Assessment in Taught Courses
Eligibility for Assessment
62. Students who enrol for a course, pay their fees and do not withdraw or have their enrolment otherwise cancelled by the University must be awarded a grade in that course.
63. Some courses require compulsory attendance at classes, including laboratories, field trips, practical exercises, contact workshops or block courses. In such courses, course co-ordinators shall advise students in writing at the commencement of tuition that non-attendance, without exemption having been granted, constitutes failure in the course, regardless of the rest of the assessment procedure. In such a case, students shall receive a DC for the course.
64. Course coordinators shall advise students at the commencement of tuition which elements of the assessed course work will contribute towards the final grade for the course, and which elements, if any, are compulsory. Unless otherwise stated all final exams are compulsory. Without exemption having been granted, failure to:
(a) attend a compulsory exam; or
(b) submit a compulsory assessment element; or
(c) complete assessment components totalling 51 percent or more of the total assessment; or
(d) submit a Specific Circumstances Application;
constitutes failure in the course, regardless of the rest of the assessment procedure, and will result in a DC for the course.
Key to Grading System
| Pass grades | Marks | |
|---|---|---|
|
A+ A A- |
1st Class Pass |
90-100 85-89.99 80-84.99 |
|
B+ B B- |
2nd Class Pass |
75-79.99 70-74.99 65-69.99 |
|
C+ C C- |
Pass |
60-64.99 55-59.99 50-54.99 |
| AG | Aegrotat Pass | |
| P | Ungraded Pass |
| Fail grades | Marks | |
|---|---|---|
| D | Fail | 40-49.99 |
| E | Low Fail | 0-39.99 |
| F | Ungraded Fail | |
| DC | Did Not Complete |
| Other entries | |
|---|---|
| WD | Withdrew |
| WS | Withdrew Specific Circumstances |
| NF | Not finalised |
| CT | Continuing enrolment |
*The University applies the Swedish Rounding system to final grades.
Re-marking of Assessed Course work
65. Students who seek to have an assessed course work component re-marked should consult with the course coordinator to clarify the feedback and/or the mark awarded. Re-marking of course work is offered in exceptional circumstances only; the onus is on the student to justify the request. Cases based on calculation errors within the original marking of the course work should be forwarded to the course coordinator.
For coursework to be eligible for re-marking it must:
(a) be the original work submitted for assessment together with the marker’s comments;
(b) normally contribute at least 15 percent towards the final grade for the course;
(c) must have been formally assessed only once previously;
(d) be submitted within one week from the date of release of the original assessment result.
As a result of a re-mark, the grade for the course work could remain unchanged, or be amended upwards or downwards. Students in named Doctoral degrees must refer to the specific doctoral degree regulations for separate details of remarking provisions as the above regulations do not apply to named Doctoral students.
Examinations in Taught Courses
Time and Venue
66.
(a) The examinations conducted by the University shall be held at the places and times specified in the examination timetables authorised by the Provost (or delegate). Exams may be delivered either online or in physical locations.
(b) College-administered examinations will be held in accordance with each College’s timetable and process and authorised by the Pro-Vice Chancellor.
Written Entry
67. Students enrolled in an internal offering of a course are not required to give notice in writing of intention to present themselves for examination.
Examination Procedure
68. The examinations shall consist of such written, oral, practical, and online examinations as the examiners may determine.
69. Candidates may answer questions in the presence of a supervisor, who shall be appointed or approved by the Provost (or delegate) and in accordance with such detailed instructions as may be furnished by the Council.
70. Candidates must comply with the Examination Rules, copies of which are available from the University website.
71. No candidate shall communicate with an examiner in regard to an examination until after grades are published, except through Assessment Services.
72. Any candidate who has a disability which could be considered to adversely affect performance under ordinary examination conditions must inform Assessment Services at least six weeks prior to the commencement of the examination period or as soon as the candidate becomes aware of the disability (whichever is the latter) and supply such documentary evidence as is required.
