• Section 1 - Purpose and Context
• Section 2 - Definitions
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• Part A - Responsibility for Assessment
• Dean and Deputy Dean
• Academic Staff
• Students
• Part B - Number and Weighting of Assessments
• Part C - Final Grades
• Table of Grades
• Final grades, administrative grades and temporary grades
• Part A, Final grades receiving a mark (0-100%)
• Part B, Ungraded assessments/unit
• Part C, Administrative grades (applied by Student Administration in the Student Experience Office and for which no marks are given)
• Part D, Temporary grades (should be finalised before the following census date)
• Administrative Grades
• Temporary Grades
• University Exchange Programs
• Supplementary Assessment in the Final Unit of a Course
• Section 4 - Procedures
• Support to Teaching Staff in Developing Assessment Tasks
• Notification to Students of Assessment Tasks, Due Dates and Feedback
• Submission and Collection of Assessment Materials
• Late Submission of Assessments
• Part D - Circumstances for Consideration of the Re-marking of an Assessment Task
• Part E - Matters Affecting Assessment
• Special Consideration
• Part F - Official Results
• Notification of a Final Grade and Provision of Marks to a Student
• Circumstances when all Grades in a Unit may be Reviewed
• Review of a Final Grade in a Unit
• Reporting to Senate Assessment Committee
• Part G - Academic Transcripts
• Section 5 - Guidelines

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) The University uses a criteria and standards-based approach to student assessment. Criteria and standards-based assessment requires that criteria be identified and performance standards be described so that students know the level of performance required for each assessment task.

(2) The Assessment Policy is closely aligned with the Academic Standards and Assessment Framework, which provides an overarching approach to curriculum design, delivery and support. The Framework identifies key principles against which the University plans and measures its success and identifies areas for improvement. The Assessment Policy is an example of how the Framework has been applied to assessment.

(3) In addition to the policy, procedures and guidelines, the University has published a Teaching and Learning - Fundamental Code, which it expects staff to uphold.

(4) This policy must be read and understood in conjunction with the Assessment Guide and University policies, including, but not limited to the:

1. Academic Records Issuance Policy;
2. Course Advice to Students Policy;
3. Courses and Units Approval Policy;
4. Disability Policy;
5. Examinations Policy;
6. Graduate Attributes;
7. Graduation Policy;
8. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Education Policy;
9. Records Management Policy;
10. Review of Grade Policy;
11. Special Consideration Policy;
12. Student Misconduct Rule; and
13. Unit Outline and Learning Guides Policy.

Section 2 - Definitions

(5) For the purpose of this policy:

1. Assessment tasks - include, but are not limited to: essays, tests, examinations, laboratory, clinical or field practicum, projects, compilations, productions, presentations, performances, web-based discussion;
2. Cohort - refers to all students correctly enrolled in a unit of study;
3. Criteria - are specific performance attributes or characteristics that the assessor takes into account when making a judgement about the student response to the different elements of the assessment task;
4. Director, Academic Program (DAP) - includes the Director of Academic Program for online courses, also known as the eDAP;
5. Fair assessment - is assessment that is feasible for the students' level of progression through their program, has transparent processes (ie marked according to articulated criteria and standards) and provides timely and constructive feedback;
6. Inherent requirements - refers to the fundamental parts of a course or unit that must be met by all students. They are the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to complete a course. Students with a disability or chronic health condition can have reasonable adjustments made to enable them to meet these requirements. There may also be other considerations, such as cultural or religious considerations, that may impact the capacity of students to meet an inherent requirement and may require adjustments. However, any adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the inherent requirement;
7. Mixed cohort unit - involves students being taught together, such as:
   1. a postgraduate cohort and an undergraduate cohort;
   2. an advanced undergraduate program cohort and a standard undergraduate program cohort; or
   3. a language unit comprised of both native and non-native speakers;
8. Moderation - means regulating the marking of individual markers to achieve consistency in the application of unit outcomes, performance standards and marking criteria;
9. Standards - are statements describing the level or quality of student performance of criteria, in an assessment task;
10. Threshold requirement - a component of a unit that must be passed in order to pass the unit;
11. Valid assessment - refers to the explicit and clear alignment between intended learning outcomes and the assessment methods used to measure student achievement of those outcomes.

