points of the question. Once they are satisfied withtheir answer, write down the final version neatly and underline the points theywish to emphasize. While solving numericals, they should use proper formatand give working notes wherever necessary.

(vi) The students should use only foolscap size paper for their response and tie allthe pages carefully, avoid using very thin paper. They should allow a 4 cmmargin on the left and at least 4 lines in between each answer. This may facilitatethe evaluator to write useful comments on the margins at appropriate places.

(vii) They should write the responses in their own hand. They should not print ortype the answers. They should not reproduce their answers from the units sentto them by the University. If they reproduce from units, they will get poor marksfor the respective question.

(viii) The students should not copy from the response sheets of other students. Ifcopying is noticed, the assignments of such students will be rejected.

(ix) The student should write each assignment separately. All the assignments shouldnot be written in continuity.

(x) They should write the question number with each answer.

(xi) The completed assignment should be sent to the Coordinator of the StudyCentre allotted to the student. Under any circumstances they should not sendthe tutor marked assignment response sheets to the Evaluation Division atHeadquarters for evaluation.

(xii) After submitting the assignment at the Study Centre in person, the studentsshould get the acknowledgement from the Coordinator on the prescribedassignment remittance-cum-acknowledgement card (Appendix-40). Otherwise,the assignments should be sent under certificate of posting through post.

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(xiii) In case the student has requested for a change of Study Centre, he should submithis Tutor Marked Assignments' only to the original Study Centre until the changeof Study Centre is effected by the University.

(18) SPECIAL INSTRUGrIONS FOR COMPUTER MARKED ASSIGNMENTS

(1) At the end of each computer marked assignment (CMA), the student will findthe response sheet (for specimen see Appendix-49). They have to write theiranswers on that response sheet. In that response sheet the details of ProgrammeCode, Course Code and Assignment Code are printed. Therefore, they shouldbe very careful to use the response sheet only for the same assignment. Bymistake,if the response sheets of two different assignments are interchanged all the answersmay become wrong and may result in a poor grade. So they are advised to tearoff the response sheet from the assignment only after completing the answersand other particulars.

(2) Proforma of the CMA response sheet (See Appendix-49) is enclosed in theProgramme Guide for information of the students. If they have missed ormisplaced the response sheet of any assignment, they can use the photocopy ofthe proforma given in their Programme Guide. The details of Course Code andAssignment Code are left blank. So they should carefully fill up these columnswherever they use the photocopy of this proforma. -

(3) They should write their Enrolment Number carefully in the prescribed column.Any mistake in the enrolment number will lead to non-declaration of their result.They should also write their name and address clearly in capital letters in theprescribed columns.

(4) They should put their signature and date of submission of response sheet in thecolumns prescribed.

(5) In the response sheet they can see the question numbers printed from 1 to 50.Below each number they can find blank box which is meant for writing theanswer.

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(6) For each question in the assignment, four answers are provided of which onlyone answer is correct. The students have to read the question carefully andselect the correct answer and then write the number of the correct answer in thebox provided for that question in the response sheet. For example assumeQuestions 1 and 2 in the assignment are as follows:

Q. 1 Among the following persons, who is a businessman:

1) Chartered Accountant2) Doctor working in a hospital3) Sales boy in a medical shop4) Owner of a medical shop

Q. 2 An example of an audio visual medium of advertising

1) Hoarding2) Neon signs3) Film Show4) Radio

Now they have to choose the correct answers -to these questions. The correctanswer for Q.l is the alternative given at 4. So they have to write 4 in the boxbelow question 1 in the response sheet. Similarly, correct answer to Q.2 is the

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alternative given at 3. So write 3 in the box below Q.2 in the response sheet.This is shown below;1~::::nNo.[8~ I 3 1-4 r----S 16 171819 110

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(7) If the student thinks that none of the answers or all the alternative answersmore than one alternative answer are correct for a specific question, they shouldwrite '0' in the box related to that question. Similarly, if they do not want toanswer any question, they should put a (X) in that box.

(8) The students should not over-write on the answer because such an answermay not be legible and may not be accepted. Therefore; they should write theiranswers on the response sheet only when they are absolutely sure about it.

(9) Wrong questions printed in CMAs should be ignored altogether. Adjustmentwill be made in final markings, while evaluating the assignments at theHeadquarters.

(10) In case CMA response sheet is not made available by the University with theassignment the student can use photocopy of CMA response sheet given atAppendix-49 in Programme Guide.

(11) They should not fill in the columns provided for office use at the bottom ofresponse sheet.

(12) They should retain a copy of the duly filled-in CMA response sheet for theirrecord purpose.

(13) After completing the assignments, they should tear off the response sheet fromthe assignment, put it in an envelope and mail it to the following address:The RegistrarStudents Registration & Evaluation DivisionIndira Gandhi National Open UniversityMaidan GarhiNew Delhi-ll0068

13.16 MONITORING OF ASSIGNMENTS

The faculty at School level should monitor the quality of evaluation of assignments bothfrom the point of view of assessment and as an effective tool of teaching. For this purpose,all study centers must be asked by the concerned Schools of Studies to send to them formonitoring at Headquarters 2% of evaluated assignments of each lot of a course evaluatedby an Evaluator not exceeding 15 assignments from a lot selecting in such a way that eachgrade achiever group of students is represented. The concerned discipline group and courseteams may work out a monitoring mechanism. In turn, they should send their comments tothe counselors through the Study Centres. In due course experienced counselors can also beengaged at the Regional Centres level for such monitoring purposes.

13.17 RECEIPT AND ENTRY OF ASSIGNMENT SCORES AT SR&E DIVISION

An Officer in the SR&E Division will be given the responsibility to monitor the receipt ofscore of assignment from study centers. There will be a monitoring chart programme-wiseand study centrewise. Aproforma is given as Appendix -50. After the receipt of assignmentsgrades from the Study Centres, it will be entered in this prescribed proforma. This proformawould provide a ready reckoner. A report of defaulting Study Centres will be forwarded tothe concerned Regional Centres. A computer programme will indicate the defaulting centersimmediately after the last date of receipt. After making necessary entries the Officer shallpass on these assignment grades to the concerned officials in the SR&E Division for furtherprocessing.

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All Computer Marked assignment responses sheets will be received by the identified Officeror his section centrally in SR&E Division. These response sheets will be segregatedprogrammewise and within programme, coursewise. Thereafter, these Computer MarkedAssignment resposes will be P-?1.'sedon (on weekly or fortnightly basis) to the persons chargedwith the responsibility of data entering. A proper record of CMAs shall be maintined inprescribed proforma (Appendix-51) The data entered by the. Computer will be checked onrandom sample basis to verify that the responses have been correctly entered. Only aftersatisfying that the CMAs have been correctly entered, these will be passed on to the ComputerSection for evaluation with the key received from concerned School. These marks will thenbe sent to the persons responsible for entering the scores in grade cards in January and July.

13.18GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING ASSIGNMENTS AND AWARD LISTS ATEVALUATION BRANCH OF SR&E DIVISION AT HEADQUARTERSThe Students Registration and Evaluation Division shall :(1) Draft, finalize and print modalities of assessing the assignments and their supply to

the Study Centres, Regional Centres, Schools of Studies and individual students.Efforts shall be made to use ICR Technology for screening of Award Lists ofassignments as well as Term End Examinations for direct preparation of database,evaluation of CMAs, and document archieving thereby saving lot of pressure on thespace.

(2) Design and develop online system for transmission of TMA grades from StudyCentres/Regional Centres to SR&ED and their incorporation in the database.

(3) Ask for the guidelines for evaluation of Tutor Marked Assignments from the concernedSchool of Studies and transmit them to the Coordinators of the Study Centres insealed cover marked "Confidential" only after the last date of submission ofassignments are over so that misuse of the key / guidelines at various levels is avoided/A clear direction shall be given to the Evaluators to evaluate the Tutor MarkedAssignments strictly as per guidelines prepared by the Schools of Studies to bringuniformity in evaluation of ~~signments.

(4) Receive and monitor receipt of awards of Tutor Marked assignments from the StudyCentres, Programme Centres/Work Centres in floppies, E.mail or other moderninformation technology device along with hard copy thereof and original copy ofaward list prepared by the Counsellor /Evaluator and maintain proper record inprescribed proforma given as Appendix-50.

(5) Get the original award lists of TMAs entered by the person charged with the dutiesof data entry of TMA score.

(6) Compare the data entered by the staff in SR&E Division and the data received fromStudy Centre/Programme Centre/Work Centre in £loppies and draw an error list ofthe TMAs.

(7) Reconcile the discrepancies shown in the error list with reference to original copies ofAward lists prepared by the Counsellor.

(8) Transmit the final data of score of TMAs to Computer Section for updating theacademic record of students of each programme.

(9) Bring the discrepancies to the notice of Study Centres with reference to originalAward lists of TMAs and data entered by Study Centres, so that such mistakes arenot repeated by them.

(10) Make adequate arrangements for receipt of Computer Marked Assignments directlyfrom the students. These CMAs shall be arranged in the following order:(a) Programme-wise(b) Within programme-wise, course-wise(c) Within course, assignment-wise

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(11) After arranging the CMAs as mentioned above, the CMAs will be given controlnumber and tagged in bundles, each bundle containing 100 CMAs before transmissionto Computer Cell for data entry.

(12) A proper record shall bemaintained in prescribed form (Appendix-51) for transmissionof CMAs for data entry indicating the total number of CMAs given for data entry ona particular date and the date of their receipt after data entry with proper acknow-ledgement of assignments at the time of delivery for data entry and also after thedata entry is made. The total record should be properly reconciled.

(13) Incomplete or incorrect CMAs received from the students shall be returned to theconcerned student indicating thereon the discrepancy.

(14) The data of CMAs entered shall be checked on test-check basis selecting atleast fivesamples each from course assignments to verify whether the data entry has beencorrectly done. In case it is observed that there are more mistakes in data entry, theassignments shall be subject to reprocessing for data entry. These two data entryrecords shall be compared through computer and discrepancies shall be finally

. reconciled manually by the staff charged with evaluation of CMAs.

(15) Get keys of CMAs from the concerned Schools of Studies in sealed cover which will beretained in safe custody of the Officer charged with the duties of evaluation ofAssignments. The sealed envelop containing keys of assignments shall be delivered tothe Software Engineer charged with duties of evaluation of CMAs only when dataentry of all the CMAs is done and last date for receipt of CMAs is over i.e. only on thedate of evaluation 'of assignments.

(16) Maintain permanent record of students relating to evaluation of assignments.

(17) Intimate the score of CMAs to the students on demand.

(18) Have periodical checks on random basis that the Tutor Marked Assignments are beingevaluated by the approved·Counsellors/Evaluators. In case the assignments areevaluated by unapproved evaluators at the Study Centres, the matter shall be reportedto the concerned Regional Director/Director, RSD.

(19) Weed out the CMAs three months after declaration of result of CMAs. In case anyrepresentation is received from the students within three months of declaration ofresult, the relevant CMAs of concerned student shall be retained until the matter isresolved.

(20) Monitor receipt of CMAs/TMAs of International Students through InternationalDivision of the University.

(21) Arrange evaluation of assignments through School of Computer & Information Sciencereceived from the students of BIT/ ADIT or as per guidelines framed by the Universityin this regard. The bills of evaluation of these assignments will be sent to SOCIS forpayment.

(22) Get stray TMAs evaluated through concerned nodal Regional Centre/School of Studiesand maintain proper record of such stray cases. If it is observed that originalassignment has been lost/misplaced in transit, the duplicate copy of the CMA shallbe evaluated and score shall be taken on academic record of the student concerned.

(23) In case any student reports that the score of his/her TMAs has not been reflected inhis term-end examination result, the matter shall be taken up immediately with theconcerned Study Centre. However, in the case of CMAs, the student shall be askedto re-submit duplicate copy of the CMA to SR&E Division for verification of recordsof assignments evaluated.

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CHAPTER - 14

SUBMISSION OF PROJECT REPORTS AND THEIR EVALUATION14.1 SUBMISSION OF PROJECT WORK

Students are required to take up a Project Course if prescribed in their programmecurriculum only after completing the minimum prescribed requirements in a specified period.They should submit to the University the project proposals as per guidelines prescribed intheir programme guides. After the Project proposal is approved by the University, thestudents should submit the Project Report within the deadlines prescribed by the University.

Final Project Reports

As per resolution No.AC 15.8.2 on the methodology for evaluation of Project Works andclause A.5(e)(ii) of Ordinance No.9 "Ordinance on Conduct of Examinations and Evaluationof Student Performance", the Project Reports submitted till 31s1 May will be taken onrecord for June TEE results and projects submitted till 30lh November will be taken onrecord for December TEE.

However, the schedule fixed for the Programme Specific Projects by the concerned Schoolare given below: .

A BCA&MCA

(1) Submission of a Guide's bio-data and project proposal (synopsis) with prescribedproforma at the following address (Please see the Project guidelines) :

(a) BCA:

(b) MCA:

Not required

Project Coordinator (MCA) I" April to 30th JuneSchool of Computer & Information SciencesDEC Building ORIndira Gandhi National Open UniversityMaidan Garhi, New Delhi -110 068 1st October to 31st December

(2) Submission of the Project Report (one copy only)to Regional Director concerned : 1st Jan. to 31S1 March

(for Project Proposalsthat have got approvedduring Oct. to Dec. slot)1stJuly to 30th Sept.(for Project Proposals thathave got approved duringApril to June slot)

(3) Viva-voce to be conducted: In July (for Projects submittedduring [anuary-March slot)In January (for Projectssubmitted during July-September slot)

B MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME (MBA & MBA (Banking & Finance»

(1) Submission of a Guide's bio-data and project proposal (synopsis) with prescribedproforma at the following address (Please see the Project guidelines) :

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The Coordinator (Projects) .School of Management StudiesBlock No.l Any timeIndira Gandhi National Open UniversityMaidan Garhi, New Delhi -110 068

(2) Submission of Project Report (one copy only)to : 1'1 December to 31s1 May(Please see the Project guidelines) (for accountability in June TEE)

The Registrar ORSR&E Division, Block 3 Is1 June to 30lh NovemberIndira Gandhi National Open University (for accountability in Dec. TEE)Maidan Garhi, New Delhi -110068

BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAMME (A~T-l & AHE-l) and all other Programmes

(1) Submission of Project Proposal/ synopsis :. Not required

(2) Submission of Project Report (one copy only)in the third year to: 1'1 June to 30lh November(Please see the Project guidelines) (for accountability in Dec. TEE)The Registrar if missed, then submit betweenSR&E Division, Block 3 1'1 December and 31s1 MayIndira Gandhi National Open University (for accountability in June TEE next year)Maidan Garhi, New Delhi -110 068

The following points should be taken into account by the students while preparing the ProjectReports:

(1) The project work should be submitted in A-4 (29 x 20 cm), typed in double space, in abound volume.

(2) Before binding the project report the students should ensure that it contains thefollowing:

(a) An Authentication Certificate

(b) Approved Project Proposal Proforma and Synopsis

(c) Bio-data of the Project Guide

(e) A statement from the concerned student certifying that the work is an originalone and has not been submitted earlier either to this University or to any otherInstitution for fulfillment of the requirement of a course of study. The abovecertificate should be countersigned by the Project Guide. (

If any project work is received, in the absence of the above, the same will be rejected orreturned to the students for necessary compliance.

(3) One typed copy of the project report should be submitted to the Registrar (SR&E) ofthe University by Registered insured post.

(4) The student should mention course Programme for which the Project Report issubmitted in Bold letters on the top of the envelope e.g., "PROJECT REPORT -IM".This will facilitate sorting out project reports received in Student Registration andEvaluation Division for various Programmes.

(5) Students should keep a copy of the project report with them. The project reports willnot be returned to the students. It will be kept in the Library of the School of Studiesand in the IGNOU Central Library.

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14.2 As soon as the Project Report, complete in all respects; is submitted, a PR No. would beallotted to it. The student should quote this PR No. while corresponding with SR&E Divisionregarding Project Report.

14.3 11 A general permission can be given to students to publish the projects submitted by themto the University in part fulfillment of the diploma programme in Creative Writing inEnglish. It should, however, be made explicitly clear that students should not in any mannermake any reference to the University in their publication." (Board of Management decisiondated 19.08.1992 item 29.3).

14.4 When a project is sent to Evaluator, he may be asked to send brief comments on the project,separately, for sending it to the student concerned for his information. However, the originalof the project with Evaluator's comments on it should not be returned to the student.(Board of Management decision dated 19.08.1992 item 29.3).

'14.5 EVALUATION OF PROJECT REPORTS(1) The Academic Council at its 28th meeting vide item no.28.1O dated 16th september 2002

considered the methodology for evaluation of project reports of all the programmes anddecided that 50% project reports shall be evaluated by internal Faculty uniformly in all theprogrammes.

(2) Guidelines for submission of project reports and evaluation thereof shall be prescribedby the Schools of Studies.

14.6 GUIDELINES FOR PROJECT COURSE (MS-lOO) IN MANAGEMENTPROGRAMMESStudents can register for project course only after completing MS-1 to MS-ll and MS-95courses. For registration purposes the project course is treated as one course, and the fee isequivalent to two courses.14.6.1 Objective

The objective of the Project is tg help the student develop ability to apply multi-disciplinary concepts, tools and techniques to solve organizational problems.

14.6.2 Types of ProjectThe project may be from anyone of the following types:(i) Comprehensive case study (covering single organization/multifunctional area

problem, formulation, analysis and recommendations). '"(ii) Inter-organizational study aimed at inter-organizational comparison/

validation of theory/survey of management practices.(iii) Field study (empirical study).

