2013
Examinations Ofﬁ ce
Instructions to
Examiners and Assessors

Deadline dates for receipt of information at the Examinations Ofﬁ ce
Summer School
Sem 1
Sem 2
Q1
Q 2
Q 3
Q 4
qqq
Nominations for Examiners 07 Dec (2012
22 Feb
19 Jul
14 Dec
15 Mar
28 Jun
13 Sep
and Assessors and
for 2013)
(2012 for
Examination Details
2013)
Question Paper
Submission:
Papers in Week 1
07 Feb
20 May
07 Oct
(Thu–Sat)
Papers in Week 2
27 May
14 Oct
(Mon–Sat)
Papers in Week 3
04 Jun
21 Oct
(Mon–Mon)
Quarters
13 Mar
12 Jun
04 Sep
27 Nov
Examinations begin
18 Feb
13 Jun
31 Oct
23 Mar
22 Jun
14 Sept
07 Dec
Examinations end
20 Feb
01 Jul
18 Nov
Final deadline for
26 Feb
11 Jul
28 Nov
03 Apr
02 Jul
24 Sep
17 Dec
results submission
Examination staff contacts – City Campus
Graeme Roberts
Examinations Manager
89644
Robin Bruce
Examinations Deputy Manager
87328
Mark Thomson
Aegrotats/Missed Examinations/
Examination
Papers/Results
87557
Martin Wilson
Examination Timetable/Supervisors
87749
Examination
Timetable/Supervisors
81373
Kitty Huang
Examination Papers/Results
81406
tba Examination
Papers/Results
81403
Chip McKenzie
Out of Centre/Out of Time Examinations
87176
Sarah Jones
Examinations under Special Conditions
81405
Examination Centres during the examinations
City Campus
Enquiries
87737
Epsom Campus
Judy Hand
48209
Manukau Campus
Enquiries
87176
Tai Tokerau Campus
Enquiries
87176
Tāmaki Campus
Derrick McKee
87581/2
Editor: Robin Bruce, Examinations Ofﬁ ce

Contents
General
2
Coursework
3
Academic roles in courses and examinations
6
Music performance examinations
8
Examiners, examination committees and assessors for theses, research portfolios,
dissertations and research projects
8
Setting written examinations
10
Special examination conditions
14
The day of examination
14
Marking and assessing written examinations
14
Examining theses and research portfolios (with a value of 90 points or more)
16
Examining and assessing dissertations and research projects (with a value of 30
to 80 points)
17
Disputed results
18
Results
20
Conceded passes
24
Deferred results
28
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
29
Aegrotat and compassionate consideration
30
Missed examinations
34
Announcement and publication
34
Recount of marks
34
Availability of examination scripts
35
Storage and disposal of examination material
35
Publication of examination papers
36
Examiners’ reports – theses and research portfolios
36
This booklet is available online at www.auckland.ac.nz/examinations

General
Scope
Assessment is carried out in a number of ways at The University of Auckland:
•  By tests and assignments during the teaching of the course concerned, normally
called coursework
•  By practical, aural and oral work
•  By written (or performance) examination normally conducted at the end of the
semester or year
•  By dissertation, thesis or other research projects.
These instructions are primarily concerned with the last two of these categories.
Requirement to sit an examination
In order to pass a course, a student must have completed to the satisfaction of the
examiners any prescribed examination.
Uniformity of standards
Academic Heads are responsible for ensuring that uniform standards are maintained
within their department for all assessment. Examiners must therefore make available
all assessment material (including scripts) to Academic Heads when requested.
Notiﬁ cation
Assessment requirements and other course information should be notiﬁ ed to students
in course outlines which are signed off by course directors and forwarded to Academic
Heads.
Conﬁ dentiality
Examiners and assessors must observe strict conﬁ dence in the setting of examination
papers and in the whole marking process. This applies to the marking of theses and
dissertations as well as examination scripts.
Security
Strict security must be maintained at all times:
•  In the preparation and storage of examination papers
•  In the storage and handling of examination scripts.
Deﬁ nition of “department”
For the purposes of this booklet, the term “department” also refers to any equivalent
institute or teaching unit within the University.
2
| 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

Coursework
All approved coursework and examination
details must be forwarded to the
Procedure
Examinations Ofﬁ ce by the following dates:
qqq
Coursework may be allocated a  Summer School  07 December (2012 for 2013)
percentage of the marks awarded for the
Semester 1
22 February
course, the remainder being allocated
to the written examination. These
Semester 2
19 July
allocations are the subject of:
Quarter 1
14 December (2012 for 2013)
• Departmental consultation
Quarter 2
15 March
•  Academic Head’s recommendation
Quarter 3
28 June
•  Approval by Dean or nominee.
Quarter 4
13 September
Guidelines
Summer School  13 December (2013 for 2014)
Education Committee has established
the following guidelines for coursework:
1  Stage I Courses
Credit for coursework should not exceed 50 percent.
2 Group
Projects
a  Group projects may contribute to the ﬁ nal coursework percentage awarded in
a course.
b  Assessment should be based on a combination of a group mark for the
completed work and an individual mark for contribution to the process. The
individual mark may come from peer or peer-moderated self-assessment.
c  Assessment criteria should be established and cover both the output of
the group project and the process by which it is produced, including the
contribution of individuals.
d  Each group working on a project should be of a limited size and not normally
exceed a membership of four.
e  Where marks allocated for group projects are part of the ﬁ nal percentage,
such marks should not normally constitute more than 20 percent of the total
marks for the course.
Advice to students
Before or at the commencement of the course concerned, students are to be informed
of the coursework allocations and other coursework requirements. This advice should
include dates of:
• Tests
•  Submission of assignments.
Such advice should be posted on departmental or faculty notice boards and copies of
the notice be distributed in class.
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  3

Format
Students may present all work for marking in handwritten form other than where
the regulations require a typed presentation, eg, thesis. A staff member may, in
the interests of marking and ease of reading, indicate that a typed presentation is
desirable but there can be no compulsion upon a student to present work in this
format.
The use of Māori for assessment purposes
The University endorses the right of its students with an appropriate level of language
ﬂ uency to use Te Reo Māori in course assessments, both for coursework and
examinations. It ensures that competent staff are available to assess work submitted
either fully or partially in Te Reo Māori. Ideally such staff are competent in both Te Reo
and the subject matter of the course.
For courses taught in Te Reo Māori coursework and examinations will be assessed in
Te Reo Māori.
A student may not use Te Reo Māori for coursework or examinations where:
•  a course is taught fully or partly in a language other than English or Māori and
the course requires students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding
in that language, or
•  where knowledge and understanding in the English language is central to the
objectives of all or part of the course.
Where courses are not taught in Te Reo Māori, students who intend to present all
or part of an examination or coursework in Te Reo Māori are required to give notice
in writing to the course coordinator (or appropriate person) in the relevant faculty
or department. This notice is intended to allow the University time to make suitable
arrangements for marking including translation and external assessment. This notice
should be given within the ﬁ rst week of the semester or the ﬁ rst week of the quarter
in which the course is being taught. If inadequate notice is given, assessment tasks
presented in Māori will still be marked. However, processing may be delayed and the
opportunity to have the writing marked in Te Reo Māori may be reduced.
The University will endeavour to make the results of an examination or coursework
presented in Te Reo Māori available to the candidate within the ordinary timeframe.
However, students should be aware that owing to the process of translation, delays in
returning coursework may occur.
In the event that a suitable person is not available to assess the work in Te Reo Māori
a certiﬁ ed translator will be recommended by the Māori Language Advisory Group
in consultation with the Ofﬁ ce of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Māori). It is the intent of the
University that a translator be used only when reasonable efforts to ﬁ nd a competent
examiner or co-examiner capable of assessing the work have been exhausted.
The translator may seek clariﬁ cation from  the  examiner  or  course  coordinator  if
ambiguities occur in the script but he/she must not correct errors in the original script
or make any embellishments.
If the coursework and/or examination script are to be externally assessed, the
external institution undertaking the assessment will be requested to indicate whether
4
| 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