Section 3 - Policy Statement

(6) Each course will have course learning outcomes that are consistent with the level and field of education and informed by national and international comparators, and industry or professional standards where applicable.

(7) At Western Sydney assessment is based on established criteria and standards, not ranking, and will:

1. guide and encourage effective student learning. Assessment tasks will align with learning outcomes which reflect course and unit objectives and relevant graduate attributes;
2. sufficiently, fairly, validly and reliably measure student performance of intended learning outcomes; and
3. define and maintain academic standards.

(8) Each unit will have:

1. unit learning outcomes that support the relevant course learning outcomes, and have been informed by the graduate attributes in the context of the overall program and the discipline area;
2. assessable tasks developed to collect evidence of student attainment of unit learning outcomes. The logic of the assessment tasks will be explained to the students in the form of a rationale;
3. standards developed by applying professional judgements about expected levels of student performance on assessment criteria. Standards will be benchmarked against acceptable levels of performance within the University, discipline and/or profession; and
4. clear criteria and standards of performance developed for each assessment task, based on criteria published in the Learning Guide. These criteria and standards will be described so that students are informed about the level of performance required for each assessment task.

(9) Unless otherwise specified (in the Unit Proposal Form, the Unit Outline and the Learning Guide) all assessment tasks are considered mandatory. This ensures that all unit learning outcomes and related course learning outcomes are assured.

(10) The number and nature of assessment tasks will be consistent with the unit documentation approved through the Courses and Units Approval process. Variations will only be permitted to the extent that they are permitted by the Courses and Units Approvals process.

(11) Threshold requirements may be set for individual units where they are included in the approved unit documentation. Where threshold requirements are not met and: a) the student has achieved a total mark of 50 or more for the unit, the appropriate grades are Compulsory Fail or Practicum Fail; b) the student has achieved a total mark of less than 50 for the unit, the appropriate grade is Fail.

(12) Where a unit contains a mixed cohort of students, different assessment tasks may be used for the separate groups but they must still align with the unit objectives.

(13) Moderation will occur:

1. before marking assessment tasks to ensure markers have a shared understanding of standards;
2. after marking to ensure markers have applied standards consistently. This may include:
   1. spot checking at random;
   2. double marking; and
   3. reviewing borderline results.

(14) Mathematical scaling of marks for an assessment task is not permitted after students have received marks for that assessment task but in exceptional circumstances the final marks for a unit may be adjusted for the whole cohort (see Clause 77).

(15) Attendance and engagement: the University expects academic staff to encourage students to regularly and actively participate in all scheduled educational activities (such as lectures, online activities, tutorials, practicals, online discussions); see Teaching and Learning - Fundamental Code. For assessment purposes:

1. Marks may not be awarded for attendance alone.
2. Where attendance is identified as an essential component in the assessment of a unit (for example, for professional accreditation), attendance will be recorded but no marks will be assigned. Attendance will be an ungraded essential component of the unit (a threshold requirement). Where attendance is an ungraded essential component of the unit, attendance records must be retained by the Unit Coordinator and students must be notified of the attendance requirement in the Unit Outline and Learning Guide.
3. Participation can only contribute to an assessment item provided the item and criteria include participation in a way that is consistent with the principles for assessment. No more than 10% of the marks in any unit may be awarded for general class participation. Explicit criteria for assessment of this participation must be stated in the Learning Guide and explained by the Unit Coordinator at the start of each unit.

Part A - Responsibility for Assessment

Dean and Deputy Dean

(16) It is the responsibility of the Dean and Deputy Dean, with support from Director, Academic Programs and Academic Course Advisors to ensure that:

1. assessment methods and practices of all academic staff, including part-time and sessional staff, comply with this Policy and other related University policies and the Teaching and Learning - Fundamental Code;
2. correct and timely processes are followed by the School Academic Committees;
3. where units are taught across more than one campus/mode the assessment tasks and marking are to be equivalent;
4. quality processes are implemented to:
   1. ensure timely and constructive feedback on assessment tasks; and
   2. promote consistency in marking standards across units and courses;
5. assessment tasks are aligned with learning outcomes and provide students with a range of experiences in assessment, and are implemented on a whole of program basis; and
6. assessment tasks are staged so that students have sufficient time to absorb and make use of assessment feedback in subsequent assessment tasks in the unit. Ordinarily one assessment task will be administered within the first half of the teaching session.