14.6.3 Project Proposal (Synopsis)Project Proposal Formulation

Synopsis of the project should be prepared in consultation with the Guide and sentto the Co-ordinator (Projects), School of Management Studies, IGNOU, MaidanGarhi, New Delhi-l10068. The synopsis should clearly state the objectives andresearch methodology of the proposed project to be undertaken. It should havefull detail of the rationale, sampling, instruments to be used, limitations, if any, andfuture directions for further research etc.

14.6.4 Eligibility of Project GuideThe students can select their Guide out of the following:(i) Faculty at the Headquarters (School of Management Studies).(ii) Academic Counselors of Management Programme having relevant experience.

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(ill) Teacher in Management having 5 years of PG teaching experience /professionals holding Masters' Degree in Management or allied disciplineshaving a minimum of 5 years of experience in the relevant area. (In exceptionalcases, a supervisor with a B.E. Degree and 5 years of relevant experience mayalso be the guide).

14.6.5 Students are advised to send their project synopsis and bio-data of the Guide(in case of (ii) and (iii) above, which must be duly signed by the guide) to theCo-ordinator (Projects), School of Management Studies, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi,New Delhi -110068.

14.6.6 In case the proposed Guide is not acceptable to the Faculty, the student shall be soadvised and in such cases the student will have to change the Guide before theproposal is considered for approval. In such cases the project proposal would notbe considered for approval, as the new guide mayor may not agree to the presentproposal. Hence the student will submit project proposal afresh with the signatureof the new Guide, and it will be considered as a new proposal. Similarly, if thestudent wants to change his/her guide for any reason, he/ she would be requiredto submit theproject proposal along with the signature of the new Guide on anew project proposal proforma, as it would be considered as a new proposal.

14.6.7 In case.of academic counselors, it should be clearly mentioned as to which are thecourses he/she is counseling for, and since when, along with the name and codeof the Study Centre, he/she is attached. The Project Guide will be paid a tokenhonorarium by the university for guiding the student, at the rates presented fromtime to time.'

14.6.8 Maximum Limit for the Supervisor IGuide IStudentsStudents are advised to select supervisors who are active professionals in therelevant area of the selected topic, i.e. if the topic is in the area of finance, theSupervisor should be a specialist in finance and so on. Project Supervisors are alsoadvised to restrict guiding project in their core specialization area to not morethan five students at a time.

14.6.9 Project Proposal Submission and ApprovalAfter finalising the topic and the selection of the Supervisor, the student shouldsend the project proposal proforma alongwith one copy of the synopsis and bio-data of the Supervisor to Coordinator, School of Management Studies, IGNOU,Maidan Carhi, New Delhi - 110068 for approval. Proposals incomplete in anyrespect will straight away be rejected. Students are advised to retain a copy ofthe synopsis. Proposals not accompanying a complete and signed bio-data ofSupervisor will not be considered for approval. Project proposal can be submittedthroughout the year. Within the validates of registration for the Project, if theregistration of Project course has expired, the student should get it revalidatedbefore submission of the Project Report.

14.6.10 Communication of ApprovalA written communication regarding the approval/non-approval of the projectproposal will be sent to the students within eight weeks of the receipt of the proposalby the School of Management Studies.

14.6.11 Resubmission of Project ProposalIn case of non-approval of the proposal, the comments / suggestions forreformulating the project will be communicated to the student. In such case therevised project synopsis should be submitted with revised project proposalproforma together with a copy of the rejected synopsis and project proposalproforma bearing the comments of the evaluator indicating PP. No. (ProjectProposal Number) allotted by the School of Management Studies.

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14.6.12 Formulation of Project Report

(a) The length of the report may be about 50 to 60 double spaced typed pages notexceeding approximately 18,000 words (excluding appendices and exhibits).However 10% variation on either side is permissible.

(b) Each project report must adequately explain the research methodologyadopted and the directions for future research.

(c) The project report should contain the information as given under 14.1(p. 126).

14.6.13 Viva-voceThe Student may be asked to appear for a viva-voce, if the Evaluator sorecommends. In that case, he/she will be duly intimated about it. No TA/DAincidentals are payable to the students for appearing for Viva-Voce.

14.6.14 Enquiries

Enquiries regarding the project proposal should be .ad dressed to: TheCoordinator (Projects), School of Management Studies, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi,New Delhi - 110068 and regarding Project Reports, it should be addressed to theRegistrar (SR&E), IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068.

14.6.15 Some Important Points to Note While Preparing the Project Proposal

• Student should Send only copy of the Project Proposal, and retain a copywith him.

• "MS-lOO" should be written prominently on the envelope and should beaddressed to the Coordinator (Projects), School of Management Studies,IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi - 110068.

• Ensure the inclusion of the following items while submitting the proposal:

(a) proforma for approval of project proposal, duly filled and signedby both, the student and the supervisor

(b) detailed bio-data of the supervisor duly signed by him/her

(c) synopsis of the project

• The synopsis of the project proposal should include the following:

(i) Rationale for the study

(ii) Objectives of the study

(iii) Research methodology to be used for 'carrying out the study (detailingnature of data, data sources, collection methods, tools and techniques ofanalysis, sampling etc.)

- The expected contribution from the study

- Limitations, if any, and the direction of future research

• In all correspondence with the university, quote the Project Proposal Number /Project Report Number as the case may be, allotted by the university as well asdate of submission

14.6.16 Some Important Notes While Preparing the Project Report

(1) The project work should be submitted in A-4 size (29x20 cm) typed in doublespace, in a bound volume to the Registrar (SR&E) of the university byregistered insured post.

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(2) Before binding the project report the student must ensure that it contains thefollowing in original:

(i) Approved project proposal proforma(ii) Synopsis, and -.,,0

(iii) An originality certificate duly signed by the student and theSupervisor

Candidate should submit a signed statement, certifying that the work is anoriginal one and has not been submitted earlier either to this university or toany other Institution for fulfillment of the requirements of a course of study.If any project report is received in the absence of the above, the same will bereturned to the students for compliance.

(3) Mention on the top of the envelop "Project Report-IM". This will facilitatesorting out project reports received in SR&E Division for various programmes.

(4) One typed copy of the Project Report is to be submitted to the Registrar (SR&E)of the university by Registered Insured Post or in person.

(5) Students should keep a copy of the project report with them. The projectreport will not be returned to the student.

14.7 GUIDELINES & METHODOLOGY FOR SUBMISSION AND EVALUATION OF BCA& MCA FINAL PROJECT REPORTS (CS-U, CS-76 & CS-17)

14.7.1 Submission of Project Reports

As againstthe existing system of receiving the Project Reports at SR&ED, the studentsshall submit the same at the respective Regional Centres, as per schedule.

The schedule for acceptance of Project Reports and conduct of viva-voce would be. as under:

f./

!

Semester Acceptance of Conduct ofProject Reports viva-voce

January - June I" Jan. - 3pt March In JulyJuly - December I" July - 30th Sept. In JanuaryProject Report which is not found in order shall be returned to the studentimmediately so that they could re-submit it within the schedule. A copy of thespecimen letter in this regard is given on p.136 as Annexure -I.

14.7.2 Checklist for Scrutiny and Processing(1) Project Report should be in bound form and original copy is to be submitted

to the University. Xerox copy of the Project Report is not acceptable. TheProject should contain the following :(a) Project Proposal Proforma, duly approved by SOCIS, in original, along

with 'synopsis' and bio-data of the Project Guide. Approval of ProjectProposal has been dispensed with in case of BCA Projects;

(b) Title of the Project should be the same as per approved synopsis;(c) Originality Certificate, as per Project Guidelines, which should be

signed by both the Guide and the student;(d) Signature of the Project Guide on the Originality Certificate should

tally with the signature in the Project Proposal Proforma;(e) Project Proposals submitted and approved between pt April and 30th

June are eligible for preparing and submission of the Project Reports inthe July-Sept slot. Similarly, the Proposals submitted and approved

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between I" October and 3pt December are eligible for preparing andsubmission of the Project Reports in [an-March slot;

(2) Only one cOPY,.?fthe Project Report is required;

(3) Combined Project is not allowed in CS-76 as per Project guidelines. To clarifyfurther, completely identical Project Reports are not allowed. However, incase a project is comprehensive enough that may require one man-year ormore for its completion, then as per requirement (six man-month per candidatebasis), two or more students may work on the same project, but the ProjectReports by different candidates must include only different modules. Onlyintroductory and possibly concluding remarks may be similar or common.The language expression about the contents should not be identical.

14.7.3 DatabaseData structure and software, if any, required for processing the database shallbe provided by SR&ED.

14.7.4 Allotment of PR No.

(1) Regional Centres may follow the scheme for allotment of PR No mentionedbelow:

9 digits PR No. may be adopted (Alpha-numeric)

First digit for Prog. Code ('B' for BCA and 'M' for MCA), then two digit forRegion Code, followed by five digit number, and the last digit would be of'check digit'. For instance, for Region 16, the PR No. for BCA would be'B1600001-check digit' for [an-March slot. For the next slot (July-Sept.)onwards, the PR No. would be in continuation of the previous slots. Similarly,for MCA the same procedure is to be followed except for the Prog.Code, i.e.'M' for MCA.

(2) Software for generating PR No. would be provided by SR&ED.

(3) Same PR Number should not be allotted to more than one student. .In case ofcombined Project of two or more students, separate PR No. should be allottedto each student as they are required to submit copies of Project Reportsindividually.

(4) Hqrs. may, if necessary in emergent situation, and also in case of Internetmode students, allot the PR Nos. The 'scheme' for it would be :

'BHQOOOOl-check digit' for BCA and 'MHQOOOOl-check digit' for MCA for[an-March slot. For the next slot onwards the PR No. would be incontinuation of the previous slots as is framed for RCs.

Regional Directors will invariably submit to SR&ED a list of students,separately for BCA & MCA, indicating the enrolment number, name ofstudent, PR No. allotted and title of the Project, by 30thJune and 31st Decemberpositively so as to incorporate the PR Nos. in the computer records for purposeof cross checking at the time of updation of marks scored by students in theProject course.

(5) SR&ED shall update the PR Nos., by 3pt July (for [an-March slot) and 31stJanuary (for July-Sept. slot), in the Computer records based on the list receivedfrom RCs and the one received from Hqrs. At the time of ihcorporationofmarks scored in the PRs, Computer Section will"cross-check" the PR No. &Enrol. No. already updated in the records.

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Appointment of Examiners for BCA(1) Regional Directors shall appoint Examiners after getting their names

approved by th,e"rSchool of Computer & Information Sciences. Prescribedproforma, devised by the School in this regard is given as Annxure-Il(pp. 137-39).

(2) Eligibility criteria for the Project Report Examiners would be :(a) Five years teaching/ academic experience as a Faculty Member in the

Department of Computer Science of any affiliated College/University;(b) A Ph.D. degree in Computer Science/Engineering/Technology having

. 5 years of experience in a recognized teaching/research institution.Appointment of Examiners for MCA(1) Five years teaching/academic experience as a Faculty Member in the

Department of Computer Science of a University;(2) Any expert with a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science/ Engineering/

Technology with 5 years of experience in a recognized teaching/researchinstitution.

14.7.7 Evaluation and Conduct of Viva-voce(1) Since viva-voce is compulsory and forms part of evaluation, it is essential that

the viva-voce is conducted by the same Examiner who evaluates the ProjectReport.Individual students are to be communicated to contact the Examiner forviva-voce. A specimen of the letter in this context is at Annexure-Ill (p. 140) .

. (2) Evaluation methodology of BCA & MCA Projects is divided into two majorcomponents, viz. (i) Project evaluation part; and (ii) viva-voce. Evaluation ofProject Report carries 200 marksoutof which 150 marks are for evaluation ofProject and 50 marks for viva-voce.

(3) A student, in order to 1Jedeclared successful in the Project course of MCA andBCA, must secure a minimum 50% marks in each of these two components.Hence, in case of absence of a student on scheduled date for viva-voce, timeand place, the result will not be sent to SR&E Division until he/ she appearsfor the viva-voce. In such a case the Project course will remain incomplete.

(4) Students who go abroad and are unable to come back for viva-voce becauseof various compulsions, and also in other deserving cases, viva-voce may beconducted by relaxing the condition of requiring the student to be physicallypresent before the Examiner. But, in such cases viva can be conducted onlytelephonicallu. Viva through e-mail or on-line is not allowed. Such studentsneed to seek permission from the Regional Director immediately on receiptof the communication about viva-voce from the Regional Centre. Suchcommunication should contain the Name, address, phone number & e-mailaddress etc. of the Examiner. Such students, upon getting permission fromthe Regional Director, will contact the Examiner concerned on the givenphone no. for viva-voce at their own expense.

(5) If an)' student fails to appear for the viva, his/her assessment sheet shouldbe retained at the Regional Centre and the scores of such student(s) shouldnot be taken into the award lists. Without appearing for the viva, the scorescan not be taken into account even if the student scores overall 50% or moremarks in the evaluation part alone, in view of the rule position stated at (3)above .. Examiners should be advised accordingly and the viva of suchstudent(s) may be arranged at a later date. The award lists being forwardedby the Regional Centres should invariably contain the scores of evaluation

14.7.5

14.7.6

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as well as viva; Care should be taken to cancel the left out columns of the,award lists by crossing over the unused lines to prevent any possible misuse.Assessment sheets should form part of the award lists.

(6) Viva-voce may•.be arranged at the Study Centres and/ or the Regional Centre.It may also be conducted at the Examiner's work place as per convenienceFemale students' viva should be scheduled during working hours only andunder no circumstances' they could .be asked to visit any venue other themthe work place cited-above and/or the Study Centre or the Regional Centrefor conduct of viva. Similarly, Examiners should not be allowed to conductthe viva at their residence. TA/DA, as per rules, will be paid to the Examiners,if they are called to conduct the viva at the Study Centre and/ or the Regional 'Centre, in addition to the prescribed Honorarium.

(7) Allotment of Project Reports

(a) An Examiner may not be allotted ordinarily more than 20 ProjectReports per semester. However, the internal Faculty Members shallbe allotted 50% of total Project Reports per semester. The exceptions,if any, may be brought to the notice of the Registrar, SR&ED, forplacing it before the Vice-Chancellor.

(b) Ordinarily a fortnights' time be considered as reasonable for evaluationof Project Reports and Examiners not responding after a reminder benot entrusted with the evaluation of the Project Report in next lot.

(8) Forwarding of Award lists

(a) Regional Directors are required to forward the award lists supportedby Assessment Sheets twice a year (by 16th August and 15th February -for [an-March and July-Sept. slots respectively) by SPEED POST/REGISTERED POST at the following address in specially designedenvelopes meant for sending communications to the Head Quarters.

The RegistrarSR&E DivisionRoom No.8, Block 3IGNOU, Maidan GarhiNew Delhi - 110 068Phone: 011-26868427,Fax: 011-26868429

(b) The students who fail to secure passing scores separately in Projectevaluation as well as Project viva are to be communicated individuallyabout Re-submission of Project Report. SR&ED shall send thecommunication to such students.

(c) In the cases where any Examiner finds and states in his/her commentsabout the Project Report in the assessment sheet that the Project Reportis, to some extent, satisfactory but is incomplete because either somecomponents are missing or some more details of the components arerequired, the student may be allowed to make the required completionsin the same Project (without any need for approval of new ProjectProposal) and submit to the concerned Regional Centre for evaluationby the same Examiner. However, in case the same Examiner is notavailable for some reason, Regional Director may arrange anotherExaminer.

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(d) In this exceptional case, the matter of getting completion from thestudent and getting re-evaluation from the Examiner would be handledby the Regional Centre with due reference to SR&ED.

(e) In the caseswhere the Examiner finds a student incompetent enoughrequiring him/her to re-submit Project Report, the student is to becommunicated individually about submission of the Project Reportafresh after getting the new Project Proposal approved by SOCIS asper rules. Such communication will be sent by the SR&ED.

(f) The unfair cases of copied version of the Project Reports shall be placedbefore the Examination Discipline Committee based on-the commentsof the Examiners. Therefore, all such Project Reports, in original,alongwith the comments of the Examiner should also be forwarded toSR&EDalong with assessment sheets for taking necessary action. SREDwill send the communication to students in this regard for appearingbefore the Examination Discipline Committee.

(9) Submission and Processing of Bills(a) The Examiners may be advised to submit the bill for honorarium on

the prescribed proforma as per rates prescribed by the Universityfrom time to time.

(b) It should be ensured that the bills contain remuneration for both thecomponents, i.e. evaluation of Project Report and conduct of viva.Revenue stamps should be affixed on the bills as per financialrequirement. Bills must be returned to Examiners if Revenue Stampsare not affixed. Name and complete address including phone numberof the Evaluators should be mentioned on the bills.

(e) Regional Directors shall make payment to the Examiners out of thebudget allocation of SR&ED.

(10) Evaluated Project Reports(a) Regional Centres may retain the evaluated Project Reports upto two

examinations. Thereafter, it should be sent for shredding.(b) Shredding may be outsourced; but it should be done in the presence of

University's staff at The Regional Centres only. It should be ensuredthat no Project Report is smuggled out.

0(11) Honorarium to StaffRegional Directors will ensure that the Project Report processing is entrustedto a regular staff member only who may do this work before or after officehours on working days and on holidays. Payment of honorarium of Rs.I0j-per Project Report will payable to the officer / official assigned with the dutyby Regional Directors.