an assessor is available to assess the work in Te Reo Māori. If not, a translation will
be sought as above.
The student’s use of language shall not be improved in the process of translation by
the correction of errors or improvement of sentence structure.
It may be necessary for students to provide a glossary of technical terms to assist the
translator. They will be required to prepare this in advance in consultation with their
examiner.
Te Reo Māori may be used in an oral assessment only when all key participants have
the appropriate ﬂ uency in Te Reo.
Presentation of the PhD in Te Reo Māori is governed by the Statute for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy.
A Māori Language Advisory Group, a sub-committee of the Rūnanga, will advise on
the appropriate usage of Te Reo Māori within the University.
Management
1 Coursework
When the coursework contributes to a percentage of the ﬁ nal result, towards
which a written examination also contributes, the Academic Head may at his/
her discretion make such coursework available to the assessor of the written
examination.
If the coursework contributes 100 percent to the ﬁ nal result and there is no ﬁ nal
examination, coursework must be available to the assessor, either in full or in such
proportion as will permit effective assessment.
2 Tests
Academic Heads are expected to make appropriate provision for supervising
tests counted towards the ﬁ nal result for the course, where necessary obtaining
the assistance of the Examinations Ofﬁ ce. The tests should be conducted under
examination conditions before the pre-examination Study Break.
3 Assignments
qqq
Academic Heads must make adequate arrangements for the safe receipt of essays
and assignments etc.
4 Illness
a  Illness or misfortune affecting written tests is covered by the aegrotat and
compassionate regulations.
b  Where illness or misfortune prevent a student completing other coursework,
such as assignments or essays, Academic Heads may take the circumstances
into account and extend submission dates or make other arrangements
(including estimating marks) as they see ﬁ t.
5  Return of work
Coursework will normally be handed back to students, but they should be advised
to  retain  it  in  case  it  later  needs  to  be  made  available  to  the  Academic  Head
before the ﬁ nal result for the course has been determined.
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  5

6 Privacy
Care should be taken to ensure personal privacy in the display of student marks
when returning assignments and tests.
Academic roles in courses and examinations
In recommending the appointment of course directors, examiners and assessors,
Academic Heads are to consult as appropriate within their departments. The
nominations of directors, examiners and assessors are then approved by the Dean
or  nominee.  Academic  Heads  will  be  informed  of  any  recommendation  that  is  not
approved.
Academic roles:
Course Director   The person responsible, acting under delegation from the Dean, for:
•  Overseeing course design, including the sequencing and prioritisation
of content, and assessment processes
•  Ensuring new research ﬁ ndings and methods are included in the
course
•  Determining appropriate resource requirements (readings, texts etc)
•  Ensuring that the course outline is signed off and forwarded to the
Academic Head
•  Acting as (one of) the examiner(s) for the course (as speciﬁ ed below)
•  Leading examiners meetings
•  Leading the process of course review.

Staff teaching under supervision may not be course directors.
Examiners
The people responsible for course assessment. Examiners are normally
appointed from within the University but there may be courses for
which external examiners are required. Staff teaching under supervision
may not be examiners.
Assessors
The people appointed to assist with maintaining adequate standards
at all stages of the examining process, including the setting of an
appropriate and accurate examination paper (not appointed examiners).
Staff teaching under supervision may not be assessors.
•  Assessors for undergraduate courses may be appointed from
within the University or from outside it.
•  Assessors for Bachelors Honours, Postgraduate Diploma and
Certiﬁ cate, and Masters courses should normally be external to the
University, but there may be instances where internal appointments are
necessary because of expertise in the ﬁ eld or where the course is subject
to a process of external moderation.
qqq

The appointment of an overseas assessor is appropriate where there is
no suitable assessor in New Zealand. Financial considerations preclude
an overseas assessor being invited to visit New Zealand.
6
| 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

Where Bachelors Honours, Postgraduate Diploma or Certiﬁ cate, or
Masters courses are subject to a speciﬁ ed regular process of external
moderation, assessors may be appointed from within the University.
An assessor should be appointed for any course which has only one
examiner.
Examina
tion

The course director, examiner(s) or assessor(s) checks that the
Paper Checker
examination paper is correct for printing and signs to conﬁ rm this on
the stationery form and the back of the ﬁ nal page of the examination
paper. The stationery form is to be countersigned by the Academic
Head.
Result S
heet
The Academic Head (cover sheet only) plus
Signers
•  the course director and one examiner, or,
•  where an assessor is appointed, the assessor and the course director.
Moderator
Moderation requires the formal appointment of a moderator external
to the University who will undertake, for all or some postgraduate
courses taught by an academic unit, a review of the content and
grading of examination papers and/or (a sample of) other assessed
work. The moderator shall report to the Academic Head as to the
appropriateness of the examination and grading given course content
and recognised academic standards. Moderation should take place
on a one or two year cycle.

External moderators are not required to sign results sheets for any
individual course or examination period.
Each course is to be examined by more than one member of staff or examined by one
member of staff and assessed by another. The Dean may in exceptional cases, vary
this requirement.
Examiners, assessors and moderators
All nominations must be forwarded to
appointed from within the university system
Examinations Ofﬁ ce by:
are not paid a fee.
qqq
Summer School
07 December (2012 for 2013)
If, for any reason, a change in
nominations of course director,  Semester 1
22 February
examiner  or  assessor  is  necessary,  the
Semester 2
19 July
Academic Head, through the Dean or
Quarter 1
14 December (2012 for 2013)
nominee, should immediately notify
the Examinations Manager on the
Quarter 2
15 March
appropriate form (AS-44).
Quarter 3
28 June
Any arrangements proposed as an
Quarter 4
13 September
alternative to assessment should also be
notiﬁ ed by the dates shown in the table.
Summer School
13 December (2013 for 2014)
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  7

Music performance examinations
Undergraduate
All students are examined by a panel of two, consisting of:
1  A member of the School of Music staff, normally the Head of School or nominee,
who shall act as a moderator for all examinations within any one semester. Where
the number of students is high, it may be necessary to divide one semester’s
examination entry into two groups and to appoint two moderators.
2  Another member of the School of Music staff, or if necessary or appropriate, an
external examiner of recognised standing in the instrument.
The teacher will be in attendance to act as adviser to the examiners but will not
participate in the decision-making process.
Part 1 and 2 performance examinations are not open to the public. Part 3 performance
examinations are to be held as public recitals.
Postgraduate
All students are examined by a panel of three, consisting of:
1  A member of the School of Music staff, normally the Head of School or nominee,
who shall act as a moderator for all examinations within any one semester. Where
the number of students is high, it may be necessary to divide one semester’s
examination entry into two groups and to appoint two moderators.
2  A specialist in the instrumental or vocal area being examined from within the
School, or from outside where necessary. This may not be the teacher of the
candidate.
3  An external examiner with broad experience of tertiary performance examining,
and,  if  possible  with  direct  expertise  in  the  instrumental  or  vocal  area  being
examined.
Performance examinations for all postgraduate  degrees  are  to  be  held  as  public
recitals.
qqq
Examiners, examination committees and
assessors for theses, research portfolios,
dissertations and research projects
These instructions apply to theses, research portfolios, dissertations and research
projects, excluding theses for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, named and higher
doctorates. The examination regulations for doctoral theses are contained in the
degree regulations in the University Calendar and in the Guidelines for Examiners
available at www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/cs-pg-doc-exams.
Examiners and the Examination Committee for theses and research portfolios, and
examiners and assessors for dissertations and research projects are appointed on the
8
| 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

