Assessment

As an educational tool, the primary focus of assessment is to encourage, direct and reinforce learning.

A number of programs of the University are subject to meeting the accreditation standards of external bodies. Therefore assessment processes must meet external requirements.

To meet the quality processes and standards of the University, assessment must be conducted on shared principles of transparency, equity and fairness, using shared standards and processes.

Assessment tasks and their relative weightings for each course, together with any relevant details regarding the assessment such as assignment due dates, project topics, or assessment criteria, are included in the Course Profile.

Assessment policies can be found in the Academic Policy & Procedures Manual at http://www.cqu.edu.au/policy

The Course Profile is provided to each student (or mailed to distance students) enrolled in the course no later than the first week of term.

Assessment tasks used during term are to be completed by each student by the due date as stated in the Course Profile or Course Outline (for distance students, this may be the post-marked date).

Feedback from such assessments should be provided to each student, with adequate time for the student to respond to this feedback before completing the next assessment task. In a twelve-week term, two weeks would be a minimum period.

Feedback shall occur in a timely manner, be specific, needs-related, clear, informative, and include suggestions about how performance can be improved.

Feedback on all items of assessment work will be provided prior to the submission deadline for subsequent assessment tasks. This will occur within 10 working days of the due date (or date of extension submission date)*.

* This date may be extended a further five working days if the scripts/papers must be delivered to another campus or person external to the University for marking.

Refer to the Procedure for Grade Assignment and Feedback on Assessment at http://www.cqu.edu.au/policy

Results & Grades

Results

Results used by Central Queensland University are:

AF Absent Fail. The student has completed none or insufficient of the various assessment items and further submission of work will not be accepted.
DA Deferred Assessment. Assessment (other than a formal examination administered by the Registrar and Chief Compliance Officer) given when a student, through illness or some other acceptable circumstances, has been prevented from taking one or more of the assessments, or has been disadvantaged during the assessment.
NS Not Sat. An interim result, which can be assigned by examiners and Assessment Committees to courses where completion of a formal examination is a requirement, specified in the Course Profile for the successful passing of the course, but the student has not sat the examination or applied for a Deferred Examination.
I Incomplete. Assigned if a student's result in a course is satisfactory but incomplete.
RO Result Outstanding. Assigned when a student has submitted all assessable work, however at the time of the Assessment Committee meeting, a recommended grade has not been received from the Course Coordinator.
DE Deferred Examination. A formal examination (administered by the Vice-President and Registrar) given when a student through illness or some other acceptable circumstances, has been prevented from sitting for a formal examination held in the official examination period.
PO Practicum Outstanding. This grade is only awarded when the student has completed all assessment (including examination is applicable), but has not been able to undertake the practicum component of the course.
SE Supplementary Examination. A result given where, having attempted the formal examination in a course, the student is required to complete further assessable work, which is also in the form of a formal examination. This result will only be awarded to a student whose total mark is greater than or equal to 40%, where it is considered that completion of such an examination (SE) is likely to result in the award of a Supplementary Pass grade.
SA Supplementary Assessment. A result given where, having attempted the formal examination in a course, or all required assessment in a course, which does not have a formal examination, the student is required to complete further assessable work, other than a formal examination. This result will only be awarded to a student whose total mark is greater than or equal to 40%, where it is considered that completion of supplementary assessment (SA) is likely to result in the award of a Supplementary Pass grade.

Grades

The term grade is a subset of the term result and reflects a judgement of academic achievement by a student enrolled in a course. Grades used by Central Queensland University may be criterion referenced or norm referenced and the following ranges apply:

HD High Distinction. Used in lieu of a composite mark normally in the range 85 -100. Demonstrates imagination, originality or flair, based on proficiency in all the learning objectives of the course; work is interesting or surprisingly exciting, challenging, well read or scholarly.
D Distinction. Used in lieu of a composite mark normally in the range of 75 - 84. Demonstrates awareness and understanding of deeper and less obvious aspects of the course, such as ability to identify and debate critical issues or problems, ability to solve non-routine problems, ability to adapt and apply ideas to new situations, and ability to invent and evaluate new ideas.
C Credit. Used in lieu of a composite mark normally in the range of 65 - 74. Demonstrates ability to use and apply fundamental concepts and skills of the course, going beyond mere replication of content knowledge or skill to show understanding of key ideas, awareness of their relevance, some use of analytical skills, and some originality or insight.
P Pass. Used in lieu of a composite mark normally in the range 50 - 64. Satisfies all of the basic learning requirements of the course, such as knowledge of fundamental concepts and performance of basic skills; demonstrates sufficient quality of performance to be considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in relation to the objectives of the course.
PC Pass Conceded. Used in lieu of a composite mark normally in the range 40 - 49 and deemed to satisfy prerequisites. The grade of PC is generally not awarded in Level One courses or in any postgraduate course work or research award programs, and is usually confined to undergraduate courses of study. In situations where a student has equalled the allowable number of PC grades, the Course Coordinator may recommend the student be awarded a result of SA or SE. This grade is used when a student falls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass but can be granted concession for the deficiencies through:
  • Being close to satisfactory overall, or
  • Having compensating strengths in some aspects of the course, or
  • Having compensating strengths in other courses, or
  • Other evidence of achievement in relation to the objectives of the course.

Note: The maximum percentage of courses graded as PC and PT, which will be accepted as contributing towards the requirements of an award, is 10%. A Faculty Education Committee may further restrict this rule, or more closely define its application for an award under its control.
PT

Pass Terminating. Used in lieu of a composite mark normally in the range 40 - 49. A PT is not deemed to satisfy prerequisites. The grade of PT is generally not awarded in Level One courses or in any postgraduate course work or research award programs, and is usually confined to undergraduate courses of study. In situations where a student has equalled the allowable number of PT grades, the Course Coordinator may recommend the student be awarded a result of SA or SE.