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ANNEXURE-J

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITYREGIONAL CENTRE: _

ENo. IG/RC /BCA-MCA PR!20__/Dated:

To,Enrolment No. _

Mr./Ms. _

Sub: EVALUATION OF PROJECT REPORT OF BCAlMCA

Dear Student,Please refer to your Project Report of . Your attention is invited topara(s) ticked (V') below:

1. Results of the Project Reports will be accounted for as below:

Project Reports received between 1st Jan.- 31st March - for June TEE result.

Project Reports received between 1st July - 30th Sept. - for Dec. TEE result.

2. Project Report is returned herewith with the remarks ticked (11) below. The same may bere-submitted, after rectifying the deficiency, as per schedule:(i) Project Report is not in bound form. This may be re-submitted after binding.(ii) Project Proposal Proforma, duly approved by SOCIS, in original, along with 'synopsis'

and bio-data of the Project Guide are not enclosed which may be forwarded insidethe Project Report, properly bound.

(iii) Xerox copy of the Project Report is not acceptable. Original copy should be submitted.(iv) Title of the Project submitted differs with the Proposal approved.(v) Name and address of-the Guide is not mentioned on the Project Proposal proforma

and/ or the Guide has not signed the Project Proposal. .(vi) Originality Certificate is not enclosed.(vii) Originality Certificate enclosed is not as per project guidelines provided to you. It

should be signed by both the Guide and the student.(viii) Signature of the Guide in the Originality Certificate differs from the signature as

appended in the Project Proposal.(ix) Your Project Proposal was approved on _

Therefore, you are eligible for submission of the Project Report in the next semester,i.e . _

(x) Only one copy of the Project Report is required. Therefore, the second copy is returned.(xi) Combined Project is not allowed in CS-76 as per guidelines provided to you.

3. The Grade Card incorporating the scores of your Project Report shall be sent to you in duecourse by SR&E Division, IGNOU, New Delhi-l10068.

With best wishes,

Yours faithfully,

End. : as above Regional Director

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ANNEXURE-II

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY~';;'.

SCHOOL OF COMPUTER & INFORMATION SCIENCESMAIDAN GARHI, NEW DELHI-ll0068

PROFORMA FOR PROJECT EVALUATORName (in block letters): Photograph

Date of Birth: ; .

Present Designation/Profession: .

Residential Address: .

Office Address: '-- ----'

Tel. Nos (0); (R); Mobile No .

Academic Qualifications: (Give details from Bachelor's degree onwards in a chronologicalorder. Attach the Xerox copies of testimonials).

Degree University Subj ect/S pecialisa tionYear & Month

Areas of interest (in Mathematics):

......... " ; .

Level

Details of teaching experience:

Tutorial/TeachingExperience

Name of theInstitution

Total TeachingExperience

CoursesTaught

From To

(A) I)

Research and Publications:

TopicResearch

M. Phil

Ph. D.

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11) Area of Research currently pursuing:

............................................................................................................................................................... .;:..

..............................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................................

III) Details of Research Work/Project Work guided:

..............................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................................

(B) Publications

(Give details of publications like title of Article, Journal/Book, Year of Publication,etc. and add an additional sheet, if required.)

Articles:

..............................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................

Books:

..............................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................. .- .

10. Experience in the Distance Education System, (if any):

i) Familiarity /Interaction in the DistanceEducation system such as courseWriting, A/V Script writing or Evaluation work,(please give details on a separate sheet)

ii) Previous experience in counselling through Distance Education mode, (if any):

Year CoursesCounselled

Place/Institution

................................................................................................................................................................

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11. Any other .relevant information:

Date: Signature of the Applicant

Place:

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ANNEXURE-Ill

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY

REGIONkL CENTRE: _ENo. IG/RC /BCA-MCA PR/2002/

Dated:

To,

Student's Name:

Enrol No.:Programme:

PR No.:

Address:

Sub: Conduct of Project Viva-voce (BCAlMCA - CS-ll/CS-76/CS-17) - reg.

Dear Student,1. In connection with the above subject, you are advised to contact Dr./Mr./Ms .

.......... to take appointment for viva-voce. The address of the Examiner isas follows:

Name: .

Address : : , .

Phone No. : (0) (R) .

Mobile No .

e-mail address: "' .

2. Viva-voce is compulsory. It contains 3 components; Theoretical knowledge of the Project,Project Related Discussion and Communication Skills. ,

3. Further, in order to be declared successful in the Project course, a student must secureminimum 50% marks in each of the two components; i.e. Project Evaluation part and viva-voce. Hence, in case of absence on scheduled date, time and place, your Project Course willremain incomplete. You are required to attend the viva at your own expense.

4. If you have gone abroad and are unable to come back because of job compulsions or so,you may seek permission from the undersigned for conduct of viva-voce "telephonicallu".Upon getting written permission, you may contact the Examiner and the expenditure forthe same would be borne by you.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

(Regional Director)

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14.8 METHODOLOGY FOR EVALUATION OF PROJECT REPORTS FOR ALLPROGRAMMES (OTHER THAN MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES AND B.C.AlMCAPROGRAMMES)

The Academic Council at its 15th meeting held on 19-5-1996 vide resolution No.AC.15.S.21approved the following methodology for Programmes other than Management, MCA &BCA to be followed for evaluation of Project Works.

(1) The guidelines for formulating the projects, its format, presentation, submission modeand the evaluation methodology in respect of each programme be compiled in a bookletby the respective Schools and sent to all the Study Centres/ Regional Centres for theirreference and further guidance of the students. A copy of the booklet may be sent tothe student when he registers for the project work in the programme pursued by him.

(2) Each student pursuing a particular programme with project work as one of its coursesbe advised to prepare two copies of the Project Report and submit only one copy to theUniversity. He may be further advised to retain the second copy with him till hereceives the assessment report on his project work. It may also be intimated to thecandidates through the Project Booklet that the projects submitted till May 31st will betaken on record for June term-end-examination results and projects submitted tillNovember, 30th will be taken on record for December term-end examination results(This is in line with the provisions contained in ordinance on "Conduct of Examinationsand Evaluation of Students Performance" followed by the University).

(3) The Project Report be sent to the Registrar (SR&E) for evaluation in respect of all theprogrammes and not to the Study Centre/Regional Centres/ any other Division orSchool.

(4) The candidates may have either an IGNOU Counsellor as their Supervisor or mayseek the approval of the Supervisors' appointment from the University beforecommencing the work on their Project if the supervisor is other than the IGNOUCounsellor.

(5) Wherever the Schools have prescribed for the approval of the Project Proposal to beaccorded by the Schools, the said approval be communicated by the concerned Schoolwithin the time limit prescribed and publicized by the School in the Project Booklet.The Schools will ensure that the students are not put to any hardship because of thedelay in communicating their approval.

(6) For evalution of the Projects, as per Provisions of the Ordinances, the Directors of theSchools concerned shall draw up the panel of Examiners and submit the same to theVice-Chancellor who shall appoint the examiner from such panels for a period of threeyears. While drawing the panel, it may be ensured that only those persons who haveatleast five years of teaching/ academic experience will be eligible for inclusion in thepanel. The Project Reports will be sent to the Examiners with the request that:

(i) They evaluate the Project Reports on 5-point scale namely A, B, C, D & E, where'D' will indicate.re-submission and 'E' to its out-right rejection except in the caseof DNHE & DECE as prescribed by the School.

(ii) They forward a one page report on the performance of the candidate on theProject submitted to him for evaluation.

(7) The rates of remuneration for guiding/ evaluating the Project Reports for Supervisorsand Examiners will be as approved by the University from time to time. This is subjectto the condition that an Examiner may not be allotted more than ten Project Reports ata time and is further subject to the stipulation that ordinarily not more than 60% of the

141

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Reports be evaluated by the internal Faculty and 40% by the External Examiners.The exceptions, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Vice-Chancellor. Afortnights' time be considered as reasonable for evaluation of Project Report andExaminers not responding after a reminder be not entrusted with the evaluation ofthe Project Report in next lot. (Provision of 60:40%revised to 50% )

(8) The projects of Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education would be evaluated byonly one Examiner on a 100% score instead of evaluating them on 70% score as hasbeen the practice so far.

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CHAPTER -15LABORATORY COURSES, FUNCTIONAL ASSIGNMENTS AND

TERM.;END PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS

CIVIL ENGINEERING PROGRAMME LABORATORY COURSES

Laboratory courses would be conducted through a Residential term, normally, of maximumof two weeks for a two credit Laboratory course and of one week for a one credit Laboratorycourse. The exact time table for a Residential term, which depending on availability of facilitiesmay cover the duration in one time slot or in more than one time slot ..will be announced inthe year when the Laboratory Courses will be offered. These courses would normally beimplemented at an Engineering College or at an equivalent organization collaborating withthe University and would generally be scheduled in summer or winter or other convenientvacation time for these institutions.

The students will then be required to attend these Residential Terms as the dates to beannounced by study center from time to time.

15.1.1 Evaluation Scheme

(a) Evaluation of Laboratory Courses will be done in two components:

(i) 70% marks will be allotted for a set of guided experiments to be carried. out by the students. These experiments would be marked by the StudyCentre/ Programme Specific Study Centre/Work Centre counselors asper the marking scheme prepared by the discipline group.

(ii) 30% marks will be allotted for a set of (one or more) assigned unguidedexperiments to be carried out by the students at the end of the laboratorycourse/ coursetopic session after the completion of all guided experiments.

_(b) Counselors and/or external examiners will evaluate the assigned unguidedexperiments.

(c) The requirement of assignments will be deleted in case of laboratory courses.

(d) The total marks awarded in a laboratory course topic will be by adding marksobtained in two components mentioned in accordance with the weightageattached. For success in the laboratory course/ course topic, one has to scoreatleast 45% marks in each component along with an overall marks of 50%.

(e) A student with less than 75% of attendance in the residential terms of laboratorycourse/ course topic will not be considered for evaluation.

15.1.2 Functional Assignments

Functional Assignments. may be considered when courses are field or work related.Once again; there may be maximum of 3 Functional Assignments per 6-8 creditcourse.

Functional Assignments will mainly be of three categories, namely:

(i) Knowledge about work practices,

(ii) Application of knowledge to work situation in the form of extractedexamples from work, and

(iii) Practice of knowledge in work situation.

As Engineering & Technology programmes of the University are targetedtowards students who are employed, it can be seen that the above categories

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represent increasing order of involvement and support base as expected from theemployer of the student in the implementation of Functional Assignments, withfirst category, representing the lowest datum in the context. This is because the firstcategory Functional Ass-icgnrnent can be implemented with or without the directinvolvement and support of the employer of the learner; thereby, even under difficultsituation making the delivery of Functional Assignments a viable educationalproposition.

It is in view of this participatory expectation from the employer of the studentthat, along with tutors/ counselors and professionals from the industry acting asresource persons, where feasible, the employer of the student may also assist theUniversity in its educational task of student assessment for Functional Assignments.

The nature of student assessment for Functional Assignments would normally beconducted at work-centre at an Industry site or at an Engineering College duringCounselling sessions and, in situation, at the student's work place, as per the learningand assessment requirements.

Thus, as a learner works on a Functional Assignment, he/she would be graded (a)for basic functional capabilities, namely, Forecasting, Planning, Organising,Communication, Coordinating, Motivation and Controlling and (b) forperformancecapability as reflected through Method, Analysis and Accuracy.

As Functional Assignment would be work-related and work-based and as "work"or "real-life" situations are characterized by interactive, group and goal-orientedplanning, design and implementation tasks, the evaluation instruments to assess,educational objectives as above are also required to be characterized by groupevaluation methods leading to multiple objective assessment. Thus, depending oncategory, Functional Assignments may be assessed through evaluation instrumentslike: Project Report, Seminar, Group discussions [for Categories (i) and (ii)] Interview,Proficiency /Skill tests at work, Natural Observation at Work [for Category (iii)],etc. ...

It is to document all above aspects of implementation of Functional Assignment interms of its content and student performance assessment in the assignment, that astudent will maintain a Record Book which will be duly monitored by the Tutors/

. Counsellors, professionals from Industry acting as resource persons and employerof the student, as the case may be.

15.1.3 Work Related Functional Assignments & their Evaluation

In specific terms, Functional Assignments are based on prior knowledge andapplication of techniques from functional Course areas. Thus, FunctionalAssignments are set within the framework of planning or organizational assignmentsin these areas and limiting the answer by adding operating constraints. This thenbecomes a formal assignment but will result in an individual solution that will requirea subjective assessment by a practicing expert/professional.

In view of the above, to work on a Functional Assignment, a student would needto have certain prior knowledge of theory and understanding of techniques/technologies from the subject area(s) covered under the course. This, student wouldreceive from the self-instructional print material and, from A-V Instruction, as thecase may be.

As mentioned above the Functional Assignments would then be of three categories,namely:

144

(1) Knowledge about Work Practices

This first category of Functional Assignments may be based on acquiringknowledge of either work practices in the area of study from the region of thestudent or from the organization of the student's own employment, and notnecessarily from his/her own department, or directly from the student's owndepartment.

Thus, these functional assignments may be in terms of:

(a) Awareness of Region's Technological capabilities, facilities, industrialrules and working trends in the subject of study; or

(b) Study of student's organisation's rules, attitudes, facilities and capabilitiesin the subject of study; or

(c) Analytical Study of difference between standard practices taught throughprint material and those adopted in actual work situation which couldbe his/her own or that from the region. Thus effort here, per se, will notbe to say what is right and what is wrong, but to intelligently andanalytically explain what is the difference, why is the difference, andwhat are the alternatives, if any.

(2) Application of Knowledge to Work Situation - Extracted Examples fromWork

While. Functional Assignments in terms of "knowledge about work-practices"would welcome support of student's employer by offer of work practices inhis/her (employer) organization for comparison with work-practices as coveredthrough the print-material, such employer involvement therein is notmandatory.

As a result, Functional Assignments under Category "Knowledge about WorkPractices" can be-effectively implemented at a Sub-centre at an Industry site orat an Engineering Institution or at any other appropriate organization, whichmayor may not be the working organization of the student and withoutnecessarily requiring the active participation of the student's employer, thoughthe same is desirable as it would further enrich student education and alsohave a more direct benefit for the employer.

Against this, the category of Functional Assignments which are based on"application of knowledge to work-situation" would call for a more definite,though not complete, support & participation of the employer of the student.

More specifically, the "application" based Functional Assignments wouldnormally be in terms of "extracted examples from work". Thus, though theymay not require the. learner to "practice" his/her knowledge, they wouldrequire the learner to prepare, say, case-studies or short reports, in the context,by critically studying appropriate work projects already implemented,preferably in student's own organisation and, if not, then in any otherorganization. This would understandably require access for the student totechnical documentation from his/her own organization or from otherorganization, as the case may be and, thereby, would call for support andparticipation of the employer of the learner in implementing the assignmentunder consideration.

(3) Practice of Knowledge in Work Situation

This third and final category of Functional Assignments represents a situationin which the learner is expected to "practice" knowledge at work. In such case

145

the Functional Assignment would normally have a "product", "design" or"procedure" made by student as his/her work-output under the FunctionalAssignment so conceived, and it is this work-output that would then beassessed by the tutors/ counselors.

Understandably, itis this last category of Functional Assignments, that wouldrequire complete participation of the student's employer as, an opportunityas above for student to practice his/her knowledge at work, could only beoffered effectively by the employer of the student.

The Functional Assignments as above, though based on same prior knowledgeof theory and of techniques/technologies as taught through self-instructionalmaterial, will have different operating constraints for different categories. Thesame would then be the case when it comes to organization of studentassessment for these assignments. Thus, while the assignments under firstcategory would be assessed by tutor / counselors who may include an employerof the learner, assessment for Functional Assignments under Category (2)visualizes a more active participation of employer of the student in his/her(employer) role as a repository of relevant technical information. Againstthis, the learner assessment for Functional Assignments under Category (3)would require employer participation almost as a necessity, as the assessmentmethods may include performance assessment instruments like "WorkInspection" or "Natural Observation at Work".

Functional Assignments described above present, in increasing order ofeffectiveness, complexity and employer involvement, the degrees of linkagepossible, through distance and open education, between the student's learningprocesses and his/her work methods. While IGNOU, through its deliverysystem of study centers and work centers, will do everything to bring learningprocesses and production processes at work places together, for the ultimatesuccess of the educational task at hand, it is absolutely necessary that industryand individual employers of the students come forward giving every possiblehelp and support to IGNOU in establishing the instructional infrastructureand, where possible, by actively and whole-heartedly participating inemployment-oriented instruction implementation through implementationof Functional Assignments and through participating in student performanceassessment in the context.

15.1.4 Evaluation of Functional AssignmentsThis brings one to the question of type of examinations that may be conducted atsub-centres and marking mechanisms for assessing the student performance inassignments.

Answer to this question in respect of periodic Assignments, whether under theorybased courses or functional courses, is simple as these assignments would normallycarry graded exercises, answers to which, as submitted by learners, would beevaluated by tutors/ counselors by awarding marks as per traditional evaluationpractices. Periodic Assignments may have total of maximum 30 marks out of 100for the course. .

However, when it comes to Functional Assignments, their pedagogic and therefore,'evaluation requirements demand a bit more from methods of assessment.

As a result, Functional Assignments under Category (1) may normally culminatein a short written report, while those under Category (2) may reflect case-studies,and Functional Assignments under Category (3) could have a "product", "design"or "procedure" along with a short project report, as an assignment output.

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Consistent with evaluation framework described above, counselors, who maycomprise the employer of the student, would then evaluate this student involvementin Functional Assignment and subsequent work-output, so as to assess the student:(a) for functional abiUp.es,such as, forecasting, planning, organizing, communication,controlling, etc., and (b) for subject understanding as reflected through knowledgeof method (this can include technique/technology /procedure), ability for analysisand degree of accuracy in solving/ answering/ completing the assignment.