qqq
recommendation of the Academic Head (except where an acting Head assumes this
role, as noted below) and approved by the Dean or nominee in the relevant faculty.
An examiner is required to make an independent examination of the piece of work and
to provide a written report substantiating their recommended grade and/or mark.
Where two examiners are required, reports are produced independently and the
examiners must not confer as to their recommendations.
An assessor is required to assess the piece of work in light of the prior examiner’s
report and to provide a commentary on the validity of the recommended result.
If the Academic Head was involved in the supervision of a thesis, research portfolio,
dissertation or research project, or intends to act as the examiner or assessor of a
thesis,  research  portfolio,  dissertation  or  research  project,  or  as  a  member  of  the
Examination Committee for a thesis or research portfolio, then another member of
the Department/School must take on the role of acting Academic Head with regard
to that piece of work. Such a nomination should be made at the time the examiner(s)
(and assessor/Examination Committee) are nominated.
For further information on the responsibilities of examiners and assessors, refer to the
section on examining and assessing theses, dissertations and other research projects
on pg. 16.
Examiners, Examination Committees and Assessors are nominated as
follows:
1  For theses or research portfolios with a value of 90 points or more:
•  Two examiners. Neither examiner would normally have supervised the work nor
been part of the supervisory team. At least one of the examiners must be from
outside The University of Auckland and must not hold an honorary position at
The University of Auckland. Examiners must be appointed according to the
Guidelines for the Appointment of Examiners of Doctoral Theses and Masters
Research Theses/Portfolios (of 90 points or more) available at www.auckland.
ac.nz/uoa/cs-pg-doc-exams.
•  An Examination Committee comprising the Departmental Graduate Adviser and
at least one other academic from The University of Auckland. One member of
the committee must have knowledge of the general ﬁ eld of the thesis/research
portfolio. The Academic Head (or acting Head) may not be a member of an
Examination Committee. Members of the Examination Committee must not
have been involved in the supervision or supervisory team of the student or been
examiners of the thesis.
2  For dissertations or research projects with a value of between 30 and 80 points:
•  One examiner (who may be the Supervisor or a member of the supervisory team).
•  One assessor (who may not be the Supervisor or a member of the supervisory
team).
•  Either the examiner or assessor should normally be appointed from outside The
University of Auckland; people holding honorary positions at The University of
Auckland are not considered to be outside the University.
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  9

qqq
Appointment recommendations must be approved by the Dean of the Faculty
or  nominee  on  form  GC-512,  Part  A,  before  the  work  is  examined.  Form  GC-512  is
available at www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/cs-pg-non-doctoral-forms.
Recommendations for a supervisor or member of a supervisory team to be an
examiner for a thesis or research portfolio with a value of 90 points or more must be
made in writing to the Dean of Graduate Studies prior to submission of the GC-512
form.
Fee for examiners/assessors
Examiners or assessors for theses, research portfolios, dissertations or research
projects appointed from within the New Zealand university system are not paid a fee.
The fee paid to appointees from outside the New Zealand university system is set by
Universities New Zealand at $125 per assignment.
Setting written examinations
Preparation of question papers
Where two or more examiners have been appointed in any subject they are to confer
in setting papers.
If any difference of opinion arises in the setting of papers among examiner(s) and/
or assessor, the Academic Head shall, after making due attempt to resolve the
difference, determine the outcome.
Layout of question papers
Instructions regarding the layout, guidelines and the examination paper template
may be obtained from www.auckland.ac.nz/examinations
Deadlines for submission of question papers
The examination period for semesters covers three weeks:
Week 1 – a short week from the ﬁ rst day
Deadlines for receipt of papers
of exams (Thursday) to the ﬁ rst Saturday;
timetabled in:
Week 2 – from Monday to the second
Week 1    Week 2   Week 3
Saturday; and
qqq
Summer School
07 Feb
Week 3 – from the following Monday to
the next Monday excluding Sunday
Semester 1
20 May  27 May  04 Jun
Dates for the submission of question
Semester 2
07 Oct  14 Oct  21 Oct
papers to the Examinations Ofﬁ
ce  Quarter 1
13 Mar
have been set according to the week in
Quarter 2
12 Jun
which each examination is timetabled.
Quarter 3
04 Sep
Departments should ensure papers are
Quarter 4
27 Nov
submitted by the appropriate dates.
10 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

Format
The standard format for a written examination is:
•  A three-hour examination plus ten minutes for perusal, or a two hour examination
plus ten minutes for perusal.
•  Questions are not known by the students in advance of the examination.
•  The students are not permitted to bring any material into the examination.
Questions announced in advance
1  Lecturers may announce during lectures, the apportionment of the questions in
the ﬁ nal examination in relation to the material covered in the course.
2  Actual questions may be announced in advance, all or part, only through Academic
Head recommendation and approval of the Dean of the Faculty or nominee.
Lecturers must ensure that any announcements about examinations made under 1
and 2 above are available to all students in the course and that, so far as is possible,
all students receive the same information. The information should be available to
all  students  by  way  of  a  formal  public  notice  on  noticeboards  where  information
about the course is normally displayed, or by written or email communication,
or  a  combination  of  these  methods.  Once  such  information  has  been  made
available, lecturers must ensure that the examination paper follows the format and
arrangements so announced.
Book details for examinations
1 Designations
Closed Book – CB
Unless otherwise speciﬁ ed, examinations will be Closed Book. That is, no written
material may be brought into the examination room.
Open Book – OB
Where an examination is designated Open Book, candidates may take into the
examination room written or printed material including books, Acts etc as well
as  an  electronic  calculator.  There  will  be  no  check  on  such  items,  but  laptop
computers are not allowed. No prepared material taken into the examination
room may be attached to the examination script and submitted for marking as
part of that examination.
Note: Dictionaries are not permitted unless they are to be used within the context
of the examination and are speciﬁ ed by the examiner.
Supplied Book – SB
Candidates will be supplied with material speciﬁ ed by the examiner.
Restricted Book – RB, HB, UB
a  Restricted Book: may be written upon – RB. Candidates may take into the
examination room material speciﬁ ed by the examiner. Such material may be
written on and/or marked in a relevant or contextual manner, but no prepared
material may be attached to the examination script and submitted for marking
as part of that examination.
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  11

b  Restricted Book: may not be written upon but may be highlighted –
HB. Candidates may bring into the examination room material speciﬁ ed by
the examiner. Such material may not be written upon but the text may be
underlined, highlighted or tabbed.
c  Restricted Book: unmarked material – UB. Candidates may bring into the
examination room material speciﬁ ed by the examiner. Such material cannot be
written upon or marked in any way.
2 Approval
The designation for the Restricted, Open and Supplied Book examinations must be
approved by the Academic Head.
3  Advice to students
All students must be formally notiﬁ ed as early as possible in the semester as to
which book designation their examination will be.
4  Publication of book list for students
If an examination is approved as
Deadlines for receipt of book details by the
Restricted, Supplied or Open Book
Examinations Ofﬁ ce are:
qqq
these details should be supplied to
Summer School

Fri 25 Jan
the Examinations Ofﬁ ce for inclusion
in the Examination Instructions  Semester 1

Fri 5 Apr
available online to every student
Semester 2

Fri 23 Aug
before each examination period.
If the examiner is unable to provide details of materials by these dates it will then
be his/her responsibility to inform students and the Examination Ofﬁ ce in writing,
and in good time, of the material which they may take into the examination room.
5  Check by examiners of books and written materials
•  Where restricted written material is permitted in the examination room,
examiners are required to be present at the commencement of the examination
to check material brought into the examination room.
•  It is the responsibility of the department to ensure that the material satisﬁ es
the stated requirements.
•  The department must arrange for the inspection of books and other written
material and ensure this is completed during the reading period at the start of
the examination. This responsibility may not be delegated to the examination
supervisors and inspection must not extend into the examination period.
•  If an examiner discovers unauthorised material, the student must be identiﬁ ed
to the room supervisor. The student may continue to sit the examination using
the materials, but will be required to hand the material to the room supervisor
at the end of the examination. The case will be dealt with under the Examination
Regulations.
12 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

