The Common Marking Scheme and what constitutes each grade. Degree examinations have a pass mark of 40% and are graded according to the University's Common Marking Scheme. Common Marking Scheme Assessed work is graded according to the University’s Common Marking Scheme: Honours Classification Mark (%) Grade Non-honours Description 1st 90-100 A1 Excellent 1st 80-89 A2 Excellent 1st 70-79 A3 Excellent 2.1 60-69 B Very Good 2.2 50-59 C Pass 3rd 40-49 D Pass Fail 30-39 E Marginal Fail Fail 20-29 F Clear Fail Fail 10-19 G Bad Fail Fail 0-9 H Bad Fail Guidance on what constitutes these grades follows. Expand all Collapse all A1 (90-100%) An answer that fulfils all of the criteria for ‘A2’ and ‘A3’ (see below) and in addition: Shows an exceptional degree of insight and independent thought. Demonstrates true flair in tackling issues. Is of outstanding quality, in terms of scholarship and originality. Often faultless. The work is well beyond that expected at the appropriate level of study. A2 (80-89%) An answer that provides a fully effective response to the question. It should: Show excellent scholarship, with substantial knowledge of the field and an ability to integrate evidence from this in a critical way and go beyond it. Achieve a high quality of analysis early on and sustain it through to the conclusion. Use information and examples accurately and concisely to inform the answer. Demonstrate a critical and committed argument, showing insightful scientific judgement and a balanced awareness of other interpretations but not afraid to question them. Exhibit creativity or originality and academic maturity. Be very well-written and presented - its use of English and presentation should be commensurate with the quality of the content. A3 (70-79%) A sharply-focused answer of high intellectual quality. An essay in this band should have major elements of the following: Adopt a comprehensive approach to the question and maintain a sophisticated level of critical analysis and discussion throughout. Provide a clear and coherent structure, showing logical, ordered thought. Show knowledge of a comprehensive range of up-to-date material, handled in a professional way. Contain appropriate diagrammatic information, incorporated in a manner which enhances the answer. Deal confidently with the complexities and subtleties of the arguments, using information and examples creatively to arrive at independent conclusions. Shows elements of personal insight / creativity / originality. Contain few or relatively minor flaws. Be well-written and presented, with a good command of English and grammar. B (60-69%) A very good answer that shows qualities beyond the merely routine or acceptable. An essay in this band should contain many of the following features: Address the question directly and fully, showing clear focus on the subject with only trivial deviation. Exhibit a clear and coherent structure, showing logical, ordered thought and clear presentation. Exhibit knowledge of a very good range of up-to-date material, perhaps with some gaps, but handled in a professional way. 14 Display understanding and handling of key concepts: shows a firm grasp of the subject and current theory (but there may be gaps). Show initiative, the ability to think clearly, to critically evaluate ideas, to bring different ideas together, and to draw sound conclusions. Display evidence of further reading and appropriate use of examples and diagrams. Contain no significant errors of fact or interpretation. Develop a coherent analysis/argument proceeding to a convincing conclusion. Be without major blemish in the quality of the writing and presentation. C (50-59%) A good answer with elements of the routine and predictable. An essay in this band should: Show sound knowledge, although limited. May contain occasional factual errors and misunderstandings of concepts but this should not be a dominant impression. Be generally accurate - inaccuracies, if any, should be moderate. Show understanding and handling of key concepts. There may not be a firm grasp and depth of understanding of all the key concepts. Be focused on the subject, with relatively little irrelevant material. Exhibit a limited degree of critical analysis and evaluation. Be structured in a reasonably clear and coherent manner, generally presenting ideas and information in a logical way and often with some examples. Generally be well-presented but there may be minor flaws in information, figures and standard of English. Generally show a good quality of writing and presentation. D (40-49%) A passable answer which understands the question to a degree and displays some academic learning. An essay in this band is likely to exhibit a number of the following features: Should display basic knowledge but may have significant factual inaccuracies and omissions. It may lack clarity of structure and show poor logical development of arguments. Should be intelligible but may well have significant deficiencies, such as poor expression, irrelevancies to the question asked, deviation from the core issues, and limited conceptual components. May show superficial understanding and handling of key concepts and there may be gaps in understanding, lack of detail, or explanation of key concepts and ideas; some may have been omitted. Show limited critical analysis and discussion. The arguments and conclusions may be weak or lack clarity. The emphasis is likely to be more on description than analysis. The presentation may show flaws in the overall standard of presentation or in specific areas such as figures and standard of English (e.g. repeated minor spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors). May give a general impression of a rather poor effort, with weaknesses in conception or execution. It might also be the right mark for a short answer that at least referred to the main points of the issue. E (30-39) An answer with evident and substantial weaknesses or inaccuracies of understanding but conveying the sense that with a fuller argument or factual basis it might have achieved a pass. An essay in this band is likely to: Display limited knowledge, with inaccuracies. Show insufficient understanding, with significant concepts omitted or poorly expressed. Inadequately address the subject, with poor discussion and no real attempt to critically evaluate the work. Lack a coherent structure. Show a poor overall standard of presentation, with problems in writing style and expression (making it hard to follow the content), and a poor standard of English. Show only a few number of clear and relevant sentences on the topic which are essentially correct and contain information appropriate to the specific question, possibly with a relevant diagram. F (20-29) An answer showing seriously inadequate knowledge of the subject, with little awareness of the relevant issues. An essay in this band may contain: Largely irrelevant or erroneous material and be very limited in scope consisting, for example, of just a 2-3 clear and relevant and essentially correct sentences on the topic but not necessarily centrally addressing the question. Significant confusion. Very limited, incorrect or no critical analysis and discussion. Little or no attempt to order the material in a systematic way. G (10-19%) An answer that falls far short of a passable level by some combination of short length, irrelevance, lack of intelligibility, factual inaccuracy and lack of acquaintance with relevant academic concepts. An essay in this band may exhibit: Very little knowledge of relevance to the question and irrelevant or erroneous material. Minor evidence of understanding. No coherent discussion. No attempt to order the material in a systematic way. Some relevant words, not explained very clearly, but going beyond simple paraphrasing of the question. H (0-9%) An answer without any academic merit which usually conveys little sense that the course has been followed or of the basic skills of essay-writing. The presented work is of very little relevance to the subject in question or does not go beyond paraphrasing of the question. Some attempt to use some relevant words A blank answer or an answer with no text of relevance to the question should be awarded zero. FF Overall the mark is greater than 40% but the student has failed a component which must be passed to pass the course (for example, an exam mark of <40%). The student must retake and pass the failed component to pass the course. Credit allocation and conversion of grades This article was published on 2024-06-17