As Functional Assignments are work-related and work-based and as "work"situations are characterized by interactive, group and goal-oriented planning, designand implementation functions, the student evaluation instruments for them arealso required to be characterized by group and multiple objective assessments.Thus, depending on category, Functional Assignments may be assessed throughevaluation instruments like: Project Report, Seminar, Group Discussion [forCategories (1) and (2)], Interview, Proficiency/Skill tests at work, Naturalobservation at work [for Category (3)], etc.

While this assessment could be conventional marking system in engineeringeducation, in what follows this section describes multiple objective learner evaluationmechanism which could be considered for implementation so as to bring learnerassessment closer to manpower assessment practices at work.

Consider a given course/ course-topic having total 3 Functional Assignments, Alsoconsider 'that total marks assigned to Functional Assignments are 30 out of 100 forthe course.

Functional abilities and performance in the assignment are then tackled by markinga student ona 0 to 4 scale as mentioned below in each of the 10educational objectivesindicated subsequently:

4. Excellent

3. Good

2. Satisfactory

1. ' Barely Adequate

O. Inadequate

Thus, for a typical Functional Assignment, the student performance may be obtainedin a matrix form as given in following Table-A.

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Then, out of maximum of 30 marks, the student would be awarded (78/120) x 30 = 19.5 marksin Functional Assignments. (Note: Here 120 represents the maximum total score student canhave from 3 Functional Assignments, as maximum score per assignment per each of the 10objectives above one can get is /14/1.).

One must permit an alternate situation here i.e., when the 3 Functional Assignments under acourse / course-topic are done under the supervision of the same counselor who could also be theemployer of the student. Similar situation will also be present in case of Extensive SyndicateExercise during Residential Term. In such case a typical Statement of the student performance hasbeen shown in Table-B.

TABLE-A

An Illustrative Statement of Student Assessment in Functional Assignments - Whenthere are Different Counsellors for Different Assignments

~~if".

Functional Assignment No.Sl.No Educational Objectives Totals

1 2 3

(1) Functional Abilitiesl. Forecasting 2 2 3 72. Planning 2 3 3 83. Organising 0 1 1 24. Communication 3 3 3 95. Coordination 3 2 3 86. Motivation 2 4 3 97. Controlling 2 3 2 7

(2) Performance in Assessment8. Method 3 3 3 99. Analysis 4 4 2 1010. Accuracy 3 3 3 9

Grand Total 78~rt

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TABLE - B

An Illustrative Statement of Student Assessment in Functional Assignments - Whenthere is Same Counsellorts)

Sl.No Educational Objectives Functional Assignment No. Totals1 2 3

(1) Performance in Assessment:1. Method 4 4 2 102. Analysis 3 4 2 93. Accuracy 4 4 3 11

Total 30(2) Functional Abilities:

4. Forecasting 25. Planning 36. Organising 17. Communication 48. Coordination 39. Motivation 410. Controlling 3

Total 20

Grand Total 50

Then, out. of maximum of 30 marks, the learner would be awarded (50/64) x 30 = 23.4marks in Functional Assignments. (Note: Here, 64 represents the maximum total scorestudent can have from 3 Functional Assignments, as maximum score per assignment pereach of the 10 objectives above one can get is "4".)

Coming to assessment during the Residential Term, while the traditional laboratoryexperiments would be evaluated consistent with practices prevalent in engineering education,the Extensive Syndicate Exercise would be assessed by the examination methodology forFunctional Assignments described here.

15.2 GUIDELINES FOR PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS OF BCA(Revised Syllabus)A set of guidelines have been formulated to conduct the practical examinations of BCA(Revised Syllabus). It is nearly impossible to lay down specific procedures for everyconceivable contingency.15.2.1 Appointment of Examiners

(1) The Regional Director will appoint one or more examiners for each practicalsession. The ratio of number of students to examiner should not exceed 20:1(one student should be given one machine).

(2) The examiner can be:(a) A local counselor of the MCA/BCA Programme who is an approved

counselor for those courses.(b) A computer professional working in the same area as of the test in the

nearby locality. However, the computer professional should have the samequalifications as are requited for an academic counselor for respectiveprogramme.

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(3) Question Papers

There may be situations when, due to paucity of computers or due to large .n.u_D._liE!r:of students, an examination is required to be held in more than one batch. Repec:~!i£the same paper in consecutive batches would give an unfair advantage to the exof later batches. Thus, four sets of question papers will be prepared for the pr . ~..examination sessions.

The question paper can be used as:

DAY 1 DAY 2

BATCH 1 BATCH 2 BATCH 3 BATCH4

Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4

In case Centre Superintendent has more than two batches in a day (for example fourbatches in a day) then the following format is suggested:

DAY 1

BATCH 1 - BATCH 2 BATCH 3 BATCH 4Set 1 Set 1 Set 2 Set 2

DAY 2

BATCH 5 BATCH 6 BATCH 7 BATCH 8

Set 3 Set 3 Set 4 Set 4

(4) The number of batches in a day should not exceed 4.

As far as possible, it should be ensured that the sets are used in such a way thatthe examinees of later batches might not get unfair advantage. The questionpapers should be collected along with the answer scripts from the studentsafter the exam.

(5) Configuring the Systems

Typically, an external examiner assisted by the local counselor / asstt. co-ordinatorwould configure the system well before the commencement of the examinations.The configuration involves creating the directories, loading the appropriatesoftware etc.

(6) Special Instructions for Co-ordinators & Examiners

(a) Student should be provided with answer sheets for each practicalexamination.

(b) The examiner must take the viva-voce of the student before awarding thefinal marks. The viva-voce is meant to test the clarity of concept and basicunderstanding of computer applications. The questions, may be framedkeeping in view the coverage in the course material. There is no minimumqualifying marks for viva-voce.

(c) The assessment for the term-end practical examination is based on theconsolidated performance in viva-voce and practical tests.

(d) The examiner should be provided with the award list. A copy of the awardsare to be retained at the study centre for future reference. The Co-ordinatorshould get those lists xeroxed and provide to each examiner at the time ofexamina tion.

150

(e) Any printed output generated during the tests alongwith the answer sheetof the student may be preserved at the Study Cente for a period of oneyear after the day of the examination for reference purposes later. Thecandidate's enrolment number and the course should be written on thereverse of tn~se outputs. In case the number of printers are inadequate,then the students should be asked to write the expected results in the answersheet.

(f) The list of grades/marks obtained by the student in these practicals aswell as their attendance in practical counselling etc. may be sent inprescribed form (See Appendix-54) through registered post separately to:

The RegistrarStudent Registration & Evaluation DivisionBlock No. 12Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityMaidan GarhiNew Delhi: 110068.

(7) Percentage of attendance for practical counseling:

A candidate is not eligible to appear in the practical examination if theattendance percentage in practical counselling falls below 75% (not applicablefor Internet Mode Students). There are, however, no restrictions on appearingin the theory papers, even if the percentage of attendance in practical counsellingfalls below 75%.

15.3 GUIDELINES FOR PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS OF MCAfPGDCAfBCA(old syllabus)

A set of guidelines have been formulated for conduct of the Practical examinations ofMCA/PGDCA and BCA (Old Syllabus) Programmes. All these practical examinationswill be of two hours duration. The timings of the examination may vary to cope withsituations of power failure systems crash or problems with availability of printers. Thiswould, however, be allowed only in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of theUniversity. It is nearly impossible to lay down specific procedures for every conceivablecontingency.

(1) The Regional Director will appoint one or more examiners for each practical session.They will draw uniform practical schedule for conduct of practical examinations ofall those students registered with the Study Centre as well as students registeredwith PIs/Internet based students and communicate the same to all Coordinators/Examination Superintendents of the activated centers under their respective region.The schedule so drawn may be displayed at a prominent place at Study Centres/Examination Centres so that students may come to know the date and time for theirpracticals. A copy of the schedule so drawn shall be sent to the Registrar (SR&E), forrecord. The ratio of number of students to examiner should not exceed 20:1 (onestudent should be given one machine). .

(2) The examiner can be:

(a) A local counselor of the MCA/BCA programme who is an approved counselorfor those courses.

(b) A computer professional working in the same area as of the test in the nearbylocality. However, the computer professional should have the same qualificationsas are required for an academic counselor for respective programme.

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(3) Question Papers

There may be situations when, due to paucity of computers or due to large numberof students, an examination is required to be held in more than one batch. Repeatingthe same paper in consecutive batches would give an unfair advantage to the examineesof later batches. Thus, four sets of question papers will be prepared for the practicalexamination sessions.

(4) The question paper can be used as:

DAY 1 DAY.2

BATCH 1 BATCH 2 BATCH 3 BATCH 4

Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4

(5) In case you have more than two batches in a day (for example four batches in a day)then the following format is suggested:

DAY 1

BATCH 1 BATCH 2 BATCH 3 BATCH 4

Set 1 Set 1 Set 2 Set 2

DAY 2

BATCH 5 BATCH 6 BATCH 7 BATCH 8

Set 3 Set 3 Set 4 Set 4'.IIV(

(6) The number of batches in a day should not exceed 4.

(7) As far as possible, it should be ensured that the sets are used in such a way so that theexaminees of later batches might not get unfair advantage ..The question papers shouldbe collected along with the-answer scripts from the students after the exam.

(8) Configuring the Systems

Typically, an external examiner assisted by the local counsellor / asstt. co-ordinatorwould configure the system well before the commencement of the examinations. Theconfiguration involves creating the directories, loading the appropriate software etc.

(9) Special Instructions for Co-ordinators & Examiners:

(a) Student should be provided with answer sheets for each practical examination.

(b) The examiner must take the viva-voce of the student before awarding the finalmarks. The viva-voce is meant to test the clarity of concept and basicunderstanding of computer applications. The questions, may be framedaccordingly keeping in view the coverage in the course material. There is nominimum qualifying marks for viva voce. '

(c) The assessment for the term-end practical examination is based on theconsolidated performance in viva voce and practical tests.

(d) The examiner should be provided with the award list (see Appendix-54). Acopy of the awards are to be retained at 'the study centre for future reference.The Co-ordinator should get those lists xeroxed and provide to each examiner atthe time of examination.

(e) Any printed output generated during the tests alongwith the answer sheet ofthe student may be preserved at the Study Cente for a period of one year after

152

the day of the examination for reference purposes later. The candidate'senrolment number and the course should be written on the reverse of theseoutputs. In case the number of printers are inadequate, then the students shouldbe asked to writEr the expected results in the answer sheet.

(f) The list of grades/marks obtained by the student in these practicals as well astheir attendance in practical counselling etc. may be sent through registered postseparately to:

The RegistrarStudent Registration & Evaluation DivisionBlock No. 12Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityMaidan GarhiNew Delhi - 110068.

(10) Percentage of attendance for practical counseling:

A candidate is not eligible to appear in the practical examination if the attendancepercentage in practical counselling falls below 75% There are however, no restrictionson appearing in the theory papers, even if the percentage of attendance in practicalcounselling falls below 75%.

15.4 PRACTICAL EXAMINATION IN B.Sc.(1) The terms like continuous and terminal evaluation do not have mud ....significance/

justification in the way laboratory practicals are conducted, it being completely differentfrom conventional system. For a 2 Credit course laboratory sessions are spread oversix days and the students perform guided experiments for five days and on the sixthday they have to do assigned experiments not guided by the counselors. 70% markswill be reserved for guided experiments and 30% marks will be for assigned experiments.

(2) Internal and (or) external examiners should be there for terminal evaluation.

(3) Only the numerical marks should be communicated for both continuous and terminalevaluation to Evaluation Division.

(4) There is no requirement of assignments for laboratory courses.

(5) Each discipline will provide some sort of Instruction Manual for Counsellors conductingthe lab courses which may indicate broad break-up of marks for each experiment. Butthis will be strictly meant for counselors and not for students. All students will beprovided with some broad outlines regarding valuation of each experiment and someinstruction as to the preparation they should do before attending the laboratory session.

15.4.1 . Evaluation Scheme for Laboratory Courses in B.Sc. Programme

(i) Evaluatiori. of Laboratory Courses is done in two stages:

(a) 70% marks will be allotted for a set of guided experiments to be carried outby students. These experiments would be marked by the Study Centrecounselors as per the marking scheme prepared by the discipline group.

(b) 30% marks will be allotted for a set of assigned unguided experiments tobe carried out by the students at the end of the laboratory session after thecompletion of all guided experiments.

(ii) Internal and/or external examiners should be there for evaluation of assignedexperiments. The School Board would recommend to the Evaluation Divisionnames of external examiners for a particular study centre from among thecounselors of other study centres and the members of the core faculty.

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The practical examinations for Bachelor of Library & Information Science course in 3P & 4Pare conducted. The modus-operandi for conducting this examination has been decidedkeeping in view the total number of copies of Dewey Decimal Classification, ColonClassification and Sears List of Subject Headings. The University has purchased 24 copiesof each of the above mentioned publications and provided them to the study centres wherethe BLISprogramme has been activated. So depending on the number of students registeredat each study centre, the above mentioned publications have been supplied the maximumno. of copies being 24. Therefore, it has been decided to divide the students into batches of48 for the purpose of conducting the examinations. One group of this 48 consisting of 24will take the examination in 3P and Ist set of question paper (3P-I) will be given to

. them. Simultaneously the other batch of 24 students will be examined in Classification'"Part-IT(3P-IT)and the question paper of 3P Part-IT Set-I will be provided to them. For thesetwo examinations copies of Dewey Decimal Classification will be required to be given to thestudents. At the end of 11;2 hours the same sets of question papers will be interchangedbetween these two groups. Thus one set of 3P-I and 3P-ITwill be sufficient to examine 24students. Since we have different sets of question paper for 3P-I and 3P-ITthese are sufficientfor covering a total no. of students in the final examinations. Sets of question papers are sentto different study centres depending upon the total no. of students registered for theexaminations. Like-wise the examinations relating to Cataloguing Practice will be conducted.In case of this examination the books required are Sears List of Subject Headings for 4P-Iand Colon Classification for 4P-II.

To cover the batch of 48 students (24 in pt sub batch + 24 in Ilnd sub batch) the centre willrequire 24 copies of each books - Dewey Decimal Classification, Colon Classification andSears List of Subject Headings for 3P Part I & Part U and also for 4P Part I & Part Il, ModelSchedule for batches is given on following pages.

.. ,....

(ill) Only final marks should be communicated for both guided experimentsassigned experiments to the Evaluation Division.

(iv) The requirement of assignments, as accepted by the Academic Council, for allcourses has to"be deleted in the case of Laboratory Courses.

(v) Each discipline should prepare an Instruction Manual for counselors conductingthe laboratory courses which should give a break-up of marks for each experimentBut this is meant for counselors and not for students.

(vi) Each discipline would provide written instructions to the students to give theman idea about the broad break-up of marks for each experiment and that materialcould include the prior preparation required for laboratory courses.

(vii) A student will have to do one (or more) unguided experiment(s) on the last dayfor the successful completion of a laboratory course. The marks awarded will bebased on marks obtained in two components mentioned above in accordancewith the weightage attached. For success in the laboratory course one has toscore at least 35% marks in each component. More precisely, for success, a studentmust score at least 24 marks out of 70 marks in the set of guided experiments andat least 11 out of 30 marks in the unguided experiment(s). The weightage shouldbe normalized in the light of the weightage of a two/ four credit course, that is to25 or 50 marks.

15.5 PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS OF BACHELORS DEGREE IN LIBRARY &INFORMATION SCIENCE

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Illustration - 3P (Part I and 11)

DATE BATCH SESSIONst ...~.rv.:~::: • •

Forenoon SessionThe 1 batch of 48 students will be examined which will befurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) 1st Sub-batch of students (1-24) may be given Question paper 10:00 am - 11:30 amof 3P (Part-I) Set-I.

(ii) z" Sub-batch of students (25-48) may be given Question -do-paper of 3P (Part-I!) Set-l.

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11;2hours the sets of question papers(Part-I &: Part-H) Set-I may be collected.

(ill) The above 1st sub-batch of students (1-24) may be given 11:30 am - 1:00 pmquestion paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-I.

(iv)nd -

-do-The above 2 Sub-batch of students (25-48) may be givenquestion paper of 3P (Part-I) Set-I.

The 2nd batch of 48 students will be examined which will be Afternoon Sessionfurthet divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) i" Sub-batch of students (49-72) may be given Question 2:00 pm - 3:30 pmpaper of 3P (Part-I) Set-2.

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of students (73-96) may be given -do-Question paper of 3P (Part-I!) Set-2.

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11;2hours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-2 may be collected.

(ill) The above 1st sub-batch of students (49-72) may be given 3:30 pm - 5:00 pmquestion paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-2.

(iv) The above z" Sub-batch of students (73-96) may be given . -do-question paper of 3P (Part-I) Set-2.

155

Illustration - 3P (Part I and 11)

DATE BATCH SESSION

The 3rd batch of 4a.students will be examined which will be Forenoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) 1't Sub-batch of Students (97-120) may be given Question 10.00 am - 11.30 ampaper of 3P (Part-I) Set-3

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (121-144) may be given Question -do-paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-3

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11hhours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-3 may be collected.