Electronic calculators
1 Conditions
Calculators may be used in examinations only where explicit approval has been
given by the Academic Head.
A calculator is deﬁ ned as an electronic device capable of processing, storing or
retrieving information, which has a primary purpose of mathematical calculation.
It must be hand-held, self-powered and noiseless. It must not have an audible
alarm or facilities for transmitting or receiving information.
Calculators  must  not  be  shared  or  used  in  a  manner  that  interferes  with  or
distracts another candidate.
2  Advice to students
All  students  must  be  formally  notiﬁ ed  as  early  as  possible  in  the  semester  as
to whether or not calculators will be allowed during an examination and the
permitted and expected features. This information should conform to the details
supplied by the department to the Examinations Ofﬁ ce.
3 Designations
a  Calculators are permitted – CP
Candidates are permitted to use any calculator which satisﬁ es the general
conditions.
b  Departmental Calculators – DC
qqq
Candidates will be supplied with calculators by the department.
c  Restricted non-alphanumeric calculators are permitted – RC
Candidates are permitted to use any calculator which satisﬁ es the general
deﬁ nition and conditions, and which does not provide the alphabet.
d Speciﬁ ed calculators are permitted – SC
Departments may specify other necessary or desirable features as appropriate
to the subject.
4  Calculator inspection by examiners
•  It is the responsibility of the department to ensure that candidates’ calculators
satisfy the stated requirements.
•  The department must arrange for the inspection of calculators during the
reading period, at the start of the examination. This responsibility may not be
delegated to the examination supervisors and inspection must not extend into
the examination period.
•  Departments may make special arrangements for the supply of acceptable
calculators to students.
Changes to standard format
The published duration of an examination, as well as calculator and book details may
only be changed through an Academic Head’s recommendation and the approval of
the Dean of Faculty or nominee. The change should be submitted to the Examinations
Ofﬁ ce on the AS-43.
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  13

Special examination conditions
qqq
A student who is permanently or temporarily disabled in a manner which affects their
ability to undertake examinations under the prescribed examination conditions may,
upon production of the appropriate evidence, obtain from University Health Services
or the Student Learning Centre, a recommendation which will enable that student to
be examined under conditions which take account of the particular impairment.
Out of time and out of centre examinations
Faculty/departmental staff should not give speciﬁ c advice to students about
sitting examinations out of time or out of centre. Students should be referred to the
Examinations Ofﬁ ce for advice.
The day of examination
Attendance of examiner
At least one of the examiners for each paper must be available at their telephone
extension at the University for the full duration of an examination. If the examiner
cannot be available at that extension, the Examinations Ofﬁ ce must be advised of an
alternative contact.
The examiner responsible for the paper may be present in the examination room, if
he/she chooses, for the ﬁ rst ﬁ fteen minutes, having ﬁ rst notiﬁ ed the Examinations
Manager that he/she wishes to do so.
Examiners responsible for examinations where books and calculators are permitted
must make arrangements to check these. (See previous sections on Book Details and
Electronic Calculators.)
Collection of scripts by examiners
Following each examination the scripts will be released for marking from the
Examinations Centre. Scripts will be available half an hour after the completion of the
examination, but it would be helpful if examiners could make arrangements to collect
their scripts between the hours of 9.30am and 11.30am, or 2.30pm and 4.30pm on
qqq
the half-day following the examination. Examiners of evening examinations are asked
to contact the Examinations Ofﬁ ce if they intend to collect scripts after the evening
sessions, otherwise they are asked to collect them the following day. Examiners must
present their University of Auckland staff ID card.
Marking and assessing written examinations
Marking the scripts
Examiners are responsible for marking of the scripts as promptly as possible. Where
there is more than one examiner they should confer. Scripts are available to students
on application. Markers must tick or otherwise indicate that they have read each
14 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

page of a script, and, if possible, the ﬁ nal mark for each question should appear on
the script and/or at the front of the script book.
Any comments on the script should not be designed, as with coursework, to provide
advice or feedback to students, but should be limited to non-conﬁ dential aide-
memoires for the examiner(s).
Interim marks and evaluative interchanges with other examiners or assessors taking
place before the ﬁ nal mark is settled must be held in conﬁ dence and not be placed
on the script itself.
Illegibility of scripts
Candidates are warned that where an examination script is illegible, the examiner
may award marks for only such parts of the script as are legible and may leave the
illegible parts unmarked. Every effort must be made to complete the marking of a
script; any parts that are unmarked because of illegibility must be clearly identiﬁ ed
on the script by the examiner.
It is possible, with the approval of the Academic Head, to invite a candidate to attend
the University to read an illegible script to an examiner. In such cases a second
member of the academic staff is required to be present throughout the proceedings.
Assessing the scripts
The assessor shall:
1  Receive from the examiner(s) such information as shall be considered necessary
to inform him/her of the marking system to be used and such other information
as he/she may require, or the
examiner(s) may wish to submit;
and
Grade point scale
2  Assess such scripts as are deemed
A+
High
ﬁ
rst
9
necessary to ensure that adequate
standards are maintained.
A
Clear ﬁ rst

8
The Assessor is invited to report to the
A–
Bare ﬁ rst

7
Academic Head on any issues that the
B+ High
second
6
assessment process appears to raise
B Clear
second   5
relating to the particular course or
examination concerned.
B– Bare
second
4
C+ Sound
pass
3
Award of marks and grades
C
Pass
2
1 Pass
Marks
A pass mark is 50 percent or over
C– Marginal
Pass
1
2 Grades
Conceded
Pass
1
There are ten pass grades and three fail
D+ Marginal
Fail
0
grades:
D
Clear
Fail
0
D–
Poor
Fail
0
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  15

The pass grades may have different allocated percentages in different
departments.
3  Ungraded Pass/Fail Results
After application to the Education Committee, a course may be approved to carry
an ungraded pass/fail result provided it meets the following criteria:
a  The course involves a substantial amount of practical work (a minimum of 60
percent). The work will usually be carried out over a period of time in which
the student is expected to acquire knowledge, understanding and skills to a
required standard. A fail indicates that the student’s performance is below the
minimum level of competence.
or
b  The course is a required part of a programme but carries no points.
Note: Ungraded passes do not carry a grade point and are not included in Grade
Point Average calculations.
4 Scaling
Examiners and Academic Heads should keep records of the scaling or other means by
which marks and ﬁ nal grades are determined for a subject or course.
5 Postgraduate
qualiﬁ cations: Honours, Distinction, Merit
a  The University has adopted a consistent standard across the University for the
award of Honours in postgraduate Bachelors Honours and Masters degrees,
and Distinction and Merit in Postgraduate Diplomas.
b  The standard is:
First Class Honours: GPA of 7.0 or above
Second Class Honours (ﬁ rst division): GPA of 5.5 – 6.9
Second Class Honours (second division): GPA of 4.0 – 5.4
Distinction: GPA of 7.0 or above
Merit: GPA of 5.5 – 6.9
c  Rounding is permitted to one decimal place in determining the overall GPA of
a qualiﬁ cation (eg, 5.46 may be rounded to 5.5; 5.75 may not be rounded to
6.0).
qqq
Examining theses and research portfolios
(with a value of 90 points or more)
If the Academic Head was involved in the supervision or intends to be involved as
an examiner or as a member of the Examination Committee of a thesis or research
portfolio then another member of the Department/School must take on the role of
acting Academic Head with regard to that piece of work. Such a nomination should
be made at the time the examiners are nominated.
16 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