Academic Staff

(17) Academic staff carry out their teaching responsibilities under the authority of the Dean. Academic staff are responsible for:

1. providing students with a Unit Outline and Learning Guide in accordance with the University's Unit Outline and Learning Guides Policy;
2. ensuring assessment tasks are designed to measure students' achievement of relevant learning outcomes;
3. developing clear criteria and standards against which the level of student performance in the assessment task can be measured;
4. ensuring that any inherent requirements in the course are adequately assessed; and
5. taking account of academic integration plans in the assessment processes.

(18) In developing assessment tasks, academic staff are to:

1. ensure assessment methods are valid for the relevant field of education; and
2. assess the performance of students' work fairly, objectively and consistently against the criteria and standards.

(19) In providing feedback to students, academic staff are to:

1. ensure that feedback is timely and:
   1. justifies the mark given against the stated assessment criteria and standards; and
   2. identifies what could have been done to achieve a higher mark;
2. make every effort to be available to students seeking information regarding the determination of their results for a reasonable period after assessment tasks have been returned and after the final results are released;
3. ensure adequate records of marks and any relevant comments on individual student assessment tasks are kept in accordance with the University's Records and Archives Management Policy;
4. maintain the principles of the University's Privacy Policy in relation to students (refer to the section Information Protection Principles);
5. ensure deadlines for the submission of examination papers to the Director, Student Administration are met; and
6. in instances of suspected student cheating, collusion and/or plagiarism, ensure actions taken are consistent with the University's Student Misconduct Rule.

Students

(20) Students have a responsibility to:

1. familiarise themselves with the University's policies on Assessment and Examinations;
2. ensure they read and understand the assessment requirements and note the due dates and methods for submission of assignments provided in the Learning Guide, seeking clarification from the lecturer or Unit Coordinator if required;
3. actively engage with the learning activities and resources provided in their units and by the University to help them prepare their assessment tasks;
4. follow the lecturer's guidelines and instructions for format and submission of assignments;
5. when enrolling in a unit after teaching has commenced, to obtain the relevant information on assessments in the unit from the Unit Coordinator; and
6. seek advice if they have a disability or chronic health condition, or acquire one during their course, to ensure that they can meet any inherent requirements of the course.

(21) Students are required to:

1. inform the lecturer if they have difficulty submitting their assignment electronically;
2. keep a hard copy of their assessment material; and
3. notify relevant staff (eg lecturer, Unit Coordinator, disability advisor) as soon as possible prior to, or at the beginning of, the teaching session if they wish to have special requirements accommodated.

(22) In relation to assessment tasks, students must:

1. undertake all assessment tasks ethically, including avoiding any action or behaviour which would unfairly advantage or disadvantage any student, in accordance with the Student Misconduct Rule;
2. submit, on time, their own individual work;
3. collect all marked assessment tasks in sufficient time to learn from the feedback provided; and
4. ensure they understand the requirements, including timetables, for examinations and other assessment tasks.

Part B - Number and Weighting of Assessments

(23) Assessments that carry a weighting towards the final mark for the unit will be advised in the Unit Outline and Learning Guide and will be consistent with the documentation approved through the Courses and Units Approval process.

(24) Determining the amount of assessment given should rely on a balance between effective measurement and effective learning; assignments should be comprehensive enough to allow sufficient evidence of student attainment to be collected, but not so excessive as to detract from learning.

(25) Normally there will be more than one assessment task from which the final mark and grade for a unit is derived. A specific weighting for each item of assessment must be nominated (eg: 25%). The weighting will not be expressed as a range (eg: between 20 and 35%).

(26) Normally a unit will not have more than one formal examination administered by the Student Administration in the Student Experience Office during the official examination period, unless approved by Academic Senate through the Courses and Units Approval process.