(iii) The above 1stSub-batch of Students (97-120) may be given 11.30 am - 1.00 pmQuestion paper of 3P (Pa~t-H) Set-3

nd I-do-(iv) The above 2 Sub-batch of Students (121-144) may be given

Question paper of 3P (Part-I) Set-3

The 4thbatch of 48 students will be examined which will be' Afternoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) I" Sub-batch of Students (145-168) may be given Question 2.00 pm - 3.30 pmpaper of 3P (Part-I) Set-4

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (169-192) may be given Question - do-paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-4

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11hhours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-4 may be collected.

(iii) The above 1stSub-batch of Students (145-168) may be given 3.30 pm - 5.00 pmQuestion paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-4

(iv) The above 2nd Sub-batch of students (169-192) may be given -do-question paper of 3P (Part-I) Set-4.

156

,

Illustration - 3P (Part I and II)

DATE BATCH SESSION

The 5th batch of 48 stUdents will be examined which will be Forenoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) 1st Sub-batch of Students (193-216) may be given Question 10.00 am -11.30 ampaper of 3P (Part-I) Set-5

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (217-240) may be given Question - do-paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-5

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After Ph hours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-Il) Set-5 may be collected.

(ill) The above I" Sub-batch of Students (193-216) may be given 11.30 am - 1.00 pmQuestion paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-S

(iv) The above 2nd Sub-batch of Students (217-240) may be given -do-Question paper of 3P (Part-I) Set-5

The 6th batch of 48 students will be examined which will be Afternoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) I" Sub-batch of Students (241-264) may be given Question 2.00 pm - 3.30 pmpaper of 3P (Part-I) Set-6

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (265-288) may be given Question -do-paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-6

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 1112 -hours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-6 may be collected.

(ill) The above I" Sub-batch of Students (241-264) may be given 3.30 pm - 5.00 pmQuestion paper of 3P (Part-Il) Set-6

(iv) The above 2nd Sub-batch of students (265-288) may be given -do-question paper of 3P (Part-I) Set-6.

157

i~iII,

I

Illustration - 3P (Part I and 11)

..

DATE BATCH SESSION

The 7thbatch of 48 students will be examined which will be Forenoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) pt Sub-batch of Students (289-312) may be given Question 10.00 am - 11.30 ampaper of 3P (Part-I) Set-7

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (313-336) may be given Question - do-paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-7

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11hhours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Rart-Il) Set-7 may be collected.

(iii) The above 1st Sub-batch of Students (289-312) J!lay be given 11.30 am -1.00 pmQuestion paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-7

(iv) The above td Sub-batch of Students (313-336) may be given - do-Question paper of 3P (Part-I) Set-7

The 8thbatch of 48 students will be examined which will be Afternoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) I" Sub-batch of Students (337-360) may be given Question 2.00 pm - 3.30 pmpaper of 3P (Part-I) Set-8

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (361-384) may be given Question - do-paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-8

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11hhours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-S may be collected.

(ill) The above pt Sub-batch of Students (337-360) may be given 3.30 pm - 5.00 pmQuestion paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-8

(iv)nd

The above 2 Sub-batch of students (361-384) may be given - do-question paper of 3P (Part-I) Set-S.

,.)

15S

Illustration - 3P (Part I and 11)

DATE BATCH SESSION

The 9th batch of 48 st;dents will be examined which will be Forenoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) I" Sub-batch of Students (385-408) may be given Question 10.00 am -11.30 ampaper of 3P (Part-I) Set-9

(ii)nd .

- do-2 Sub-batch of Students (409-432) may be given Questionpaper of 3P (Part-H) Set-9

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted in\

separate. rooms. After 1Y2 hours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-9 may be collected.

(ill) The above pt Sub-batch of Students (385-408) may be given 11.30 'am - 1.00 pmQuestion paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-9

(iv) The above 2nd Sub-batch of Students (409-432) may be given - do-Question paper of 3P (Part-I) Set-9

The 10th batch of 48 students will be examined which will be Afternoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) I" Sub-batch of Students (433-456) may be given Question 2.00 pm - 3.30 pmpaper of 3P (Part-I) Set-lO

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (457-480) may be given Question - do-paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-lO

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 1112flours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-IO may be collected.

(ill) The above I" Sub-batch of Students (433-456) may be given 3.30 pm - 5.00 pmQuestion paper of 3P (Part-H) Set-lO

. (iv) nd - - do-The above 2 Sub-batch of students (457-480) may be givenquestion paper of 3P (Part-I) Set-lO

159

,

Illustration - 4P (Part I and 11)

.•

DATE BATCH SESSION

The 1stbatch of 48 students will be examined which will be Forenoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) I" Sub-batch of Students (11-24)may be given Question paper 10.00 am - 11.30 amof 4P (Part-I) Set-I.

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (25-48) may be given Question - do-paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-I.

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11;2hours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-I may be collected.

(iii) The above I" Sub-batch of Students (1-24) may be given 11.30 am - 1.00 pmQuestion paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-I.

(iv) The above 2nd Sub-batch of Students (25-48) may be given - do-Question paper of 4P (Part-I) Set-l.

The 2nd batch of 48 students will be examined which will be Afternoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each. -

(i) 1"tSub-batch of Students (49-72) may be given Question paper 2.00 pm - 3.30 pmof 4P (Part-I) Set-2 .

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (73-96) may be given Question - do-paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-2

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted in .separate rooms. After 11;2hours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-2 may becollected.

(iii) The above I" Sub-batch of Students (49-72) may be given 3.30 pm - 5.00 pmQuestion paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-2

(iv) The above 2nd Sub-batch of students (73-96) may be given - do-question paper of 4P (Part-I) Set-2

160

Illustration - 4P (Part I and 11). DATE BATCH SESSION

The 3rd batch of 48 students will be examined which will be Forenoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) I" Sub-batch of Students (97-120) may be given Question 10.00 am -11.30 ampaper of 4P (Part-I) Set-3.

(ll) z" Sub-batch of Students (121-144) may be given Question - do-paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-3.

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11hhours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-I!) Set-3 may be collected.

(ill) The above I" Sub-batch of Students (97-120) may be given 11.30 am - 1.00 pmQuestion paper of 4P (Part-I!) Set-3.

(iv) The above 2nd Sub-batch of Students (121-144) may be given - do-Question paper of 4P (Part-I) Set-3.

The 4thbatch of 48 students will be examined which will be Afternoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) 1"tSub-batch of Students (145-168) may be given Question 2.00 pm - 3.30 pmpaper of 4P (Part-I) Set-4

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (169-192) may be given Question - do-paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-4

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11hhours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-4 may-be collected .:

(ill) The above I" Sub-batch of Students (145-168) may be given 3.30 pm - 5.00 pmQuestion paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-4

(iv) The above z" Sub-batch of students (169-192) may be given - do-question paper of 4P (Part-I) Set-4

161

,

Illustration - 4P (Part I and 11)

.•

DATE BATCH , SESSION

The 5th batch of 48 students will be examined which will be. Forenoon Session'further divided into subsbatches of 24 each.

(i) I" Sub-batch of Students (193-216) may be given Question 10.00 am -11.30 ampaper of 4P (Part-I) Set-5.

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (217-240) may be given Question - do-paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-5.

"

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11hhours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-5 may be collected ..

(iii) The above I" Sub-batch of Students (193-216) may be given 11.30 am - 1.00 pmQuestion paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-5.

(iv) The above 2nd Sub-batch of Students (217-240) may be given - do-Question paper of 4P (Part-I) Set-5.

The 6th batch of 48 students will be examined which will be Afternoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) I" Sub-batch of Students (241-264) may be given Question 2.00 pm - 3.30 pmpaper of 4P (Part-I) Set-6

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (265-288) may be given Question - do-paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-6

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11hhours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-6 may be.collected.

(ill) The above I" Sub-batch of Students (241-264) may be given 3.30 pm - 5.00 pmQuestion paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-6

(iv)~ .

The above 2 Sub-batch of students (265-288) may be given - do-question paper of 4P (Part-I) Set-6

I.>,>,~~:

162

I

~.\... "'-~ ••... -- ...~.-. ~~-·":::::C~.;':;.'1::"_·J;:1.~~1tI"4

Illustration - 4P (Part I and 11)DATE BATCH SESSION

The 7thbatch of 48 students will be examined which will be Forenoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) I" Sub-batch of Students (289-312) may be given Question 10.00 am - 11.30 ampaper of 4P (Part-I) Set-7.

(ii) ~ . . - do-2 Sub-batch of Students (313-336) may be glven Questionpaper of 4P (Part-H) Set-7.

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11;2hours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-7 may be collected.

(ill) The above I" Sub-batch of Students (289-312) may be given 11.30 am - 1.00 pmQuestion paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-7.

(iv) ~ . - do-The above 2 Sub-batch of Students (313-336) may be glvenQuestion paper of 4P (Part-I) Set-7.

The 8thbatch of 48 students will be examined which will be Afternoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) 1stSub-batch of Students (337-360) may be given Question 2.00 pm - 3.30 pmpaper of 4P (Part-I) Set-8

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (361-384) may be given Question - do-paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-8

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11;2hours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-S may be collected.

(ill) The above I" Sub-batch of Students (337-360) may be given 3.30 pm - 5.00 pmQuestion paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-8

(iv) ~ . -do-The above 2 Sub-batch of students (361-384) may be glvenquestion paper of 4P (Part-I) Set-8

163

1

,~' \

~'L

,ItI IItI I1 !,i-.."",-~~_

Illustration - 4P (Part I and In

DATE BATCH SESSION

The 9th batch of 48 students will be examined which will be Forenoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batchesof 24 each.

(i) 1st Sub-batch of Students (385-408) may be given Question 10.00 am - 11.30 ampaper of 4P (Part-I) Set-9.

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (409-432) may be given Question - do-paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-9.

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11;1hours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-Il) Set-9 may be collected ..

(iii) The above I" Sub-batch of Students (385-408) may be given 11.30 am -1.00 pmQuestion paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-9.

(iv) The above 2nd Sub-batch of Students (409-432) may be given - do-Question paper of 4P (Part-I) Set-9. v

The 10th batch of 48 students will be examined which will be Afternoon Sessionfurther divided into sub-batches of 24 each.

(i) 1st Sub-batch of Students (433-456) may be given Question 2.00 pm - 3.30 pmpaper of 4P (Part-I) Set-lO

(ii) 2nd Sub-batch of Students (457-480) may be given Question - do-paper of 4P (Part-H) Set-lO

PS: The examination of the Sub-batches may be conducted inseparate rooms. After 11;1hours the sets of question papers(Part-I & Part-H) Set-lO may ..be collected.

(iii) The above, I" Sub-batch of Students (433-456) may be given 3.30 pm - 5.00 pmQuestion paper of 4P (Part-I!) Set-lO

(iv) ~ . -do-The above 2 Sub-batch of students (457-480) may be glve,nquestion paper of 4P (Part-I) Set-lO

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----- ----~--.-=--~-~-~-- -------11i

CHAPTER-16GRADING SYSTEM IN IGNOU~-,..,

16.1 WHAT IS GRADING?The word 'grade' is derived from the Latin word gradus where it means 'step'. Grading isa process wherein subjects may be classified on the basis of pre-defined standards.In educational context grading is essentially a method of communicating measurementsof students' achievement. It involves the use of a set of symbols that ought to beclearly defined and uniformly understood by the students, teachers, parents and allothers concerned. The absence of either of these will defea t the very purpose ofawarding grades. While developing the grading system it is of utmost significance thatthe meaning of each grading symbol be clearly spelt out. Having done so, it becomesobligatory on the part of each examiner to adhere to the specified system of grading. Thiswould, however, in no way encroach upon the autonomy of the examiner to determinewhich grade to award to a particular student. A properly introduced grading system maynot only provide for the comparison of students' performance, but also indicate the qualityof performance with respect to amount of efforts put in and the amount of knowledge acquiredat the end of the course.

16.2 WHAT DOES GRADE CONVEY?There is no denying the fact that the bases upon which the judgement of awarding thegrades is made, vary considerably from institution to institution and from examinerto examiner. There seems to be no common point of reference that makes it possibleto compare grades awarded by different examiners and different institutions while usingnorm-referenced measure. At best the information that can be inferred from grades is that aparticular student in a given course at a given time with a given teacher is either aboveaverage, average or below average, if three-point grade system is used in terms ofacademic achievement. However, the comparison of student's performance acrossinstitutions may be made with reference to a specific criterion by employing criterion-referenced measure. Thus, the grades may be used for conveying both the students'performance with reference to a specified criterion and also the relative positions of studentswith reference to their peer group.

16.3 FUNCTIONS OF GRADESThe award of grades may serve a variety of purposes. Firstly, it gives an account of theextent to which the instructional objectives have been realised by the learner. This informationserves a very useful purpose not only for the learner and the teacher but also for the parents.Secondly, award of grades provide for a permanent record of learner's growth anddevelopment that might be helpful for institutions of higher learning for allocating sea ts andalso for prospective employers. Thirdly, it may be very helpful for the University /Institutionitself in making the kind of decisions pertaining to placement and promotions. Fourthly,award of grades may be helpful in reviewing transactional strategies and curricularappropriateness. Besides these, grades are also used in determining the Grade Point Average(GPA) for the purposes of awarding merit scholarships in a number of Universities/Institutions of higher learning.

16.4 INAPTNESS IN GRADESTeachers' evaluation can never be completely devoid of subjectivity, be it carried out in termsof marks or grades. The fact is that all methods of human assessment have problems butthis should not deter efforts to minimise the errors of assessment. It is easy to identifyimperfections in grading but it is difficult to propose a satisfactory alternative. Althoughgrading is considered as one of the most significant aspects of teaching and learning forseveral reasons, it is not free from criticism. Those who criticise, argue that grading is

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complicated, it is value-laden, it has little research basis, it provides extrinsic but not intrinsicmotivation. Another criticism is that grades are often awarded without employing bothmultiple criteria and multiple sources of information. Yet another criticism about grading isthat when faulty, it can do njore harm that good to both the students and the teachers.

Besides, some argue that when one takes into account the vast amount of informationconcerning individual student, it appears to be quite unreasonable to condense it all into asingle letter or number representing that student's progress and development. In China's"cultural revolution", initiated in 1966, grading was greatly de-emphasised to help create a"classless 'society". But after that period, the country back-tracked to "the basics".

There are also some who question the value of grades. They often cite the evidence of lowcorrelations between grades and subsequent success in life. Here one should not forget thatlearning is not the only requirement for success in life. Another reason maybe attributed tothe imperfection of measures of achievement in learning. Yet, one more reason could be thedifficulty of defining success in life and of measuring it precisely.

Despite all these limitations, grading remains the only feasible procedure for evaluating thestudents' potential realistically. Moreover, all arguments against it can be countered bylaying adequate emphasis to improve the ways and means of awarding the grades so as tomake them more reliable and valid.

16.5 ISSUE OF PASS AND FAILIssue of pass and fail is a perennial problem which has bugged our society since the time itwas introduced by the British in 1847.The same practice continued in our educational systemeven after Independence. In our present examination system 35% or 40% is the cut-off scorewhich divides pass and fail. This demarcation of 35% or 40% is arbitrary and has no soundbasis. It is difficult to really differentiate between two candidates, one getting 34 marks andanother getting 35 marks when all know that the marks awarded by the examiners are notfree from error of measurement. However, this arbitrary decision perpetuated by theUniversities over the years has been accepted by the students and the society in the absenceof any alternatives. Failing all students securing less than 35% is not a desirable practice.Since half of the student population is unable to scale the examination, it becomes rather acollosal wastage of human resources at the national level. It further creates stagnation in thesystem on the one hand and many other problems for parents and society on the other.Moreover, stigma of fail on the basis of single criterion is unjustifiable.

The marks obtained in an examination are considered as the yardstick of the quality ofperformance which is very sacrosanct for the people. Even the educated prop-le have too muchfaith in marks despite knowing fully well that these are not much reliable and do notnecessarily reflect the true measure of achievement. The faith depends on the assumptionthat the one who passes ,iscapable and possesses all abilities and the one who fails is incapableand devoid of any ability whatsoever, which is not true. Thus the examination system createstwo categories of students in terms of ability and promotes dicrimination in the society.

Further, the marks awarded are infected by many factors such as unfair means; erraticmarking, subjectivity of the examiner etc. It is not fair to label a student as "pass" or "fail"on the basis of such unreliable measures. What is desirable is that the performance displayedby the students may be classified in terms of ability ranges denoted by letter grades. Theprovision may, however, be made for the improvement of grades in case the students do notseem to be satisfied with their performance.

The stigma of "fail" marks the career of students at different levels. At personal level theyfeel a loss of face which jeopardises their self respect and dignity, At the social level theircategorisation as failures make them outcaste from the educated circle and at the psychologicallevel they become tense and insecure for their future life. These aspects create a formidableimpact on the psyche of the unsuccessful students.

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In the present system it is only the student who suffers to blemish and others go scat-free.Not only this, a sizeable number of students suffer from traumatic experiences caused by theUniversity results and indulge in indiscreet actions like suicide etc. The incidents of this kindoccurred in the past decade have created an alarming situation for the society to think of somereforms in examination system which could be humane and student-friendly. Therefore,it is high time to get rid of pass/ fail by way of introducing grading system as a viablealternative. The alternative so designed, however, provides for sufficient flexibility so thatstudents get the option to improve upon their grades, should they so decide. The criticismthat the abolition of pass/ fail practice would lead to a chaotic situation as there would be nodistinction between good performers and poor performers, does not hold any good as theperformances of students in grading system are graded into a number of categories whichmake them distinctly different from each other. Another criticism of the abolition of pass/fail is that it would lead to creation of a hetrogeneous group, thus increasing the problemsof the teachers; This problem can conveniently be tackled by resorting to differentialtreatment augmented by diagnostic testing. Yet another criticism of the abolition of pass/fail is the problem of accommodation of all students in higher classes. This problem may beovercome if the allocation of seats is made on. the basis of the Grade Point Average (GPA) ofthe desired combination of subject areas.