Examining
qqq
Each examiner will provide a recommended grade and/or mark accompanied by
a full report that includes justiﬁ cation for the recommended grade. Examiners’
reports must be written independently and there should be no contact between the
examiners, including any discussion intended to produce agreement on a ﬁ nal grade.
The only exception is in cases of disputed results. In cases of disputed results, contact
between the examiners will be initiated by the Academic Head (or acting Head) after
the submission of the reports, as detailed below.
Examiners’ reports will be provided in conﬁ dence to the supervisor, who may provide
conﬁ dential comment on them in writing (within one week) to the Examination
Committee.
Examination Committee
After receiving the reports and recommended grades from the examiners and any
written comment from the supervisor, the Examination Committee should recommend
a ﬁ nal grade for the work examined to the Academic Head (or acting Head). No
person involved in the supervision of the work under examination, or the Academic
Head (or acting Head), should participate in the committee’s discussion or decision.
The recommended grade should be based on the examiners’ reports and may be
informed by the supervisor’s comment. The Examination Committee should notify
the Academic Head (or acting Head) in writing if they are unable to reach a decision
as to a recommended grade; the Committee must not contact the examiners or the
supervisor.
Determination of Result
Approval of the result recommended by the Examination Committee is the
responsibility of the Academic Head (or acting Head). If the recommendation is
endorsed by the Academic Head (or acting Head), then that will be the ﬁ nal result for
the work. If the recommendation is not endorsed by the Academic Head (or acting
Head), then the relevant parts of the Disputed Results procedure, below, should be
followed.
Examining and assessing dissertations and
research projects (with a value of 30 to 80
points)
If the Academic Head was involved in the supervision, examination or assessment of
a dissertation or research project then another member of the Department/School
must take on the role of acting Academic Head with regard to that piece of work. Such
a nomination should be made at the time the examiner and assessor are nominated.
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors | 17

qqq
Examining
The examiner will examine the work independently and provide a recommended
grade and/or mark accompanied by a full report that includes the reasons for the
recommended grade.
Assessing
Once completed, the examiner’s report and a copy of the work under examination will
be sent to the assessor. The assessor will comment on the validity of the recommended
result. The assessor may recommend, with substantiation, a grade for the work.
Department Postgraduate Committee
After receiving the reports and recommended grades from the examiner and
assessor, the Department Postgraduate Committee should recommend a ﬁ nal grade
for the work examined to the Academic Head (or acting Head). The Department
Postgraduate Committee should be chaired by someone other than the Academic
Head (or acting Head); supervisors, the examiner and the assessor of the work
should not participate in the Committee’s discussion or decision. The recommended
grade should be based on the examiner’s and assessor’s reports. The Chair of the
Department Postgraduate Committee should notify the Academic Head (or acting
Head) in writing if the Committee is unable to reach a decision as to a recommended
grade; the Committee must not contact the examiner or the assessor.
Determination of Result
Approval of the result recommended by the Department Postgraduate Committee is
the responsibility of the Academic Head (or acting Head). If the recommendation is
endorsed by the Academic Head (or acting Head), then that will be the ﬁ nal result for
the work. If the recommendation is not endorsed by the Academic Head (or acting
Head), then the relevant parts of the Disputed Results procedure, below, should be
followed.
Disputed results
qqq
Theses, Research Portfolios, Dissertations and Research Projects
In cases where the Academic Head (or acting Head) is unable to determine a ﬁ nal
grade due to differences in the reports of the two examiners (theses and research
portfolios) or the examiner and assessor (dissertations and research projects) that are
unable to be resolved by the relevant Examination Committee (theses and research
portfolios) or Department Postgraduate Committee (dissertations and research
projects), the Academic Head (or acting Head) should discuss the examination with
the relevant examiner(s)/assessor to seek agreement on a grade to be awarded. In the
case of theses and research portfolios the Academic Head (or acting Head) may refer
to the supervisor’s written comments in the course of discussions with the examiners.
If it is still not possible to determine a ﬁ nal result following this discussion, all material
relating to the examination should be forwarded to the Dean of Graduate Studies.
This material should be accompanied by a report written by the Academic Head (or
18 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

acting Head) outlining the reasons why it has not proved possible to determine a ﬁ nal  qqq
result, and the substance of the discussions held with the examiner(s)/assessor.
If the Academic Head (or acting Head) and Examination/Department Postgraduate
Committee disagree as to the ﬁ nal grade, the Academic Head (or acting Head)
should discuss the examination with the Examination or Department Postgraduate
Committee and/or the relevant examiner(s)/assessor to seek agreement on the grade
to  be  awarded.  If  it  is  still  not  possible  to determine a ﬁ nal result all the material
relating to the examination should be forwarded to the Dean of Graduate Studies.
This material should include a report written by the Academic Head (or acting Head)
outlining the reasons why it has not proved possible to determine a ﬁ nal result, and
the substance of the discussions held with the Examination/Department Postgraduate
Committee and/or the examiner(s)/assessor.
The Dean of Graduate Studies has the power to appoint an external referee, in
consultation with the Academic Head (or acting Head) where necessary, who will
consider the work under examination and the previous examiner(s)/assessors’ reports
and any other information they feel is necessary which may include the supervisor’s
written comments on theses/research portfolios. The external referee will provide
a report on the work under examination and the examination process and will
recommend a grade for the work. This grade will be the ﬁ nal result.
All written examination papers and coursework subject to formal
assessment
The following instructions apply to all written examinations and to coursework
in undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses that are subject to formal
assessment.
1  Disputes among examiners and/or assessors
In the event of a dispute among examiners or examiners and assessors which
cannot be resolved among themselves, the matter should be referred to the
Academic Head for resolution in negotiation with the examiner(s) and assessor(s).
All documents relating to the examination and assessment and to the dispute shall
be made available to the Academic Head. The Academic Head may call for further  qqq
written reports from the examiner(s) and any assessor(s). In such a case, all prior
documentation should be made available to each examiner and assessor. The
Academic Head, having considered all the documentation, shall provide a written
report to all parties setting out his/her ﬁ ndings and proposing a resolution. All
parties must agree to this resolution in writing before it can be adopted.
In the event that no agreement can be reached among the Academic Head,
the examiners and any assessor, all documentation relating to the examination,
assessment and dispute, shall be referred by the Academic Head to the Dean of
Faculty.
The Dean of the Faculty or the Dean’s nominee will, after reviewing the
documentation and making any other enquiries he/she considers necessary and
appropriate, propose a resolution in writing to all parties. All parties must agree
to this proposal in writing before it can be adopted.
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  19

2  Disputes where an Academic Head is an examiner or assessor
In cases where the Academic Head is an examiner or assessor, the Dean of the
Faculty or nominee shall act as the Academic Head. If the Dean or the Dean’s
nominee is unable to resolve the dispute, the matter will be referred to a referee
as under 4.
3  Dispute with the Academic Head
An Academic Head may, in pursuit of his/her duty of maintaining standards,
review examination scripts and results. If he/she sees reason to object, the matter
should be discussed with the examiner(s) and assessor(s).
If no agreement is reached, the Academic Head shall call for written reports from
the examiner(s) and assessor(s), and shall state in writing his/her own grounds for
objection. All of these documents shall be made available to the examiner(s) and
assessor(s) for the purpose of further comment which must be in writing.
In the event that no agreement can be reached among the Academic Head, the
examiner(s) and any assessor(s), all documentation relating to the examination,
assessment and dispute shall be referred by the Academic Head to the Dean of
Faculty. The Dean of the Faculty or the Dean’s nominee will, after reviewing the
documentation and making any other enquiries he/she considers necessary and
appropriate, propose a resolution in writing to all parties. All parties must agree
to this proposal in writing before it can be adopted.
4 Referee
In any of the above cases, where there is still no agreement, the Dean shall refer
the matter and all documentation to the Chair of Education Committee who shall
act as referee or appoint an appropriate independent academic as a referee to
consider the script or scripts and documentation and such further information as
he/she shall call for.
The referee shall determine the marks or results to be awarded. This determination
shall be ﬁ nal.
Results
Submission of ﬁ nal grades
1  For a single course
a  For each class, enter a grade for each student.
b  Enter NA when the grade is not immediately available but expected at a
later date. The ﬁ nal grade must be submitted within the deadlines for results
submission (see pg. 22).
c  Enter DNS in all instances if the student did not sit the exam.
d  DNC (Did Not Complete) is to be entered in the following circumstances:
•  where a student has gained more than 50 percent in a course but has not
completed the approved compulsory coursework
or
20 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