(27) The maximum weighting for any one item of assessment will be 65% unless otherwise approved by Academic Senate through the Courses and Units Approval process.

(28) Group work will carry a maximum weighting of 30% unless otherwise approved by Academic Senate through the Courses and Units Approvals process.

(29) The assessment plan for at least one core first year undergraduate unit should include an early, low risk assessment item to identify students who are not engaging or who may need additional support.

(30) The University reserves the right to require a student to pass a particular assessment task or tasks in order to pass a unit (even if the total mark achieved is more than 50%). Where this is the case, it will be clearly stated in the documentation approved by Academic Senate through the Courses and Units Approval process for the unit and in the information provided to the student in the Unit Outline and Learning Guide.

Part C - Final Grades

(31) Students will be advised in the Learning Guide how all final marks and grades are to be determined.

(32) Normally a student will receive a final mark and grade in relation to how well they have performed against the assessment criteria and standards. In some units a student's work may be assessed in relation to how well they have performed against the assessment criteria and standards without a percentage mark being awarded. (Refer to Table of Grades).

(33) For all grades in Part A of the Table, a final mark in a unit will be determined on the scale of 0 to 100%.

(34) There are some units, including some professional competency units, where individual assessment tasks may receive marks but the final grade will not receive a mark, for example, where components require achievement at a very high level to be deemed "satisfactory". The standards required for the achievement of a "satisfactory" final grade for these units will be included in the Learning Guide. (Refer to Part B of the Table of Grades).

(35) Performance standards will be allocated in the Learning Guides provided to students. The University uses the following final grades for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses:

Table of Grades

Final grades, administrative grades and temporary grades

Part A, Final grades receiving a mark (0-100%)

Part B, Ungraded assessments/unit

Part C, Administrative grades (applied by Student Administration in the Student Experience Office and for which no marks are given)

Part D, Temporary grades (should be finalised before the following census date)

(37) Grade Point Average (GPA) - refer to the University's Graduation Policy - Grade Point Average.

Administrative Grades

(38) In appropriate circumstances an administrative grade may be applied, and no marks will be given. Administrative grades can only be applied by the Assessment and Graduation Unit on advice from the School or Director, Student Administration.

Temporary Grades

(39) Where assessment items are incomplete because of a student's illness or misadventure, as defined in the Special Consideration Policy, an I (Incomplete) grade should be applied. The Senior Manager, Student Administration may approve a J grade (Deferred Exam) in extenuating circumstances.

(40) Where assessment marks have not been finalised by the academic staff member for whatever reason an N grade (Result Pending) will be applied. The outstanding result will be finalised by the relevant census date.

(41) The R grade (Re-assessable fail) may be approved by the Deputy Dean or nominee:

1. in circumstances of illness or misadventure as an outcome of a special consideration application;
2. in adverse circumstances the DAP considers should be taken into account; or
3. in the final unit of a student's course when there are mitigating circumstances.

(42) All temporary grades should be finalised before the relevant census date following the initial application of the grade. Where a result is not finalised within the timeframe, Schools will follow procedures to resolve the grade, and where this will not be possible an FNS grade (Fail Non Submission) will be recorded with the approval of the Dean or Deputy Dean.

(43) In certain circumstances an I grade or N grade may continue past the relevant census date when approved by the Dean or Deputy Dean. The outstanding result will be finalised by the end of the next teaching session.

University Exchange Programs

(44) Students participating in official and approved exchange programs and enrolled in Western Sydney generic exchange units will be awarded either an "S" (Satisfactory) or "U" (Unsatisfactory) grade, as appropriate, upon presentation of their overseas transcript. No translation of aggregated grades from partner universities to a single Western Sydney grade in the generic exchange unit will be undertaken.

Supplementary Assessment in the Final Unit of a Course

(45) Students are eligible for a supplementary assessment item (or items) for their final unit of an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework course, which is not in an end-on Bachelor (Honours) program, where they:

1. failed the unit;
2. successfully completed all other units of the course;
3. completed each of the unit's assessment items and either:
   1. failed only one of those items; or
   2. failed assessment items, for which the total marks available comprise 50% or less of the marks available in the unit.