16.6 EVALUATION SYSTEM IN IGNOU16.6.1 According to Evaluation System in the University, the students have to earn required

number of credits to qualify for award of the Degree/Diploma/Certificates. Onsuccessful completion of Course(s) the student will get the credits assigned to theparticular Course(s) completed by him/her.

16.6.2 In order to earn credits in a course the students are required to attempt assignmentsas per stipulations made in the programme guide of a course, which as stated in thepreceding paragraphs are evaluated by the Counsellors/Evaluators at the StudyCentres and qualify in term-end examinations.

16.6.3 The University follows a letter grading system on a 5 points scale (A, B, C, D & E).The student is required to obtain a "D" grade in assignments and terminalexaminations of each course. The qualitative level of each letter grade and their over-all point grade range are indicated in Table -I.

TABLE-I

S.No. Letter Grade Qualitative Level Point Grade Point Grade Range1 A Excellent 5 4.5 and above2 B Very Good 4 3.5 but below 4.5

3 C Good 3 2.5 but below 3.54 D Satisfactory 2 1.5. but below 2.5

5 E Unsatisfactory 1 Below 1.5

16.6.4 The evaluator as per his judicious estimation awards grades to the questions inaccordance with their notional values while assessing the assignments as perprovisions made in the programme guides of respective programmes. However, inthe programmes where numerical system of marking is prescribed, the evaluatorsinstead of awarding letter grades, assign numerical marks on the assignments/ term-end examination scripts. Their conversion to the letter grade is done at theheadquarters while recording the performance of the students in their result datamaintained by Students Registration and Evaluation Division. The result is declaredin letter grades and numerical marks in respect of such programmes. The qualitativevalues of letter grades and their equivalent point grades and point grade range in theprogrammes having weightage of 30:70 and 25:75 in continuous evaluation and term-end examination respectively are given in Tables II & Ill.

167

,

TABLE-I!

QUALITATIVE VALUES OF LETTER GRADES AND THEIR EQUIVALENT POINTGRADES AND POINT GRADE RANGE OF DIPLOMA AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMMESHAVING WEIGHTAGE OF 30:76 IN CONTINUOUS EVALAUTION AND TERM-ENDEXAMINATION

Letter Qualitative Grade Assignment Direct Point OverallGrade Value Point Weightage P.G.in Grade P.G.Range

Range T.E.E. Range ofC.E. .'

15% 30% 75% 75% &T.E.E.

A Excellent 5 0.75 1.35 & 3.50 3.15& 4.5 & aboveabove above

B Very Good 4 0.60 1.05 & 2.80 2.45& 3.5 & belowbelow 1.35 below 3.15 4.5

C Good 3 0.45 0.75& 2.10 1.75 & 2.5 & belowbelow 1.05 below 2.45 3.5

D Satisfactory 2 0.30 0.45 & 1.40 1.05 & 1.5 & belowbelow 0.75 below 1.75 2.5

E Unsatisfactory 1 0.15 Below 0.45 0.70 Below 1.05 Below 1.5

TABLE-Ill

QUALITATIVE VALUES OF LETTER GRADES AND THEIR EQUIVALENT POINT GRADESAND PIONT GRADE RANGE WHERE THE PROPORTION IS 25:75 IN CONTINUOUSEVALUATION AND TERM-END EXAMINATION

Letter Qualitative Grade ... Assignment Direct Point OverallGrade Value Point ~eightage P.G.in Grade P.q.Range

Range T.E.E. Range ofC.E.12.5% 25% 75% 75% &T.E.E.

A Excellent 5 0.625 1.125 & 3.75 3.375 & 4.5 & aboveabove above

B Very Good 4 0.50 0.875 & 3.00 2.625 & 3.5 & below1.125 below 3.375 4.5

C Good 3 0.375 0.625 & 2.25 1.875 & 2.5 & belowbelow 0.875 below 2.625 3.5

D Satisfactory 2 0.25 0.375 & 1.50 1.125 & 1.5 & belowbelow 0.625 below 1.775 2.5

E Unsa tisfactory 1 0.125 Below 0.375 0.75 Below 1.125 Below 1.5

16.6.5 The students are required to obtain at least D Grade in continuous evaluation as wellas in the Term-end Examination separately in order to become eligible for award ofthe Bachelor's Degree.

16.6.6 A candidate securing an average score 'D' on the basis of the number of assignmentsattempted by him may be declared to have passed in continuous evaluationirrespective of the total number of assignments attempted by him. It should be takenas lesser number of questions attempted by a candidate and getting lower score onhis performance.(AC decision dated 30.11.1990)

168

16.7 CONVERSION OF LETTER GRADES INTO MARKS

16.7.1 The University has adopted numerical marking system in some of the programmesand letter grading system in some other programmes and while declaring theresults of both continuous evaluation and Term-end Examination the letter gradesand numerical marks are required to be reflected in the Statement of marks of thestudents. Table IV indicates the percentage range of numerical marks secured by astudent in continuous evaluation and term-end examination for the purpose ofreflection of letter Grade and numerical marks in statement of marks.

TABLE-IV

S.No Percentage Percentage Range Qualitative Letter GradeRange where where minimum level of equivalentminimum qualifying score is performance to percentagequalifying score 40% ** rangeis 35% *

1 70% and above 80% and above Excellent A

2 55% to 69% 60% to 79% Very Good B

3 45% to 54% 40% to 59% Good C

4 35% to 44% 20% to 39% Satisfactory 0

5 Below 35% Below 20% Unsatisfactory E-

This column in above table is as per decision of the Academic Council vide item 3.11.2dated 30th November, 1990.

The above table is as per the decision of the Academic Council vide item 9.12.1 dated 16th

November, 1993 for BLIS Progranime where minimum qualifying percentage is 40.

16.7.2 In case any Evaluator awards letter grades instead of numerical marks inadvertently inTutor Marked Assignment or in Term-End Examination scripts, such letter grades will beconverted into numerical marks as per weightage given in Table V.

*

**

TABLE-V

S.No. Letter Average Qualitative Level Equivalent EquivalentGrade Grade Point Marks Marks

Range where whereminimum minimumpassing passingmarks are marks are35%@ 40%@

1 A 4.5 & above Excellent 85 Marks 81 Marks

2 B 3.5 to 4.49 Very Good 65 Marks 61 Marks

3 C 2.5 to 3.49 Good 50 Marks 41 Marks

4 D 1.5 to 2.49 Satisfactory 40 Marks 21 Marks

5 E o to 1.49 Unsa tisfactory 18 Marks 11 Marks

@ The above range was approved by the Academic Council item No.8.9.1 at its 8th meeting heldon 4-3-1993 for BDP programme where 35% is minimum qualifying score and BLIS whereminimum qualifying score is 40%.

169

16.7.3 In the case of Computer Marked Assignments of the Programmes where lettergrading system is prescribed, the score shall be converted into letter grades as perTable VI.

TltBLE - VI

S.No. Marks Range Letter Grade

1 81 and above A

2 61 - 80 B

3 41 - 60 C

4 21 -40 D

5 Below 21 E.16.7.4 Determination of the overall grade for Management Programmes

The overall grade has to be worked out on the basis of grade points secured by astudent in each course. The grade points awarded to a student for all courses in aprogramme are totaled and then divided by the number ofcourses he offered. Whilecomputing the number of courses, the grade point awarded for Course MS-lOOhasto be doubled as it is equivalent to two courses.

For example, the procedure to be followed for working out the overall grade for anMBA student is as given below:

(i) Total grade points secured for 19 courses Say 65.82

(ii) Add: Grade points of Course MS-lOO(if a studenthad secured a grade point of 4, it should be doubled to 8) 8.00

Total grade point secured 73.82

To arrive at the overall grade, the total number of grade points, namely 73.82 have tobe divided by the number of courses offered by the student, i.e. 21 in this case.

Thus - 73.82 divided by 21 = 3.52

Since IGNOU follows 5 point scale grading system, and 3.53 falls within the range of3.50 to 4.49, the overall grade secured by the student will be "B".

(AC decision dated 28.03.1994)

16.7. 5 The percentage equivalence for point grade average in the Management Programmeis as given below:

A = 80% and above

B = 60% to 79.9%

C = 50% to 59.9%

D = 40% to 49.9%

E = Below 40%

(AC decision 20.11.1 datedJ7.02.1999)

16.7.6 Total point grade of continuous evaluation and Term-end Examination: Inmanagement Programmes, the course grade is awarded according to the abovedecision of Academic Council as per range indicated in Table -VII.

170

,

TABLE -VII

S.No Letter Point Average PercentageGrade Gr~de Point Range Equivalent

1 A 5 4.50 & above 80% and above

2 B 4 3.50 & 4.49 60% to 79.9%

3 C 3 2.50 & 3.49 50% to 59.9%

2 D 2 1.50 & 2.49 40% to 49.9%

1 E 1 Below 1.50 Below 40%

16.7.7 The evaluation parameters as prescribed for various programmes in the ProgrammeGuides 'in evaluation methodology are indicated in Table-VIII.

i-

,II 171

II ,

TABLE- VIIIThis table is meant for information and guidance of IGNOU functionaries and may undergo change as may be decidedby the University from time to time. IGNOU functionaries are advised to update the table as may be required by thedecisions of the University.

-cc-

PROGRAMMES -7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7EVALUATION PARAMETERS MADE MBA MCA MEG MHD MLIS MTM

1 Number of Compulsory 5+1 19+Proj= 18 4 4 6+2 Pract. 15+1Courses (Proj.) 2 courses (Proj.)

2 Total Number of Courses 5 19 + 18 8 11 8 15+1required to be completed Project (Proj.)

3 Total Credits required for 36 126 96 64 64 32 68completion of the Programme

4 Weightage for Assignments 25% 30% 25% 30% 30% 30% 30%

5 Weightage for Practical/Lab N.A. N.A. 15% NA NA NIL N.A.Courses (if any) (CS2,3,4)

6 Weightage for Term-end 75% 70% 60% 70% 70% 70% 70%Examination (CS2,3,4)

Rest7~o

7 Assignments to be submitted 3 3 2 3 3 for 8 2 2in each Course crs; 2 for

4 crs

8 Assignments to be taken into Higher Higher 2 Higher All Better one 2account for computation of 2 2 2score in a Course

9 Whether Evaluation is under G.S. G.S. M.S. M.S. M.S. M.S. M.S.Marking or Grading System

10 Minimum Score for Clearing 'D' .., 'D' 40% 40% 40% 40% 40%each Assignment

11 Minimum Score required for 'C' 'D' 40% 40% 40% 40% 40%Clearing Term-endExamination

12 Minimum Score required for N.A. N.A. 40% NIL NIL NIL N.A.Practical/Lab Course

13 Minimum Score required 'C' 'C' 50% 40% 40% 40% 40%for Clearing a Course

14 Overall Score required for 'C' 'C' 50% 40% 40% 40% 40%clearing the Programme

15 Whether any Project Report ES320 Project = one Nil N.A. Nil MTM16to be submitted (6Credits) 2 courses (CS-17) 8 Credits

12 credits

16 Weightage for the Project 100% 100%- 100% N.A. N.A. N.A. 100%

17 Minimum Pass score in the 'C' 'C' 50% N:A. N.A. N.A. 40%Project

18 1ST Division with Dist. (%) - N.A. .:::75 - - - -19 1" Division (% of Marks) N.A N.A 60 < 75 > 60 > 60 > 60 > 60

20 2nd Division (% of Marks) N.A. N.A. 50 < 60 50 < 60 50 <60 50 < 60 50<60

21 Pass Division (% of Marks) N.A. N.A. - 40 <50 40<50 40 <50 40 <50

172

,

PROGRAMMES -7 8 9 10 11 12EVALUATION PARAMETERS BA B.Com B.Se BCA B.Ed.

1 Number of Compulsory Courses worth Courses worth Courses worth Courses worth 11+Courses 96 credits 96 credits 96 credits 96 credits Pract.

2 Total Number of Courses Courses worth Courses worth Courses worth Courses worth '11+required to be completed 96 credits 96 credits 96 credits 96 credits Pract.

3 Total Credits required for 96 96 96 96 48completion of the Programme

4 Weightage for Assignments 30% 30% 30% 30% for non- 30%camp. &25 %

for camp.Courses

5 Weightage for Practical/Lab N.A. N.A. Min. 25 %. of 15% (cs-2,3,4,62, 100%Courses (if any) Electives 72 & 611); 75%

(cs-65 & 67)

6 Weightage for Term-end 70% 70% 70% 70% for non- 70%Examination camp. & 60% or

75% for camp.

7 Assignments to be submitted Max. 3/2/1 for Max. 3/2/1 for Max. 3/2/1 for Max. 3/2/1 for 4in each Course 8/4/2 8/4/2 8/4/2 8/4/2

credits resp. credits resp. credits resp. credits resp.

8 Assignments to be taken Best 2 for Best 2 for Best 2 for Best 2 for 4th+into account for computation 8 credits; 8 credits; 8 credits; 8 credits; Higher 2of score in a Course better or one better or one better or one better or one

for 4/2 credits' for 4/2 credits for 4/2 credits for 4/2 credits

9 Whether Evaluation is under M.s. M.s. M.s. M.s. c.sMarking or Grading System

'"10 Minimum Score for 35% 35% 35% 35% in non-camp. 0Clearing each Assignment & 40% in camp.

courses

11 Minimum Score required for 35% 35% 35% 35% in non-camp. 0Clearing Term-end & 40% in camp.Examination courses

12 Minimum Score required 35% 35% 35% 40% 0for Practical/Lab Course

13 Minimum Score required 35% 35% 35% 50% Cfor Clearing a Course

14 Overall Score required for 35% 35% 35% 50% Cclearing the Programme

15 Whether any Project for AHE only for AHE only for AHE only One (CS11) NoReport to be submitted

16 Weightage for the Project 25% 25% 25% 100% N.A.

17 Minimum Pass score in 35% 35% 35% 50% N.A.the Project

18 1ST Division with Dist. (%) - - - ~75 N.A.

19 1a1Qivision (% of Marks) ~ 60 ~ 60 ~ 60 60 <75 N.A.

20 2nd Division (% of Marks) 50<60 50 <60 50 < 60 50 <60 N.A.

21 Pass Division (% of Marks) 35 <50 35 <50 35 <50 N.A.

173

,

I

II!

I

--- -- ------

PROGRAMMES ~ 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

EVALUATION PARAMETERS BLIS BSC (N) BTCM BTWRE ins BIT ADIT

1 Number of Compulsory -7-+2 10 44 39 12 Courses 12Courses Pract. worth

99 crs

2 Total Number of Courses 7+2 10 44 39 12 .Courses 12required to be completed Pract. worth

99crs

3 Total Credits required for 36 80 128 126 96 99 36completion of the Programme Credits

4 Weightage for Assignments 30% 30% 30% 30% 30% 25% TMA-IO%PRJ-15%

5 Weightage for Practical/Lab N.A. 44 3 3 N.A. 1-6Tri-sem 25%Courses (if any) • credits credits credits 15%; 7-9 (CSTlO1,

Trisem 25% 102,103,104,201,203,301)

6 Weightage for Term-end 70% 70% 70% 70% 70% I_6th tri- 50% ifExamination sem-75% . practicals

for courses otherwisewithout 75%

pract. 60%with pract:7-9th50%

withpract;75% with-out pract ..

7 Assignments to be 3 2/1 for 1 1 3 One-upto 2submitted in each Course 4/2 4/2 6thT-Sem

credits credits 2-(TMA+proj) 7-9T-sem

8 Assignments to be taken into Higher All 1 1 Higher All Allaccount for computation of 2 ... 2score in a Course

9 Whether Evaluation is under M.s. M.s. MS M.s. M.S. M.s. M.s.Marking or Grading System

10 Minimum Score for Clearing 40% 50% 45% 45% 40% i-s-. 40%each Assignment T-sem50%

7_9th T-sem40%

11 Minimum Score required for 40% 50% 45% 45% 40% 40% 40%Clearing Term-end Examinatii n

12 Minimum Score required for 40% 50% 45% 45% N.A. 40% 40%Practical/Lab Course

13 Minimum Score required 40% 50% 50% 50% .40% 50% 50%for Clearing a Course

14 Overall Score required for 40% 50% 50% 50% 40% 50% 50%clearing the Programme

15 Whether any Project Report Nil No Project Project 3 Projects Yes CSI-5/ . Noto be submitted PTS-4, 6/7 (ii) CSI

PT5-5, 10/11/12PT5-6 orCSM 10

16 Weightage for the Project N.A. N.A. 100% 100% 100% 100% N.A.

17 Minimum Pass score in the N.A. N.A. 50% 50% 40% 50% N.A.Project

18 1ST Division with Dist. (%) - ~ 80 ~ 70 ~ 70 - ~ 7519 L" Division (% of Marks) ~ 60 70 < 80 60 <70 . 60 < 70 ~ 60 60 <7520 2nd Division (% of Marks) 50 <60 60 <70 50 < 60 50 < 60 50 < 60 50<6021 Pass Division (% of Marks) 40 <50 50< 60 - - 40<50 N.A.