•  where a student has gained less than 50 percent in an internally assessed
course because of the failure to complete coursework but the entry of a fail
grade would inappropriately represent the reasons for failure or the level of
achievement.
e  Where a student has applied for aegrotat or compassionate consideration,
the result returned on the result sheet must be for the work actually submitted
at the examination. If the student has been absent for any paper, the result
sheet must record DNS even though the examiner may intend to recommend
an aegrotat or compassionate grade.
f  The Examinations Ofﬁ ce will enter NAX on the student record when the script
has been retained for misconduct investigation.
2  Return of results
Results for classes with more than ﬁ ve students should be sent electronically
in  an  approved  format  to  the  Examinations  Ofﬁ ce  via  Cecil.  Instructions  on
presentation of results are available from departmental administrators or the
Examinations Ofﬁ ce. Results for classes of ﬁ ve students or less do not need to
be sent electronically – a hard copy is sufﬁ cient. All electronically entered results
must also be accompanied by a hard copy printout of the results together with a
cover sheet which must be signed. For signature details see pg. 22. Each page of
the results and the cover sheet must be signed by the examiner(s) and assessor
(if applicable).
3  Individually assessed results
Where undergraduate results are individually assessed, an AS-65 form is available
at www.staff.auckland.ac.nz/forms.
4  Undergraduate Bachelors Honours results
The class of honours for students completing Bachelors Honours undergraduate
degrees should be returned to the Records, Enrolment and Fees Ofﬁ ce on an
AS-69 form available at www.staff.auckland.ac.nz/forms.
5  Final results for Masters degrees
a  Masters results which include theses, dissertations, research portfolios and/or
research projects should be submitted on a GC-512 form. This form consists of
two parts:
Part A: appointment of examiners etc.
Part B: recording of grades and class of honours.
Once  both  sections  are  completed,  the  form  must  be  sent  to  the  Masters
Administration Ofﬁ cer, Graduate Centre.
Academic Heads should ensure that all sections of the form are completed.
Notes:
•  Enter the thesis, dissertation etc, grade, P or F, overall grade for the degree
and class of honours in appropriate sections.
•  Obtain signatures of all the appointed examiners and assessors for the thesis
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  21

or dissertation etc. (Alternatively, signed and graded Examiners’ Reports
may be attached to the GC-512.)
b  Results for Masters degrees completed by courses only should be entered on
an GC-512a form. Forms are available at: www.staff.auckland.ac.nz/forms.
Discrepancies
If a discrepancy is found in the schedule of students listed on the result sheets,
corrections to the list (eg, additions or deletions)  should  be  made  directly  on  the
result sheets.
Signing
Every result sheet page must be signed by the examiner or examiners nominated,
with names clearly printed after the signatures. The Academic Head should sign the
cover sheet only.
If an assessor was appointed, the result sheets must also be signed by the assessor.
If the assessor is appointed from overseas, the Academic Head may sign the sheet
on receipt of the overseas assessor’s written assent and attach a copy of their report
to the result sheet.
Delivery
Signed result sheets, when completed, shall be handed in to the Examinations Ofﬁ ce,
Room 144, The ClockTower.
Result sheets must not be sent in the internal mail but must be hand delivered.
Changes to results
Any changes to grades after the results sheets have been delivered to the
Examinations Ofﬁ ce are to be submitted on Form AS-58. The changes must be signed
by the Academic Head and the examiners nominated to sign results for that course.
Deadlines for results submission
Deadline dates for return of result sheets
Taught courses:
to the Examinations Ofﬁ ce
1  Any results not submitted by the
Summer School
Tuesday 26 February
deadline speciﬁ ed in the Instructions
qqq
to Examiners and Assessors will be
Semester 1
Thursday 11 July
notiﬁ ed to Education Committee.
Semester 2
Thursday 28 November
2
If, because of exceptional  Quarter 1
Wednesday 03 April
circumstances, a result cannot be
submitted within a fortnight of the
Quarter 2
Tuesday 02 July
deadline, the department must
Quarter 3
Tuesday 24 September
apply through its faculty ofﬁ ce to
Quarter 4
Tuesday 17 December
the Examinations Ofﬁ
ce on the
appropriate form for approval of late
Earlier submission of results is encouraged.
submission for a period of up to three
However, the date noted above is the ﬁ nal
months. The application must state  deadline for each semester.
22 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

the exceptional circumstances which have caused this situation and specify the
date by which the result will be submitted.
3  Applications will be approved if the result is unable to be submitted for the
following reasons:
•  Deferred results that are permitted under the Examination Regulations
•  Non-standard coursework dates
•  Late timing of practicums/practical examinations
•  Illness or other incapacity of an examiner or assessor
•  An approved extension awarded to the student for the submission of
coursework
•  Study abroad courses
•  A paper with more than 250 students scheduled in the last three days of the
examination period.
4  The Examinations Ofﬁ ce will approve applications that meet the above criteria.
Any applications falling outside of these criteria will be submitted to the
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) for consideration.
5  If the result has not been submitted within three months of the deadline, a
DNC grade will be entered.
Research courses of between 30 and 80 points:
1  The result must be submitted within three months of either the last day of the
semester in which the student was enrolled in the course or the last day of an
approved and enrolled extension.
2  If, because of exceptional circumstances, a result cannot be submitted within three
months, the department must apply through its faculty ofﬁ ce to the Examinations
Ofﬁ ce on the appropriate form for approval for late submission for a period of up
to one year after the last day of the semester in which the course was enrolled or
the last day of an approved and enrolled extension. The application must state the
circumstances and specify the date by which the result will be submitted.
3  Applications  will  be  approved  if  the  result  is  unable  to  be  submitted  for  the
following reasons:
•  Illness or other incapacity of an examiner or assessor
•  Dispute over the result.
4  The Examinations Ofﬁ ce will approve applications that meet the above criteria.
Any applications falling outside of these criteria will be submitted to the Dean of
Graduate Studies for consideration.
5  If the result has not been submitted within one year of the deadline for the course,
a DNC grade will be entered.
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  23

Conceded passes
1  For the degrees of:
Bachelor of Arts – BA
Bachelor of Business and Information Management – BBIM
Bachelor of Commerce – BCom
Bachelor of Dance Studies – BDanceSt
Bachelor of Education (Teaching) – BEd(Tchg)
Bachelor of Health Sciences – BHSc
Bachelor of Human Services – BHumServ
Bachelor of Music – BMus
Bachelor of Performing Arts – BPerfArts
Bachelor of Physical Education – BPE
Bachelor of Property – BProp
Bachelor of Science – BSc
Bachelor of Social Sciences (Human Services) – BSocSci(Human Services)
Bachelor of Social Work – BSW
Bachelor of Theology – BTheol
Conceded passes will be awarded by the Dean of the Faculty or relevant Board of
Examiners, in accordance with the following provisions:
One course to a maximum value of 30 points may be conceded provided:
(i)  the concession will allow the student to complete the degree
(ii) the course conceded is not a course counting towards the student’s major
requirements
(iii) the student obtained a grade of D+ in the course
(iv) the result was achieved in the last two semesters of enrolment, one of which
may be a Summer School.
Note: A conceded pass will not be given for a course failed at another university.
2  For the degree of LLB:
Conceded passes will be awarded by the Dean of the Faculty or relevant Board of
Examiners, in accordance with the following provisions:
(i)  one course to a maximum value of 20 points may be conceded
(ii)  the concession will allow the student to complete the degree
(iii) the course is not one of the core law subjects prescribed by the New Zealand
Council of Legal Education
(iv) the student obtained a grade of D+ in the course
(v)  the result was achieved in the last two semesters of enrolment, one of which
may be a Summer School.
24 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