(46) Supplementary assessments cannot be granted where the grade awarded is the outcome of a determination under the Student Misconduct Rule.

(47) Application must be made in writing to the Dean or nominee within 10 working days of the official notification of results. The Dean or nominee will decide whether to grant a supplementary assessment or assessments.

(48) The supplementary assessment item (or items) will take the form, as closely as possible, of the assessment task(s) that was failed. The supplementary assessment task(s) must be approved by the Dean or nominee. Upon successful completion of a supplementary assessment task(s), the final grade awarded for the unit will be "Pass" with a mark of 50. Where the marks for the supplementary assessment task(s) is / are lower, the original mark will stand. The grade for the supplementary assessment must be finalised in accordance with the timeline developed annually by Student Administration in the Student Experience Office for the processing of grades of potential graduands and for the student to be eligible to graduate with the same cohort.

(49) There can only be one attempt at supplementary assessment in the final unit.

(50) Students enrolled concurrently in more than one course or in a double degree course are only eligible for a supplementary assessment prior to completing both courses where they apply to graduate with a single award only.

Section 4 - Procedures

Support to Teaching Staff in Developing Assessment Tasks

(51) To assist teaching staff develop criteria and standards-based assessment tasks, the University has provided the Assessment Guide.

Notification to Students of Assessment Tasks, Due Dates and Feedback

(52) Any variation in the assessment task/s after assessment information has been provided to students in the Unit Outline or Learning Guide, and that affects all students within a unit, will only be made in exceptional circumstances. The Dean or Deputy Dean is to approve such changes, and all students are to be formally notified in accordance with normal University communication protocols.

(53) Due dates of assessment tasks are not permitted in the study recess (Stuvac) for courses taught in the Autumn, Spring and Summer sessions, with the exception of take home examinations.

(54) Students will be informed of their numerical mark for every component of assessment in the unit unless the component is assessed as satisfactory/unsatisfactory.

(55) The results of the final examination in a unit will be available from the School that teaches the unit after the official grades and marks have been provided to students by Student Administration in the Student Experience Office.

Submission and Collection of Assessment Materials

(56) All assessments must be accompanied by a completed assignment cover sheet, which includes a student declaration confirming that the task has been undertaken ethically and that the work does not include plagiarism. For more information on plagiarism (refer to the University's Student Misconduct Rule).

(57) Students should collect their marked assessment task/s with sufficient time to understand why the mark/grade has been awarded and to learn from the feedback provided by the marker.

(58) Staff who wish to conduct assessment tasks in vUWS should do so in accordance with Learning and Teaching Unit guidelines.

(59) Unclaimed student work for assessment will be retained for a period of one month after the end of the relevant teaching session. Examination papers and final major assessments are kept for a period of 12 calendar months following the end of the relevant teaching session.

Late Submission of Assessments

(60) Except where an extension has been approved for the submission of an assessment task by the Unit Coordinator, or in line with the University's Special Consideration Policy, the following penalties will apply to the late submission of an assessment task:

1. a student who submits an assessment task after the due date for submission will be penalised by 10% per calendar day up to 10 days, ie marks equal to 10% of the assignment's worth will be deducted as a 'flat rate' from the mark awarded for each calendar day the assignment is late up to 10 calendar days. Saturday and Sunday each count as one calendar day; and
2. the assessment will not be accepted after the marked assessment task has been returned to students who submitted the assessment task by the due date.

(61) Guidelines are available under Associated Information to this policy for:

1. students applying for assignment extensions; and
2. academic staff dealing with applications from students, for assignment extensions.

Part D - Circumstances for Consideration of the Re-marking of an Assessment Task

(62) Students will be provided with criteria and standards for each assessment task prior to the task being undertaken. Upon receipt of their marked assessment task, it should be clear to the student, based on their performance against the assessment criteria and standards, why they achieved the mark/grade given, and how they could have achieved a better mark/grade.

(63) A unit may incorporate routine resubmission of work as part of the assessment process to enable students the opportunity to improve their performance against the criteria and standards.