174

,

PROGRAMMES ~ 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

EVALUATION PARAMETERS ADCM ADWRE PGDDE PGDHE PGDMCH PGDRD PGDT

1 Number of Compulsory -"';;'25 20 5 4 + Proj. 3 4+ Proj- 4+Courses + ECP (PGDRD 5) Project

2 Total Number of Courses 25 20 5 4 + Proj. 3 4+ 4+. required to be completed +ECP Project . Project

3 Total Credits required for 64 63 30 34 (ECP= 32 30 30completion of the Programme 4Crs.

4 Weightage for Assignments 30% 30% 25% 30% 30% 25% 30%

5 Weightage for PracticaULab 1 Credit 1 Credit N.A. N.A. 50% N.A. N.A.

Courses (if any) 4&5-60%

6 Weightage for Term-end 70% 70% 75% 70% 70% 75% 70%,Examination

7 Assignments to be submitted 1 1 3 3 3 each 3 2TMAsin each Course

8 Assignments to be taken into 1 1 Higher Higher All 9 Higher Allaccount for computation of 2 2 2 Cornpul-.score in a Course sory

9 Whether Evaluation is under M.s. M.s. G.S. c.s MS. C.s. MS.Marking or Gra~ing System

10 Minimum Score for 45% 45% 'D' 'D' 50% 'D' 40%Clearing each Assignment

11 .Minimum Score required for 45% 45% 'D' 'D' 50% 'D' 40%Clearing Term-endExamination

12 Minimum Score required 45%.H

45% N.A. N.A. Int-50% N.A. N.A.

for Practical/Lab Course TE-50%

13 Minimum Score required 50% 50% 'C' 'C' 50% 'C' 40%for Clearing a Course

14 Overall Score required 50% 50% 'C' 'C' 50% "C' 40%for clearing the Programme

15 Whether any Project Report No No No E5305 + Part of Yes DRD5 Yesto be submitted ECP internal

assessment& practicals

16 Weightage for the Project N.A. N.A. N.A. 100% 100% 100%

17 Minimum Pass score in the N.A. N.A. N.A. 'C' 'C' 40%Project

18 1ST Division with Disl (%) ~ 70 ~ 70 N.A. N.A. No. Div. N.A. -19 I"' Division (% of Marks) 60<70 60 <70 N.A N.A No. Div. N.A ~ 60

20 2nd Division (% of Marks) 50<60 50<60 N.A. N.A. No. Div. N.A. 50 < 60

21 Pass Division (% of Marks) - - N.A. N.A. No. Div N.A. 40 < 50

175

,

PROGRAMMES -7 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

EVALUATION PARAMETERS PG]MC PGDIBO DAFE DCE DCH DECE DIM

1 Number of Compulsory 4 "",.,~ 6· 7 2 (1&6) DCH-1, 3+ 3Courses 7 (Proj.) Project

2 Total Number of Courses 4 6 7 5 5 3+ 5required to be completed Project

3 Total Credits required 32 36 32 20 24 32 30for completion of theProgramme

4 Weightage for Assignments 30% 30% 25% 30% 30% 30% 30%

5 Weightage for PracticallLab N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.Courses (if any)

6 Weightage for Term-end 70% 70% 75% 70% 70% 70% 70%Examination

7 Assignments to be submitted 3 3 2 each 3 each 2 3 3in each Course

8 Assignments to be taken into 3 Higher Higher Higher Better All 3 Higheraccount for computation of 2 2 2 one 2score in a Course

9 Whether'Evaluation is under G.S. c.s G.S. G.S. G.S. M.S. c.sMarking or Grading System

10 Minimum Score for Clearing '0- '0' '0- 'D' '0- 35% 'D'each Assignment

11 Minimum Score required for 'D' '0' '0' '0- '0' 35% '0'Clearing Term-endExamination

...12 Minimum Score required for N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

Practical/Lab Course

13 Minimum Score required 'C' 'C' '0' 'C' 'C' 35% 'C'for Clearing a Course

14 Overall Score required for 'C' 'C' 'C' 'C' ~C' 35% 'C'clearing the Programme

15 Whether any Project Report N.A. N.A. Yes Yes OCH7 Yes N.A.to be submitted AFE-07 (4Credits)

= 8 crs

16 Weightage for the Project N.A. N.A. 100% 100% 100% 100% N.A.

17 Minimum Pass score in the N.A. N.A. 'C' 'C' 'C' 35% N.A.Project

18 1ST Division with Dist. (%) N.A N.A. N.A. N.A N.A. - N.A.

19 1'1Division (% of Marks) NA. N.A N.A. N.A. N.A. ~ 60 N.A.

20 2nd Division (% of Marks) N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 50<60 N.A.

21 Pass Division (% of Marks) N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 35 <50 N.A.

176

...~.~-. """--~"1i",""""""""""'''''' ••••••••••"""'_!!I'•• ""'aa•••* _~~~~=======================_;;;;;;;__iiiliiiiiiliiiiiliillii llllli _

PROGRAMMES -'-t 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

EVALl1ATION PARAMETERS PGDIM SDM IM DHHM DNHE DPE DTS

1 Number of Compulsory u; 5 2+Proj. 3 3+ Project 9 3 + Proj.Courses

2 Total Number of Courses 11 5 b + Projec 3 3 + Proj. 9 3+1 (Proj.)required to be completed

3 Total Credits required for 66 30 30 32 32 38+26 36completion of the Programme (TH-18 + (Pract.)

PR-14)

4 Weightage for Assignments 30% 30% 30% 30% 30% 30%in 30%Theorycourses

5 Weightage for Practical/Lab N.A. N.A. N.A. 50% N.A. 100% N.A.Courses (if any) (30+70)

6 Weightage for Term-end 70% 70% 70% 70% 70% 70% in 70%Examination theory

courses

7 Assignments to be submitted 3 3 3 3 each 3 2 I 3in each Course TMAs

8 Assignments to be taken into Higher Higher Higher AJl9 AJl3 2 Higheraccount for computation of 2 2 2 2score in a Course

9 Whether Evaluation is under C.S. c.s. c.s. M.s. M.s. c.s M.s.Marking or Grading System

10 Minimum Score for Clearing 'D' 'D' 'D' 40% 35% '0' 40%eachAssignment

11 Minimum Score required for '0' n 'D' 'D' 40% 35% '0' 40%Clearing Term-endExamination

12 Minimum Score required N.A. N.A. N.A. 50% N.A. '0' N.A.for Practical/Lab Course

13 Minimum Score required 'C' 'c' -c: 50% 35% 'C' 40%for Clearing a Course

14 Overall Score required for 'C' 'C' 'C' 50% 35% 'c' 40%.dearing the Programme

15 Whether any Project Report N.A. N.A. Project=2 Yes Yes No Yesto be submitted / Courses

.16 Weightage for the Project N.A. N.A. 100% 100% 100% N.A. 100%

17 Minimum Pass score in the N.A. N.A. 'c' 50% 35% N.A. 40%Project

18 lsTDivision with Dist. (%) N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. - N.A. -

19 1'tDivision (% of Marks) N.A N.A N.A N.A. ~ 60 N.A. ~ 60

20 2nd Division (% of Marks) N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 50 < 60 N.A. 50 < 60

21 Pass Division (% of Marks) N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 35 < 50 N.A. 40 < 50

177

",

PROGRAMMES ~ 41 42 43 44 45 46 4'7,EVALUATION PARAMETERS DYP CDM CES CFN CHR CIC CIG

1 Number of Compulsory 7+1 '~"'. 2 2 +·Proj. 3 3 4 4Courses (Proj.) = 4 ers.

2 Total Number of Courses 7+1 2 2 + Proj. 3 3 4 4required to be completed (proj.) = 4 crs,

3 Total Credits required for 32 16 18 16 6+6+4 16 16completion of the Programme (8+6+4) (6+6+4)

4 Weightage for Assignments 30% N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

5 Weightage for PracticallLab N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.Courses (if any)

6 Weightage for Term-end 70% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%Examination

7 Assignments to be submitted 1 each N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.in each Course

8 Assignments to be taken 1 . N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.into account for computationof score in a Course

9 Whether Evaluation is under M.S. M.s. M.S. M.S. M.S. M.s. M.S.Marking or Grading System

10 Minimum Score for Clearing 35% N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.each Assignment

11 Minimum Score required 35% 40% 40% 35% 35% 50% 50%for Clearing Term-endExamination

12 Minimum Score required N.A. ·N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A N.A.for Practical/Lab Course

13 Minimum Score required 35% 40% 40% 35% 35% 50% 50%for Clearing a Course

14 Overall Score required 35% 40% 40% 35% 35% 50% 50%for clearing the Programme

15 Whether any Project Report Yes No Yes No No - Noto be submitted PES

16 Weightage for the Project 100% N.A. 100% N.A. N.A. - N.A.

17 Minimum Pass score in the 35% N.A. 40% N.A. N.A. - N.A.Project

18 1ST Division with Dist. (%) - - - - - ~75 -19 l't Division (% of Marks) ~6O ~60 ~60 ~60 ~60 60<75 ~60

20 2nd Division (% .of Marks) 50<60 50 <60 50 <60 50<60 50<60 50<60 50<60

21 Pass Division (% of Marks) 35 < 50 40 < 50 40 <50 35 <50 35 <50 - -

-

PROGRAMMES ~ 48 49 50 51 52 53 54EVALUATION PARAMETERS CLD CNCC CPFM CCP CRD CRS CTE

1 Number of Compulsory 2 (1&2' 2 4 2+1 3 3 3Courses (Project) (1,2 & 3)

2 Total Number of Courses 3+1 2 4 2 + Proj. 3 5 4required to be completed (Proj.)

3 Total Credits required for 16 16 4+4+4+4 8+4+4 18 24 (4+5+ 16.completion of the Programme (16) 5+5+5)

4 Weightage for Assignments N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. Th.-12.5% N.A.Prac.-25%

5 Weightage for Practical/Lab N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. NIL 50% N.A.Courses (if any) .

6 Weightage for Term-end 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Tn.-37.5% 100%Examination Prac.-25%

7 Assignments to be submitted N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 1 each N.A.in each Course

8 Assignments to be taken N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 1 each N.A.into account for.computationof score in a Course -

9 Whether Evaluation is under M.S. MS. MS. MS G.S. MS MS.Marking or Grading System

,

I10 Minimum Score for Clearing N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 50% 35%

each Assignment

11 Minimum Score required for 40% 35% 40% 35% 'C' 50% 35%Clearing Term-endExamination ...

12 Minimum Score required for N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 50% N.A.Practical/Lab Course

13 Minimum Score required for 40% 35% 40% 35% 'C' 50% 35%Clearing a Course

14 Overall Score required for 40% 35% 40% 35% 'C' 50% 35%clearing the Programme

15 Whether any Project Report Yes (in No N.A. Yes , No Part of Noto be submitted lieu of 3 (4crs.) internal

or 4) assessment

16 Weightage for the Project 100% N.A. N.A. 100% N.A. No N.A.-17 Minimum Pass score in the 40% N.A. 40% 35% N.A N.A. N.A.

Project

18 1ST Division with Dist. ("la) - - - - N.A. N.A. -

19 I" Division ("la of Marks) ~60 ~60 ~60 ~60 N.A N.A. ~60

20 2nd Division (% of Marks) 50 <60 50 < 60 50 < 60 50 < 60 N.A. N.A. 50 < 60

21 Pass Division ("la of Marks) 40 <50 35 <50 40 <50 35 < 50 N.A. N.A. 35 < 50

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"

PROGRAMMES -7 55 56 57 58 59 60 61

EVALUATION PARAMETERS CTPM CTS CWDL CWED CPLT CHE CAFE..-~.

1 Number of Compulsory 2 + Proj. 2 4 1 4 2+1 2Courses (8+6+2) (FEW01) (Project)

2 Total Number of Courses 2 + Proj. 2 4 4 4 3 4required to be completed

3 Total Credits required for 16 16 16 16 18 LT.1-6 14 16completion of the Programme crs.;rest (6+4+4)

4crs.

4 Weightage for Assignments N.A. Nil N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

5 Weightage for Practical/Lab N.A. N.A. No N.A. 25% N.A. N.A.Courses (if any) Guided

25%Unguided

6 Weightage for Term-end 100% 100% 100% 100% 50% 100% 100%Examination

7 Assignments to be submitted 3 N.A. N.A. N.A. None N.A. N.A.in each Course

8 Assignments to be taken Higher 2 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.into.account for computationof score in a Course

9 Whether Evaluation is under M.s. M.s. M.s. M.s. M.S. M.s. G.S.Marking or Grading System

10 Minimum Score for Clearing 35% N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. Ceach Assignment

11 Minimum Score required for 35% .. 40% 35% 40% 35% 35% CClearing Term-endExamination

12 Minimum Score required for N.A. N.A. N.A. . N.A. P-35% N.A. N.A.PracticallLab Course L-35%

13 Minimum Score required for 35% 40% 35% 40% P-35% 35% CClearing a Course L-35%

14 Overall Score required for 35% 40% 35% 40% 35% 35% Cclearing the Programme

15 Whether any Project Report Project No No No No Yes Optionalto be submitted (2 Crs)

16 Weightage for the Project 25% N.A. N.A. N.A. No Part of 100%the internalassessment

17 Minimum Pass score in the 35% N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. CProject

\

18 1sT Division with Dist. ("la) - - - - No Div. N.A

19 1" Division (% of Marks) 2:60 2:60 2:60 2:60 No Div. NA.

20 2nd Division ("la of Marks) 50 <60 50< 60 50 <60 50<60 No Div. N.A.

21 Pass Division (% of Marks) 40 <50 35 <50 40<50 35 <50 No Div. N.A.

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PROGRAMMES -7 62 63 64 65

EVALUATION PARAMETERS PGCR PGCMRR SAVINI CYP

1 Number of Compulsory 3+1 5 3+1 3-, :i~' ICourses (Proj.) (Project)

2 Total Number of Courses 3+1 5 3+1 3required to be completed (Proj.) (Project)

3 Total Credits required for 16 16 4+4+4+4 12. completion of the Programme (3+3+3+3+4) (16)

4 Weightage for Assignments N.A. 50% 50% N.A.

5 Weightage for Practical/Lab NIL NIL N.A. N.A.Courses (if any)

6 Weightage for Term-end 100% NIL 50% 100%Examination

7 Assignments to be submitted NIL 2 1 N.A.in each Course

8 Assignments to be taken into NIL All assign. 1 N.A.account for computation of of the Prog.score in a Course

9 Whether Evaluation is under c.s MS. MS MSMarking or Grading System

10 Minimum Score for Clearing N.A. 40% of aU10 40% N.A.each Assignment assigns. put

together

11 Minimum Score required for '0' 40% 40% 35%Clearing Term-end Examination

--12 Minimum Score required for N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

Practical/Lab Course ."

13 Minimum Score required for '0' 40% 40% 35%Clearing a Course

14 Overall Score required for '0' 40(~;' 400,{, 35%clearing the Programme

15 Whether any Project Report to Pt;CR4 One proj. Yes N.A.be submitted comprising

5 courses

16 Weightage for the Project 100% 50% 1000;;, N.A.-

17 Minimum Pass score in the '0' 40% 40% N.A.Project

18 1ST Division with Dist. (%) . N.A. - - -

19 1st Division (% of Marks) N.A ~ 60 ~ 60 ~ 60

20 2nd Division (% of Marks) N.A. 50 < 60 50 < 60 50 < 60

I 21 Pass Division (% of Marks) N.A. 40 < 50 40 < 50 35 < 50

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16.8 EVALUATION UNDER PROGRAMME IN ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

The courses under Programmes in Engineering & Technology, to be implemented in AnnualPattern, would follow Continuous Evaluation and Term-end Examination. Further, in viewof employment related programme content, the evaluation components for a course maycomprise work-related evaluation components, inclusive of field-based functionalassignments.

It is within this framework and within the framework of the School Board's approvalfor the School's proposals for the Guide for Applicants and for ProgrammeGuide and consistent with delivery system practices, following evaluation system isadopted for courses (other than Laboratory course) under programmes in Engineering& Technology.

(i) A course under a programme in Engineering & Technology, implemented on AnnualPattern, would normally be of 6-8 credits, though some courses may be of 4 credits.

(ii) A course from a programme in Engineering & Technology may normally comprisemore than one course-topic. For example, a course ET 105 "Physics and Chemistry"comprises two course-topics: namely course-topic" Physics" , represented by Part" A"of the course ET lOS, and course-topic "Chemistry", represented by Part "B" of thecourse ET 105.

(ill) Evaluation system for a course (comprising course-topics) will consist of maximumof 3 Continuous' Evaluation Components for a 6-8 credit course and a Term-endExamination. Continuous Evaluation components, depending on course requirements,may represent any suitable combination of following types of evaluationcomponents: Periodic Assignments; Work-book Examinations; Counsellingtests; Functional Assignments which in turn may include Syndicate Exercises,Work related field projects, Technical Visits etc. Term-end Examination, amongstother items, may also include objective type questions for computer markedassessment.

(iv) As a course may normally comprise course-topics, a given Continuous Evaluationcomponent as also a Term-end Examination in a course is divided into appropriateparts corresponding to course-topics under a course.

(v) Continuous Evaluation Components and Term-end Examination component under acourse will be assessed by awarding marks. A course will have total 100 marks. WhileContinuous Evaluation Components will carry 30% marks, the Term-end Examinationwill be of 70% marks.

In view of (iv) above, these 100 marks for a course is appropriately distributed overdifferent course-topics comprising the course as per credit-wise weightage of eachcourse topic.

(vi) Thus, a student will receive marks for Continuous Evaluation part and for Term-endExamination part for each course-topic under the course. To clear a course, a studentwill have to clear each course-topic under the course. To decide on this, the student'sperformance in each course-topic as above is then assessed.