73. The examination scripts shall be transmitted to the examiners, who shall report the results for the course according to published dates.
74. Assessments (including major tests) and examination scripts not routinely returned to students are retained by academic departments for a period of 12 months.
Re-marking of Examination Scripts
75. Any student may have their examination script re-marked by the examiners, followed by a recalculation of the final grade where appropriate. Application must be made via the student homepage; the following conditions must be met:
(a) The examination must have been formally assessed only once previously.
(b) No additional information from the student shall be placed before the examiners.
(c) Application must be made within seven days from the release of the official results of examinations.
(d) Payment of the prescribed fee must accompany the application.
As a result of a re-mark, the final grade could remain unchanged, or be amended upwards or downwards. The application fee will be refunded if there is a change of final grade.
Withholding of Grades
76. If the completion of marking and assessment falls outside the normal time period, provision of final grades for awards or consideration of Academic Progression may be deferred.
77. In exceptional circumstances, the University may withhold the award of a grade in accordance with the Procedures for Withholding of Grades (located in the Massey University Assessment Handbook) to allow the student to complete an outstanding component of the course regulations.
Specific Circumstances Framework
78. The University recognises that Exceptional Personal Circumstances may arise that make it difficult or impossible for a student to continue with their study. Where such circumstances arise after the census date for On-time Withdrawal, the University may, at its sole discretion, consider alternative arrangements. Students may apply for Specific Circumstances including Aegrotat/Impaired Performance and Fee Return consideration and in certain circumstances such applications may result in Research Students carrying forward their enrolment or students being given the opportunity to undertake supplementary assessments.
Specific Circumstances Applications
(a) May be made on the grounds of long-term or pre-existing illness, injury, or disability or learning impairment where:
• the student has a Provision of Support from the University related to their situation, and/or
• where successful completion of one or more learning experiences, assessments or examination activities is compromised by a temporary acute episode of impairment, or at the onset of a long-term condition where diagnosis or injury occurred after the date for On-time withdrawal in the course which is the subject of the application.
(b) Applications for specific circumstances may not normally be made under these Regulations by Doctoral candidates. Doctoral candidates are referred to the Doctoral Journey Stream website. Students enrolled in non-doctoral postgraduate theses, dissertations, research reports, or project courses may apply for Specific Circumstances, including the Carry Forward of Postgraduate Enrolment regulation.
(c) Applications for specific circumstances must normally be supported by an application form and evidence or an attestation by a Designated Student Support Officer of the University and normally be made no later than fourteen days after the date of the first assessment or activity for which the Specific Circumstances consideration is sought, and no later than one week after the course end date if consideration is sought in relation to a whole course.
(d) A valid application will be submitted in the manner required, meet the conditions specified, and upon grounds that are acceptable to the University. The University shall assess the application and if it is accepted, the University will determine an outcome to the student according to their circumstances and the achievement in learning of the course(s).
Aegrotat and Impaired Performance Remedies Within Specific Circumstances Framework
(e) May only be made for summative assessment or examination activity or compulsory activities outlined in the Course Guide.
(f) Will not normally be approved for an assessment or examination activity that constitutes less than 10% of the weighted assessment for a course.
(g) For the avoidance of doubt, any Specific Circumstances Remedy will not result in a passing grade for a course where Academic Board or its delegate cannot be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the student would have passed the course if they had not experienced the Exceptional Personal Circumstances.
(h) The outcome of a Specific Circumstances Framework remedy may only be appealed once in writing to the Academic Board or its delegate (normally the Chief Examiner of the relevant College) within 2 weeks of the release of the final grade for the course or of the finalisation of the Specific Circumstances application (whichever is the latter).
(i) The Academic Board or its delegate will have regard to the proportion and quality of the student’s course work as completed, whether the learning outcomes have been attained, and any other concessions granted.