3  For the degrees of:
Bachelor of Architectural Studies – BAS
Bachelor of Architecture – BArch
Bachelor of Engineering – BE
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – BE(Hons)
Bachelor of Fine Arts – BFA
Bachelor of Optometry – BOptom
Bachelor of Planning – BPlan
Bachelor of Technology – BTech
Bachelor of Visual Arts – BVA
Conceded passes will be awarded by the Dean of the Faculty or relevant Board of
Examiners, in accordance with the following provisions:
(i)  that by the award of a conceded pass the student will complete a Part or all
courses enrolled for in that year
and
(ii) a maximum of 20 points per Part and a maximum of 20 points in any one
academic year may be conceded
and
(iii) that to be eligible for the award of a conceded pass in any course the student
must have achieved a grade of D+ and an overall GPA of 2.5 or better in that
year.
4  For the degree of BEd(TESOL)
Conceded passes will be awarded by the Dean of the Faculty or relevant Board of
Examiners, in accordance with the following provisions:
(i)  that by award of a conceded pass the student will complete that Part
and
(ii)  a maximum of 15 points in any one Part be conceded
and
(iii) that to be eligible for the award of a conceded pass the student must have
achieved a grade of D+ in that course (or courses) and an overall GPA of 2.5 or
better in that Part.
Where a candidate has a fail grade of D+ in a course (or courses) and the
Examiners deem that the failure(s) may be redeemable by satisfactory completion
of additional work, then a pass in that Part may be awarded under the following
provisions:
(iv) that the award of a grade for that course (or courses) be deferred until a
prescribed course of additional study and/or examination be completed to the
satisfaction of the Examiners
and
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  25

(v)  deferred results be limited to a maximum of 15 points in any Part
and
(vi) that to be eligible for a deferred result a student must achieve an overall GPA
of 2.5 or better
and
(viii)   that the reassessed grade in that course (or courses) be no greater than a
grade of C+.
5  Medical and Health Sciences
a  For the degree of MBChB, Part III:
Conceded passes will be awarded by the Dean of the Faculty or relevant Board
of Examiners, in accordance with the following provisions:
(i)  that by award of a conceded pass the student will complete Part III
qqq
and
(ii)  one course to a maximum value of 30 points be conceded
and
(iii) that to be eligible for the award of a conceded pass the student must have
achieved a grade of D+ in that course (or courses) and an overall GPA of
2.5 or better.
Where a candidate has a fail grade of D or D+ in a course (or courses) and
the Examiners deem that the failure(s) may be redeemable by satisfactory
completion of additional work then a pass may be awarded under the following
provisions:
(iv) that the award of a grade for that course (or courses) be deferred until a
prescribed course of additional study and/or examination be completed to
the satisfaction of the Examiners
and
(v) deferred results be limited to no more than two courses with a total
maximum value of 45 points
and
(vi) that to be eligible for a deferred result a student must achieve an overall
GPA of 2.5 or better
and
(vii) that the reassessed grade in that course (or courses) be no greater than a
grade of C+.
b  For the degree of BNurs, Part I:
Conceded passes will be awarded by the Dean of the Faculty or relevant Board
of Examiners, in accordance with the following provisions:
(i)  that by award of a conceded pass the student will complete that Part
and
26 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

(ii)  a maximum of 30 points in the Part be conceded
and
(iii) that to be eligible for the award of a conceded pass the student must have
achieved a grade of D+ in that course (or courses) and an overall GPA of
2.5 or better in the Part.
Where a candidate has a fail grade of D or D+ in a course (or courses) and
the Examiners deem that the failure(s) may be redeemable by satisfactory
completion of additional work then a pass in that Part may be awarded under
the following provisions:
(iv) that the award of a grade for that course (or courses) be deferred until a
prescribed course of additional study and/or examination be completed to
the satisfaction of the Examiners
and
(v)  deferred results be limited to a maximum of 30 points in any Part
and
(vi) that to be eligible for a deferred result a student must achieve an overall
GPA of 2.5 or better
and
(vii) that the reassessed grade in that course (or courses) be no greater than a
grade of C+.
c  For the degree of BPharm:
Conceded passes will be awarded by the Dean of the Faculty or relevant Board
of Examiners, in accordance with the following provisions:
(i)  that by award of a conceded pass the student will complete that Part
and
(ii)  a maximum of 15 points in any one Part be conceded
and
(iii) that to be eligible for the award of a conceded pass the student must have
achieved a grade of D+ in that course (or courses) and an overall GPA of
2.5 or better in that Part
and
(iv) a maximum of two conceded passes are awarded for the degree.
Where a candidate has a fail grade of D or D+ in a course (or courses) and
the Examiners deem that the failure(s) may be redeemable by satisfactory
completion of additional work then a pass in that Part may be awarded under
the following provisions:
(v)  that the award of a grade for that course (or courses) be deferred until a
prescribed course of additional study and/or examination be completed to
the satisfaction of the Examiners
and
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  27

(vi) deferred results be limited to a maximum of 30 points in any Part
and
(vii) that to be eligible for a deferred result a student must achieve an overall
GPA of 2.5 or better
and
(viii) that the reassessed grade in that course (or courses) be no greater than a
grade of C+.
6 Undergraduate
diplomas
For all undergraduate diplomas comprising  240  points  or  more  a  conceded
pass may be awarded by a meeting of the Examiners for the Faculty concerned,
provided that the Dean of the Faculty has power to award where such power is
authorised by the Examiners, in accordance with the following provisions.
One course to a maximum value of 20 points may be conceded provided:
(i)  that the conceded pass may only be awarded where it would permit the
student to complete his/her diploma
and
(ii)  that the student has obtained a grade of D+ in that course.
7 Conjoint
degrees
For all conjoint degrees consideration for the award of conceded passes shall be
in accordance with the provisions for the particular component degree as set out
in clauses 1 to 3 of this section.
Deferred results
qqq
1  Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
MBChB Parts II, IV and V
Where a student has not achieved a pass in a particular component or components
of a Part the Examiners may withhold the result pending the completion of
speciﬁ ed additional work and/or examination to the satisfaction of the Examiners.
If in the opinion of the Examiners for MBChB a particular weakness in a component
or components is such that it cannot be addressed by the setting of additional
work and/or examination, the student will fail that Part.
MBChB Part VI
Where a student has not achieved a pass in a particular component or components
of this Part, the Examiners may withhold the result and require a further period
of assignment to a department. This will involve postponement of qualiﬁ cation.
If in the opinion of the Board of MBChB Examiners a particular weakness in a
component or components is such that it cannot be, or has not been, addressed
by this additional work, the student will fail the Part.
28 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

2  Bachelor of Nursing
qqq
BNurs Parts II, III
Where unsatisfactory performance occurs in the clinical practice component
of courses in Part II and Part III of the programme, the result of the course will
be deferred. In these circumstances, the candidate will be required to complete
additional work to the satisfaction of the examiners.
3  Bachelor of Optometry
Where a weakness occurs in the clinical practice component in certain double-
semester Stage III and Stage IV courses, the result of the course or courses will
be deferred. In these circumstances, the candidate will be required to complete
additional work to the satisfaction of the examiners. The work will be examined in
the following February.
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
A student who fails any year of the course may be declined permission to enrol
again  in  that  year  of  the  course  or  in  the  course  as  a  whole.  Where  such  action
is contemplated, the Academic Head will establish a Review Panel to review the
student’s results, any matters raised in relation to their clinical performance and any
submissions the student may wish to make. The Review Panel will take into account
the course requirements and admission requirements for the next year. The Review
Panel will normally consist of:
a  the Director, Professional Psychology Unit
and
b  a suitably experienced Department of Psychology staff member not from the
Professional Psychology Unit
and
c  a member of the Advisory Committee to the Clinical Psychology Programme
(who is by deﬁ nition a senior practitioner in the ﬁ eld).
The Review Panel shall submit to the Academic Head its recommendation and state
the reasons for that recommendation. The Academic Head shall give the student
the opportunity to make a submission on both the recommendation and the reasons
for that recommendation. The Academic Head will consider the recommendation of
the Review Panel and will then make a recommendation to the Dean of the Faculty.
If the student is declined permission to enrol again, the Academic Head shall
provide the student with written reasons for that decision. In the case where the
Academic Head recommends the course or part of the course should be repeated, the
recommendation to the Dean will set down the requirements to be satisﬁ ed.
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  29