Table IX (next page) gives the mechanism for deciding on "Clearance by a student ofa Course-topic". In arriving at this mechanism, University has kept in mind practicesfollowed in engineering institutions from across the nation.

182

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The students are awarded marks in continuous evaluation and term-end component asgiven below:

(a) Laboratory Courses(ET 571, 573, 574) .•..

(b) Project Course (ET 500)(c) Theory Courses

(Rest of the Courses)

Guided ComponentUnguided CompomentProject Report & Viva-VoceAssignmentsTerm end examination

70%30%100%30%70%

Thus, a student will receive marks for continuous evaluation part and for term-endexamination part for each course. To clear a course, a student will have to clear both thesegments of the course i.e. continuous evaluation and Term-end Examination or Guidedand Unguided components.

TABLE-IXEvaluation Component's part % of marks for clearance

for Course-Topic1 Continuous Evaluation ~ 45%

2 Term-End Examination ~ 45%

3 Guided Component ~ 45%

4 Unguided Component ~ 45%

5 Overall Performance ~ 50%

To facilitate statement of overall performance at any point of time during the programme orat the end of the programme, the calculation of overall percentage will be based on theweighted system and the precision will be up to the one point after the decimal. Calculationswill be carried out using the following scheme:

CIPI+C2P2+C3P3+ ....·Overall Percentage = ---------

Cl + C2 + C3 + .....

Where Cl' C2 denote credits associated with courses taken by the studentand PI' P2 ...., denote the percentage of marks awarded in respective courses.

(vii) Once the course-topic wise evaluation as above is obtained, grades will be awarded ineach course-topic as per following criterion:

% Marks = m Letter Grade Points attached Descriptionm = 80 A 5 Excellent70 = m < 80 B 4 Very Good60 = m < 70 C 3 Good50 = m < 60 D 2 Satisfactorym < 50 E 1 Unsatisfactory

Based on these grades in course-topic, a student will be awarded a CumulativePerformance Index (CPI), indicating overall performance. For successful completionof an Advanced Diploma, student should have CPI > 2.0.

(viii) Cumulative Performance Index (CPI)Apart from a student performance in a course, the University will also state the student'sperformance in courses and in programme comprising courses and, accordingly, awardDivision.To facilitate statement of overall performance in a programme comprising course /course-topics, the Cumulative Performance Index (CPI) will be used.

183

To elaborate, CPI describes the overall performance of a student in all courses in whichhe/she is awarded letter grades, since his/her entry into the University upto andincluding the latest yearly or half yearly grade sheet (only for those who are repeatinga Term-end Examination) as per the procedure given here.CPI is the weighed average of the grade points of all the letter grades received by thestudent from his entry into the University and is computed as follows:

clgl + czgz+ .CPI = -------

Cl + Cz + .

Where Cl + C, denote credits associated with courses/ course topics taken by thestudent and gj' gz denote grade points of the letter grades awarded in respectivecourse / course topics.Since multiple performance in a course/ course topic in which the student has alreadyreceived a grade is possible (as when student repeats a course/ course topic in whichhe has E grade and obtains a grade between A, B, C, D or E), whenever a new grade isobtained, it will replace the earlier one in calculation of CPI.

(ix) DivisionThe University will award "Division" for its under-graduate programmes inEngineering & Technology. The Division will be based on the Cumulative PerformanceIndex (CPI).In concrete terms, the Cumulative Performance Index is always a unique, scalar number,with maximum value of "five" and minimum value of "one". For Advanced DiplomaProgrammes at undergraduate level, the University makes following classification basedon CPI to announce Divisions:Distinction CPI = 4.0 - Distinction with first Division 75% and aboveFirst Division 3.9 = CPI « 4.0 - 60% and upto less than 75%Second Division 2.0 = CPI < 3.0 - 50% and upto less than 60%A student with CPI < 2.0 i.e. less than 50% does not clear the programme.

(x) Finally, it is appreciated that even after the University awards division based on C;:PIasin (ix) above, student may have a need to indicate overall programme performance interms of percentage. Towards this following Table X will be applicable for convertingCumulative Performance Index for a programme into overall percentage for theprogramme:

TABLE-XCPI2.02.12.53.03.13.23.54.04.14.24.55.0

Overall Percentage505155606263687577798595

For any intermediate value of CPI, percentage marks can be calculated by linear interpolation.184

16.9 CHANGE IN NOMENCLATURE OF DIPLOMA PROGRAMME IN RURALDEVELOPMENTThe nomenclature of Diploma in Rural Development was changed to Post Graduate Diplomain Rural Development as pe~ decision of School Board of School of Continuing Educationdated 25.08.1995 and vide AC decision 14.11.1 dated 22.04.1996.

16.10 AWARDING A CERTIFICATE IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT ON QUALIFYING RDD-l,RDD-2 AND RDD-3The Academic council at its meeting held on 12.10.1998 approved the proposal of awardingCertificate in Rural Development to a learner who successfully completes three compulsorycourses of the Diploma in Rural Development namely Rural Development: Indian Context(RDD-1), Rural Development Programme (RDD-2) and Rural Development Planning andManagement o(RDD-3)with each course having 6 credits.

(AC decision 19.4.2 dated 12.10.1998)

16.11 AWARD OF DEGREE/DIPLOMA CERTIFICATES IN ABSENTIAThe successful students will be invited to attend Convocation and get their degrees/ diplomascertificates in person. However, if any student finds it difficult to attend convocation eitherat University Headquarters or at his/her Regional Centre, a request should be sent to theRegistrar (SR&E) in prescribed form given as Appendix - 52.

16.12 WRITING OF ASSIGNMENTS IN HINDI IN MLISe PROGRAMMEThe Academic Council at its meeting held on 03.02.1998considered and approved the proposalfor permitting MLISc students to write their assignments in Hindi medium.

(AC decision 18.5.1 dated 03.02.1998)

16.13 EQUIVALENCE OF BACHELOR'S PREPARATORY PROGRAMME(BPP)The Academic Council at its meeting held on 03.02.1998 decided that:(a) Equivalence of Bachelor's Preparatory Programme (BPP) should be course specific,(b) Separate certificate cannot be awarded after qualifying in BPP, and

(c) Every school should come up with its own proposal of equivalence of BPP in respect ofthe programmes being offered by the respective schools.

(d) The Council approved the proposal to treat the Bachelor's Preparatory Programmeequivalent to 10+2 qualification for programmes for Bachelor of Tourism Studies (BTS),Diploma in Tourism Studies (DTS) and Certificate in Environmental Studies (CES).

(AC decision 18.2.1 and 18.2.2 dated -3.02.1998)16.14 AWARD OF B.Sc. DEGREE WITH MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

The Academic Council at its meeting held on 07.10.1999 considered the proposal. Thecourse code, course titleand credits relating to mathematics major are given below:

Course Code Course Title Credits

MTE-Ol Calculus 4

MTE-02 Linear Algebra 4

MTE-04 Elementary Algebra 2

MTE-OS Analytical Geometry 2

MTE-06 Abstract Algebra 4

ME·07 Advanced Calculus 4

MTE-08 Differential Equations 4

MTE-09 Real Analysis 4

185

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The students can take any other three Mathematics electives from MTE-10 to 14 to completetheir quota of a minimum of 40 credits.The Academic Council approved the core compulsory courses worth 28 credits as proposed .

. •,. (AC decision 22.2.1, 22.2.2, 22.2.3 dated 07.10.1999)

Thus for BSc. (Major) Degree in Mathematics, electivescourses worth 40 credits inMathematics (MTE-01, 02, 4 to 14) should be completed. Of these 40 credits, 28 Creditsworth courses viz MTE-01, 02, 04 to 09 are compulsory.

16.15 AWARD OF B.Se. DEGREE WITH MAJOR IN ZOOLOGY AND BOTANYThe Academic Council at its meeting held on 07.10.1999 approved awarding of BSc. Degreeas given below:1. B.Se. Major Zoology

Core Courses

LSE-Ol Cell Biology 4 Credits

LSE-02 Ecology 4 Credits

LSE-03 Genetics 4 Credits

LSE-04 (L) Laboratory. Course-I 4 Credits

LSE-OS Physiology 4 Credits

LSE-06 Developmental Biology 4 Credits

LSE-07 Taxonomy and Evolution 4 Credits

LSE-OB(L) Laboratory Course-Il 4 Credits

Specialisation Package

LSE-09 Animal Diversity-I 6 Credits

LSE-la Animal Diversity-Il 6 Credits

LSE-ll (L) Animal Diversity Lab 4 Credits

Total 48 Credits

2. B.Se. Major Botany

Core Courses

LSE-Ol

LSE-02

LSE-03LSE-04 (L)

LSE-OS

LSE-06 .

LSE-07

LSE-OB(L)

Cell Biology

Ecology

Genetics

Laboratory Course-I

Physiology

Developmental Biology

Taxonomy and Evolution

Laboratory Course-Il

Specialisation PackageLSE-12 Plant Diversity -I

LSE-13 Plant Diversity-Il

LSE-14 (L) Plant Diversity Lab

Total

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4 Credits

4 Credits

4 Credits4 Credits

4 Credits

4 Credits

4 Credits

4 Credits

6 Credits

6 Credits

4 Credits

48 Credits

,

i'

16.16 IDENTIFICATION OF TOPPERS FOR AWARD OF GOLD MEDALS

(1)

The Academic Council considered this matter at its meeting held on 16th November, 1993. Itwas pointed out that the Open University programmes permit considerable flexibility in theduration and that students could pace their study according to their convenience. It wouldnot, therefore, be appropriate to insist that for the purpose of identifying toppers, completionof a programme within the minimum period prescribed should be insisted upon.

However, the following guidelines should be followed to determine eligibility of toppers foraward of gold medals:

(i) That gold medals may be instituted for toppers in each programme offered by theUniversity. .

(ii) For this purpose, toppers would be those who have secured the highest aggregatemarks in the programme in which they are awarded the qualifications.

(ill) The candidate should not have repeated any course for achieving highest aggregateand has not been punished for use of unfair means during the course of his studies.

(iv) The gold -medals may be instituted for programmes leading to the award of degrees/diplomas only.

(v) There should be only one gold medal for a programme even though the programmeconcerned is offered through more than one language. Provided, however, that incase two or more students secure identical score on the basis of approved methodologyfor arriving at the· highest grade point average in a programme, all the students insuch tie-up cases shall be awarded Gold Medal. (AC Decision No 24.11. dated I"September, 2000)

The Academic Council also approved the following methodology for arriving at thehighest grade point av~rage.

TABLE -XI

(i) Calculating GPA, C: (As applicable at IGNOU)

Letter Points T.E. InternalGrade Grade Examination Assignments

Weightage Weightage

A 5 70 30B 4 orC 3 75 25D 2E 1

OverallScore

100

100

Grade Point Average for each Course will be: GPA 1 + GPA E = GPA - C

U U UGPA-C = (GPAI) 3 + (GPA E) 7

~ 10 10

Or ..(GPA I) 1

4+ (GPA E) 3

4

(ii) Grade point Average for a Programme in Courses will be:GPA-P = GPA ~ C 2 + CPA - C 2 + GPA - C2

n187

(iii) Conversion to Percent Score:

ConventionalPass base .(rnl'nimum for +passing)

GPA-Lowest- C passingGradePoint

x CPercent Score =

(The Conventional best score-Lowest pass score)

When C = ------------No.of levels above pass grade

(iv) The Best:Highest GPAP Stage 1Highest Percentage Stage 2

(v) Overall Letter Grade average be computed as under:(A) In order to qualify for the Grade average of A, a candidate must obtain a GPA of 4.5

provided the candidate has not secured any B, C, D or E grade.(B) In order to qualify for the Grade average of B, a candidate must obtain a GPA of 3.5

provided the candidate has not secured any C, D or E grade.(2) Additional requirement for the award of Gold Medal will be:

(i) that a candidate should not have repeated any course for achieving the highestaggregate.

(ii) that a candidate has completed the requirement of the degree/ diploma/ certificate inthe minimum period prescribed for the programme.

(iii) that the candidate has not been punished for use of unfair means during the course ofhis studies.

(iv) that the candidate's aggregate is highest amongst the candidates of his batch.16.17 AWARDING DEGREE/DIPLOMA CERTIFICATE FROM THE DATE OF

DECLARATION OF RESULT

The Academic Council at its 15th meeting held on 19-8-1996 vide item No.15.10.2 consideredthe proposal for awarding of degree/ diploma certificates to the successful students fromthe date of declaration of results and decided that for issuance of original Degree/DiplomaCertificate to a student the holding of the Convocation may not be insisted as a pre-condition.Awarding of a Degree on completion of the required courses and conferment of the Degree/Diploma formally at the Convocations be delinked. It would be enough if the AcademicCouncil approved the list of candidates for award of Degree or Diploma who qualified toreceive such a degree or diploma.

16.18 ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE TO THE STUDENTS OFB.A.lB.COM.lB.SC. ON QUALIFYING 32/64 CREDITS.

The Academic Council at its 13th meeting held on 5th October, 1995 vide item No.13.12.1considered the recommendations made by the School Boards with regard to the issue ofprovisional certificates to the students of B.A., B.Com and B.sc. on qualifying 32/64 creditsand decided as below: .

A mention may be made in the Grade Card of all the students that they have qualified I"year and 2nd year after qualifying 32/64 credit courses prescribed and opted by the studentsin the pt/2nd year respectively for B.A./B.Com/B.Sc. Programmes.Provisional certificates may be issued to such students on their demand on their havingqualified 32/64 credit courses in 1st/2nd year respectively.

188

j.

16.19 RULES REGARDING ISSUE OF DUPLICATE DEGREE CERTIFICATESThe Academic Council at its 15th meeting vide item no.lS.3.1 dated 19-8-1996 approved thefollowing terms and cond!~.ons for issuing a duplicate certificate and the format of applicationto be submitted by the intending students.TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO BE FULFILLED FOR ISSUANCE OFDUPLICATE COpy OF CERTIFICATE1. The students should apply on a prescribed form given below which should be signed

by the student himself /herself.2. The form should be submitted through Regional Director concerned through which

the student appeared for the said examination.3. A duplicate copy of the Degree/Diploma/Certificate will be sent to the student through

Regional Director concerned.4. The concerned student should submit an affidavit on a non-judicial stamp paper of

Rs.I0/- (earlier Rs.2/-) signed by a First Class Magistrate along with an attested copyof the F.LR. lodged by the student with the nearest Police Station to the effect thateither the original Diploma/Degree/Certificate has been irrecoverably lost, destroyed,defaced or misplaced.

5. A fee of Rs.100/ - will be charged for duplicate copy of the Degree/Diploma / Certificate.Payment has to be made through a crossed Demand Draft drawn in favour of IndiraGandhi National Open University payable at New Delhi.

6. In very special cases, duplicate copies of Degrees/Diploma/Certificate should be issuedfor not more than four times on submission of above mentioned documents.

FORM FOR AFFIDAVIT TO BE EXECUTED ON A NON-JUDICIAL STAMP PAPER OFTHE VALUE OF RS. 10/- BEFORE A FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE FOR GETTINGDUPLICATE COPY OF DEGREE/DIPLOMA/CERTIFICATEI son/ da ugh ter of Shri .resident of :: do hereby solemnly declare(1) that the original Degree Certificate dated issued to me by

the Registrar (Students Registration and Evaluation Division), Indira Gandhi NationalOpen University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-l10068 on my having passed the.......................................... examination in underUniversity Enrolment No has been lost/ destroyed.

(2) I have filed an F.LR. with Police Station and acopy of the same duly attested by a Gazetted Officer /First Class Magistrate is appendedhereto.

(3) I also undertake that if my Original Diploma/Degree/Certificate which has been lost,if put in any unfair use by the person who may lay hands on it, I shall stand for thedamages which may accrue from such use.

DeponentSignature .Address .

VERIFIC,ATION:Verified at this day of that the contents ofmy above affidavit are true to the best of my knowledge.

Sworn Before MeSignature .Designation .Office Seal of 1st Class Magistrate

Deponent

189

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APPLICATION FORM FOR ISSUE OF DUPLICATE COPY OFUNIVERSITY DIPLOMAlDEGREE I CERTIFICATE

Fee for issuing a duplicate of (a) Dipl~,~a (b) Degree(c) Certificate is Rs.I00/-

Payment is to be made by means of Demand Draft drawn in favour of IGNOU, New Delhi.

To

The Registrar (Students Registration & Evaluation)Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityMaidan GarhiNew Delhi-ll0068

Sir,

I wish to have a duplicate copy of my Diploma / Degree / Certificate (or the Programme...................................................... Examina tion for the following reasons:

The prescribed fee of Rs. 100/ - is submitted herewith by means of Demand DraftNo dated from bank drawn in favourof IGNOU, New Delhi. The required particulars are given below:

Name of Candidate (In Block letters in English) .

(in Hindi) .

Father's name (in block letters) .

Programme Enrolment No .

Examination passed in Term End Examination: June/December .

Result Grade/ Division .

Name of the Study Centre :: .

Name of the Regional Centre : 0 ••••••••••••••••••••

Other particulars, if any : .

Full permanent address of the Student .

I Solemnly declare that the particulars given above are correct to the best of my knowledge,

Yours faithfullyDate Signature of Student

(FOR OFFICE USE)

I Certify that the above entries made by the applicant are correct.\

Signature of Regional DirectorDate .

Stamp of Regional Centre

Received Rs. 100/ - by means of Demand Draft No dated .on Bank.

Date . Signature of Dealing Asstt.(SR&E)

190

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