This grade is used when a student falls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass but can be granted concession for the deficiencies through:

  • Being close to satisfactory overall, or
  • Having compensating strengths in some aspects of the course, or
  • Having compensating strengths in other courses, or
  • Other evidence of achievement in relation to the objectives of the course.

Note: The maximum percentage of courses graded as PC and PT, which will be accepted as contributing towards the requirements of an award, is 10%. A Faculty Education Committee may further restrict this rule, or more closely define its application for an award under its control.
PN Pass Non-grade. Used to indicate a pass in a course for which a full range of grades is not available. That is, the only possible outcomes are pass or fail.
T Transfer Credit. Used to indicate that credit has been given for a specified course and it does not need to be completed by the student.
S Successful. Used to indicate the successful completion of a research only course.
U Unsuccessful. Used to indicate the unsuccessful completion of a research only course.
WF Withdrawn Fail. A result given where a student has withdrawn from a course after the census date for enrolments with academic penalty. (Result of WF only applies to course enrolments withdrawn prior to the commencement of a formal examination period.)
F Fail. Definitely used for composite marks below 40. May be used for composite marks in the range 40-49. Fails to satisfy some of the basic requirements of the course.
SP Supplementary Pass. Used in lieu of a composite mark normally in the range of 50-64. Is the only passing grade that can be awarded following the successful completion of a SA or SE.
  First Class Honours. Awarded to students in a Degree with Honours or an Honours Degree who have achieved results in the range 85% - 100% (or GPA 6.0 for those programs which do not correlate with the percentage based calculations).
  Second Class Honours, Division A. Awarded to students in a Degree with Honours or an Honours Degree who have achieved results in the range 75% - 84% (or GPA 5.5 for those programs which do not correlate with the percentage based calculations).
  Second Class Honours, Division B. Awarded to students in a Degree with Honours or an Honours Degree who have achieved results in the range 65% - 74% (or GPA 5.0 for those programs which do not correlate with the percentage based calculations).
  Third Class Honours. Awarded to students in a Degree with Honours or an Honours Degree who have achieved results in the range below 65% and above 50%.

Further information on the Common Grading System can be located in the Academic Policy and Procedures Manual at http://www.cqu.edu.au/policy

Notification to Students: PC & PT Grades

Results PC & PT

The results Pass Conceded (PC) and Pass Terminating (PT) are used in lieu of a composite mark normally in the range of 40% - 49%. The maximum percentage of courses graded PC or PT that will be accepted as contributing towards the requirements of an award is 10%. This may be further restricted by a Faculty Education Committee or may be more closely defined in the application for a Faculty award.

Principles

Each student who is awarded a PC or PT grade should be notified of the significance of this grade and the effect this may have on the completion of an award.

Application

At the time of ratification of term grades by the Faculty Assessment Committee, those students who are awarded a PC or PT grade will be identified and the Faculty Assessment Committee will send a form letter to each student advising them of the:

Faculty of Business & Law - Program Rules

http://www.bus.cqu.edu.au/CStudent/admin/default.htm

Faculty of Informatics & Communication

http://www.infocom.cqu.edu.au/Study/Policies/

Publication of Results

Students' results will be published via e.rolment. Results will not be released over the telephone, and students should not ring the University seeking such information.

Students will be required to print copies of their results via e.rolment. If unable to access e.rolment contact the Student Services Line on 1300 550 900 or email prerolment@cqu.edu.au

Degrees with Distinction

The Awarding Degrees with Distinction Policy is available from the Academic Policies and Procedures Manual ( http://www.cqu.edu.au/policy)

Awarding degrees with Honours & Honours degrees

Students who have completed an initial three year Bachelor degree, and who have demonstrated a record of outstanding achievement from an early stage in the initial degree, may enter an Honours degree program. An Honours degree shall consist of the equivalent of a further year of full-time study, which will have a predominant research focus comprising at least 40% of the course content.

The Awarding Degrees with Honours & Honours Degrees Policy is available from the Academic Policies and Procedures Manual ( http://www.cqu.edu.au/policy)

Feedback on Assessment and Review of Results and Grades

The scope of this document is limited to courses within both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It does not relate to Honours theses, research dissertations, and courses, which are set up as a Special Topic. If a student wishes to appeal the grade awarded in these instances, the appeal will be directed immediately to the University Appeals Committee.

Areas covered in the policy include:

The Feedback on Assessment and Review of Results and Grades Policy is available from the Academic Policies and Procedures Manual (http://www.cqu.edu.au/policy)

Appeals Policy & Procedures

Council has established an Appeals Committee to hear and determine appeals from students of the University on academic matters. It is Council's intention that the Appeals Committee of the Academic Board will be the final appeal body for students in the University on these matters, with no further right of appeal from the Appeals Committee's decisions to the Council.

Functions

The Appeals Committee may hear and determine appeals from students on the following matters:

  1. an application to the Faculty Education Committee for a Review of Grade(s) which is unsuccessful;
  2. a Faculty Education Committee determination that a student's enrolment shall be conditional;
  3. exclusion on the grounds of failing to meet the requirements for progression as specified in the relevant award rules;
  4. suspension, exclusion, or expulsion for cheating, plagiarising or attempting to circumvent assessment requirements.

To view the full Appeals Policy refer to the Academic Policy & Procedures Manual (http://www.cqu.edu.au/policy)