(64) If a student does not receive a passing mark for an assessment task and wishes to discuss their result with the Unit Coordinator, the student should review the quality of their responses against the assessment criteria and standards prior to arranging a meeting with the Unit Coordinator. Normally, a meeting with the Unit Coordinator should take place no later than one week after the marked assessment task is available for collection by the student.

(65) If, at the end of the meeting with the student, the Unit Coordinator agrees that one or more of the student's responses to the assessment criteria and standards require re-marking, the reasons for the re-mark will be documented. The re-marking of an assessment task should be undertaken by the Unit Coordinator or similar level academic. Where a re-mark is undertaken all comments from the previous marker should be removed or, where possible, a copy of the submitted assessment task will be provided. Where the assessment task has been a live performance or the assessment of practical or clinical skills, the matter should be referred to the relevant Academic Course Advisor or Director, Academic Program for approval.

(66) If, at the end of the consultation, the Unit Coordinator does not agree that a re-mark is justified the student will be advised that the assessment task will not be re-marked. The student is to be made aware of the provisions for a review of grade at the end of the teaching session in the University's Review of Grade Policy.

(67) The outcome of the discussion with the student will be recorded as per the University's Academic Advising Policy.

Part E - Matters Affecting Assessment

Special Consideration

(68) The University recognises that there will be circumstances beyond a student's control that may impact adversely on their performance. Under such circumstances, a student may make application for Special Consideration for the assessment task/s so affected. Definitions of misadventure and extenuating circumstances relevant to special consideration are provided in the University's Special Consideration Policy.

Part F - Official Results

(69) Marks will be provided to Student Administration in the Student Experience Office by Schools and will be entered on the student management system. Official results will be released at the direction of the Director, Student Administration after being approved by School Academic Committees.

(70) Where a result has not been finalised within the timeframe, Schools will:

1. review the list of outstanding temporary grades provided by the Director, Student Administration and resolve the results;
2. in certain circumstances, and with the approval of the Dean or Deputy Dean, ask the Director, Student Administration to allow an I grade or N grade to continue past the relevant census date.

(71) Except for any I or N grades that have been approved to remain by the Dean or Deputy Dean, the Director, Student Administration will convert temporary grades (I, J, N or R grades) for all teaching periods to FNS grades after the Autumn/1H & Spring/2H relevant census dates.

Notification of a Final Grade and Provision of Marks to a Student

(72) Students will be advised by Student Administration in the Student Experience Office of final grades for a unit and subsequent changes of final grades for a unit. Students will not be provided with final grades for a unit by any other means.

(73) For grades in Part A of the Table of Grades, marks will be recorded on the student management system and provided to students by Student Administration in the Student Experience Office. Marks and grades may be viewed by accessing the results notice online and on official transcripts.

(74) Online results notices and official transcripts will only have marks for units taken from 2002, or in the case of Fail grades, from 2009.

Circumstances when all Grades in a Unit may be Reviewed

(75) Final grades in a unit are endorsed by the Dean or nominee and forwarded to the relevant School Academic Committee.

(76) Unit Coordinators may be asked to justify final grades allocated to a cohort.

(77) If a significant number of students in a cohort receive extremely high or extremely low grades, or if there are significant inconsistencies between groups undertaking the unit in different locations or by different modes, the relevant School Academic Committee may, on the basis of evidence, and in consultation with the Unit Coordinator and relevant Director, Academic Program, adjust the final marks (see Clauses 5h and 14).

Review of a Final Grade in a Unit

(78) To seek a review of a final grade in a unit, students must follow the University's Review of Grade Policy.

Reporting to Senate Assessment Committee

(79) Following teaching sessions, each School will submit a report to the Academic Senate Assessment Committee including a summary of the approved results for units, any significant variability, anomalies and trends, and any recommendations about assessment policies and practices.

Part G - Academic Transcripts

(80) An Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement which incorporates academic transcript details will be provided to students at the time of graduation.

(81) An academic transcript may also be requested on payment of a fee. If the student is identified as eligible and approved to graduate, this will be noted on the transcript. The academic transcript must be ordered and paid for online, using Ipay. Details are on the Transcripts web page.

Section 5 - Guidelines