Aegrotat Consideration Remedies
(j) Students who have been prevented by Exceptional Personal Circumstances from being able to complete any assessment or examination activity or compulsory learning experience, defined in the Course Guide, may apply for Specific Circumstances and remedies may include Aegrotat consideration.
(k) When a request for Specific Circumstances is approved the Academic Board or its delegate may decide to award a grade(s), or afford the student further opportunity to complete the assessment(s) or activities, or afford an opportunity for a deferred assessment. Activities required to be undertaken in accordance with this regulation must be completed prior to the end of the enrolment period as specified by the end date for the course that is the subject of the application, unless the conditions of Regulation 78(m) are met.
Deferred Assessment Remedies.
(l) Grades that may be awarded following an Aegrotat consideration on a course are: a letter grade including pass grades A+ to C-, fail grades of D, E or F, AG pass, or DC.
(i) A passing letter grade (i.e. A+ to C-) may only be considered for award where at least 60% of the weighted assessment for the course has been completed and all the compulsory elements required in the course outline have been passed (except the element(s) which are the subject of the application).
(ii) An AG pass may only be considered for award where at least 40% of the weighted assessment for the course has been completed, and all the compulsory elements required in the course outline have been passed (except the element(s) which are the subject of the application).
(m) Under limited circumstances, an exceptional opportunity to meet the course requirements may be afforded to a student through the recording of a temporary NF (Not Finalised) grade. The NF will be in place until such time as an equivalent learning experience or deferred assessment activity takes place, which shall be no later than the beginning of the next available offering of the course. This option will most commonly apply where the request for Specific Circumstances is approved but the Aegrotat outcome(s) would otherwise still result in a fail outcome for the course(s). If a student does not complete the additional assessment or activity the NF grade will then be changed to a fail grade or DC.
Impaired Performance Remedies
(n) Students who consider that their performance in, or preparation for, any assessment or examination activity has been impaired due to Exceptional Personal Circumstances may apply for Specific Circumstances and remedies may include Impaired Performance consideration.
(o) Academic Board or its delegate, at its discretion, may evaluate the student’s Exceptional Personal Circumstances and overall performance and decide whether a mark awarded should be altered, or whether to afford the student with a supplementary assessment. In this evaluation process, the Academic Board or its delegate will have regard to the student’s course work as completed, whether performance in the assessment is atypical compared to other assessments completed, and in relation to the overall class performance for the assessment completed, and any other concessions granted.
Fee Return Remedies
(p) The remedy arising from Specific Circumstances Framework considerations submitted by some students may include a Fee Return Remedy. Fee Return Remedies may be applied when a student has Exceptional Personal Circumstances and other Specific Circumstances Remedies have been considered and the Academic Board or its delegate believe those other remedies will not result in a student having a reasonable likelihood of completing a course. Whether a credit or refund is granted is determined by the University following the Specific Circumstances (Fee Return) process.
(q) There is no strict requirement for a student making a Specific Circumstances application which may result in a Fee Return to have withdrawn from the course/s first, in order for this remedy to be applied by Academic Board or its delegate and once this remedy is applied a withdrawal will then be applied.
Assignments and Examinations in Te Reo Māori
79. The Māori language is an official language (he reo whai mana) of Aotearoa. The University endeavours to recognise this and support the revitalisation and retention of Te Reo Māori with respect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Students who are proficient in Te Reo Māori and have the necessary level of competency are encouraged to write assignments, tests, examinations, and text accompanying creative works, in Te Reo Māori, subject to approval and where the subject is considered to be appropriate. Students wishing to pursue this option should make application to Assessment Services by 31 January for Semester One and Double Semester courses and by 16 June for Semester Two and Summer School courses. Students are also requested to advise their course team in advance.
Doctoral theses may be submitted in Te Reo Māori, English, or a combination of both languages. The oral examination may also be conducted in Te Reo Māori. Candidates intending to submit their doctoral thesis in Te Reo Māori, or in a substantial combination of English and Te Reo Māori, must indicate this intention within two months of provisional registration. They should supply a letter from the DVC Māori or a staff member fluent in Te Reo Māori, affirming that they have the required level of competency in Te Reo Māori, will be working in an area where the language is considered to be appropriate, and that supervisory expertise is available in the Māori language.
Assignments and Examinations in New Zealand Sign Language
80. NZ Sign Language is an official language of Aotearoa. The University recognises this and endeavours to support students who communicate primarily through sign language. In order to allow the University to arrange for the marking process for oral assessments and examinations students wishing to pursue this option are required to make an application to Assessment Services by 31 January for Semester One and Double Semester courses and by 16 June for Semester Two and Summer School courses. Students are also requested to advise their course team in advance.
Examination – Research Reports, Dissertations, Master’s and Doctoral Theses
Research Reports and Dissertations
81.
(a) All research reports and dissertations (up to 60 credits) shall be graded by two examiners, at least one of whom shall be independent of the research work, with external moderation undertaken in accordance with university policies.
(b) At the discretion of the Chief Examiner for the course, a candidate may be examined orally on the subject of the research report or dissertation.
(c) At the discretion of the Chief Examiner, a failed research report or dissertation may be revised and resubmitted once and may be subject to re-examination. Following successful re-examination the candidate will not be eligible for Honours or Distinction unless the initial submission was subject to Exceptional Personal Circumstances recognised through an approved Specific Circumstances application.
Master’s and Doctoral Theses
82. General
(a) The use of Te Reo in a thesis will follow the guidelines set out in Massey University’s Māori Language Policy: Matua Reo Kaupapa.
(b) Theses shall, unless the Librarian otherwise approves, conform with the format requirements as detailed in the Library’s Guide to the Presentation of Theses (available on the Library website)
(c) Master’s and Doctoral Theses shall be submitted in digital form.
(d) University records of the examiner’s assessment of the thesis shall be retained and disposed of in accordance with the University General Disposal Authority as required under the Public Records Act 2005. The student academic transcript shall be archived in accordance with the University General Disposal Authority as required under the Public Records Act 2005.
83. Master’s Theses
(a) A candidate whose examination includes the presentation of a thesis (≥90 credits) shall have an approved supervisor(s) before commencing work on the research. A thesis may comprise a creative work and exegesis.
(b) Before the thesis is forwarded to the examiners, the candidate, Supervisor and Head of Academic Unit shall certify that the thesis embodies original work carried out by the candidate under direct supervision.
(c) All Master’s theses shall be graded by two examiners who are independent of the research work and one of whom is external to the University.
(d) At the discretion of the examiner(s), a candidate may be examined orally on the subject of the Master’s thesis.
(e) At the discretion of the Chief Examiner, a failed Master’s thesis may be revised and re-submitted once and may be subject to re-examination. Following successful re-examination the candidate will not be eligible for Honours or Distinction unless the initial submission was subject to Exceptional Personal Circumstances recognised through an approved Specific Circumstances application.
(f) For the purposes of the assessment of a Master’s degree thesis a candidate shall be required to submit their thesis online or as otherwise agreed by the Chief Examiner.
(g) For Master's theses, if the thesis has been accepted with no emendations or amendments, the student has finished. If emendations or amendments are required the supervisor shall approve the final version. The student shall be responsible for presenting a final digital copy of the thesis.
84. Doctoral Theses
(a) For the purposes of the assessment of the Doctoral degree thesis a candidate shall be required to submit a PDF digital copy of their thesis via the student portal. For theses with a creative art component, the format will be as agreed by the Doctoral Research Committee.
(b) As soon as the assessment has been completed, and the final version approved, in the case of successful candidates, the candidate or the candidate’s supervisor shall be responsible for submission of one digital copy of the final approved thesis, as accepted under clause 82 (c), and a citation, via the Library portal.