Aegrotat and compassionate consideration
The regulations are set out in the Examination Regulations in the University Calendar.
These notes should be read in conjunction with those regulations.
Scope
The regulations apply to work which counts towards the ﬁ nal result for a course and
is performed under examination conditions at a speciﬁ ed place and time, with the
exception of performance examinations.
The categories to be considered are:
1  Final written examinations
2  Formal practical or oral examinations
3  Final submissions in the practical and studio work in the Faculty of Creative Arts
and Industries
4 Written
tests.
Advice to Students
Students should be advised to enquire about aegrotat or compassionate consideration
if temporary illness or injury, or exceptional circumstances beyond their control, have
prevented them from sitting an examination, or seriously impaired their examination
preparation or their examination performance. They should contact the Examinations
Ofﬁ ce or the University Health Services for application forms and advice. The
requirements are stringent, and it is essential that students follow the correct
procedures which are fully explained on the forms and in the Examination Instructions
available online to every candidate before each examination period.
Sitting examinations
Students should be encouraged to sit examinations if at all possible. Medical or other
evidence must establish that a student is physically or mentally incapable of sitting
an examination. It is not sufﬁ cient for the student to be unwell or to be faced with
trying circumstances. Even if a student is advised by their lecturer or doctor not to
sit, the University’s medical or counselling advisers will not approve a DNS unless the
evidence justiﬁ es it.
Students with disabilities or temporary conditions affecting their ability to sit
examinations under normal conditions can apply to sit under special conditions,
eg, extra time, a writer, special equipment, separate room. (See pg. 14, Special
examination conditions.)
Method of application
1  Aegrotat consideration (temporary illness or injury)
Students should complete the application form and see a registered medical
doctor on the day of the examination, while they are unwell, so that an accurate
diagnosis can be made for the medical certiﬁ cate. If preparation for the
30 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

examination is impaired, see a registered medical doctor within the fortnight
before the examination.
2  Compassionate consideration (other exceptional circumstances)
Students should complete the application form and see a counsellor at the
University Health Services on the day of the examination, so that the counsellor
can assess the circumstances, or if preparation for the examination is impaired,
see a counsellor within the fortnight before the examination.
3 Application
deadlines
Completed application forms must be returned to the University Health Services
no later than one week after the examination. If more than one examination
is affected, the closing date is one week after the last examination affected.
Students must not wait for their examination results before submitting their
application.
Processing applications
1  Applications are assessed by the medical or counselling advisers to the University
who consider the medical or compassionate evidence and certify whether or not
it supports the application. The applications and a conﬁ dential report from the
medical doctor or counsellor are sent to the Examinations Ofﬁ ce. If the evidence is
in order, an academic recommendation form is sent to the appropriate Academic
Head. Medical and compassionate evidence remains with the University Health
Services. Where the medical or compassionate evidence does not support the
application, an academic recommendation is not requested.
2  The Academic Head is asked to provide details of coursework for the course
and examination marks if applicable, and then to make a recommendation
based on the criteria for aegrotat and compassionate grades set out on the
recommendation form. The options include no recommendation.
3  Academic recommendation forms are conﬁ dential and details may not be given
to students. They should be completed and returned to the Examinations Ofﬁ ce
by the dates shown below, so that recommendations can be considered by the
Senate and students can be advised in time to complete selection and enrolment
processes for the next semester.
Grades recommended as a result
Deadline dates for academic
of an application should not be
recommendation forms
submitted in the normal return of
qqq
results process.
Summer School
  Fri 29 February
Forms should be returned to the
Semester 1
  Fri 12 July
Examinations Ofﬁ ce as soon as possible,
Semester 2
  Fri 29 November
within a week of receipt.
Academic requirements for aegrotat and compassionate grades
1  To recommend an aegrotat or compassionate grade, the Academic Head must be
able to certify that:
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  31

a  the student’s coursework in the course was well above the minimum pass
standard
and
b  for a student who sat the examination, the mark attained in the examination
was lower than expected taking into account the student’s coursework in the
course
and
c  the student is clearly worthy of a pass in the course.
2  If a recommendation is required for a course with no coursework, the Academic
Head may take into account the coursework and examination performance in any
other courses for the same degree (where this is available to them).
3  Instead of recommending an aegrotat or compassionate grade, the Academic
Head may recommend that the student take another examination which may
be oral or written. Exceptional circumstances must apply, and these should be
speciﬁ ed on the academic recommendation form, together with the reasons for
the recommendation.
4  All recommendations are referred to the Senate representative who also takes into
account the medical and counselling advisers’ assessment of the evidence, and
may take into account the student’s work in other courses before making a ﬁ nal
decision and awarding a grade (which may differ from that recommended).
5  No more than one third of the total point value credited to a degree or diploma
may be awarded with an aegrotat or compassionate grade.
Notiﬁ cation of result
1  Students will be advised in writing of the result of their application in all cases,
whether or not an aegrotat or compassionate grade is approved.
2  Departments will be advised only in those cases where the Senate representative
approves a different grade to that recommended by the department, or the
application is declined. Where the academic recommendation is approved by the
Senate representative, no advice is required.
Reconsideration
A candidate may make an application in writing for reconsideration to the Director,
Academic Services, following the decision of the Senate. An application must be
made within four weeks of receiving notice of the decision and must contain further
evidence to support the application. Reconsideration of medical evidence may be
referred to an independent medical referee.
Performance
Performance and Clinical Examinations do not qualify for aegrotat or compassionate
considerations. Students who, because of temporary illness or injury or exceptional
circumstances beyond their control, are unable to sit their examination on the
32 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

date scheduled, may apply to the Academic Head or Programme Coordinator for
deferment of that examination.
The Academic Head or Programme Coordinator may grant a deferment until
the Friday of the ﬁ rst week of teaching in the following semester. In exceptional
circumstances,  approval  may  be  given  by  the  Dean  on  recommendation  from  the
Academic Head or Programme Coordinator, to extend this period. If, at this time, the
student is unable to undertake the examination, a fail grade of “Did Not Sit” should
be recorded.
Written tests
A modiﬁ ed version of the examination procedures for aegrotat and compassionate
consideration applies to written tests which count towards the ﬁ nal result for a course.
1  Students who have been prevented from sitting a test or who consider that their
performance in a test has been seriously impaired, by temporary illness or injury or
exceptional circumstances beyond their control, should contact the Examinations
Ofﬁ ce or the University Health Services for application forms and advice.
2  Students should be encouraged to sit the test if at all possible. Medical or other
evidence must be sufﬁ cient to make it clear that the student was unable to attend
or the test performance was seriously impaired.
3  Students must submit the application form and evidence within seven days after
the date of the test.
4  Applications are assessed by the medical or counselling advisers to the University
who consider the evidence and certify whether or not it supports the application.
If the evidence is in order, the application form is sent to the appropriate Academic
Head. This does not include the assessed medical or other evidence, which is held
by the University Health Services.
If the evidence is not in order, the Examinations Ofﬁ ce will notify the student, and
send a copy of the letter to the appropriate Academic Head.
5  The Academic Head considers the application by taking into account the medical
and counselling advisers’ assessment of the evidence and then approves one of
the options set out on the form. These options are speciﬁ ed in the Examination
Regulations as permission to:
a  sit another written test
or
b  receive a mark for the test based on the average of marks awarded for other
coursework
or
c  take a viva voce examination
or
d  have the percentage of marks allocated to the test reallocated to the
examination.
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  33

The options on the form include no change, which may be appropriate for a
student who sits the test but obtains a mark in line with other coursework.
6  The student should be advised of the decision within 21 days of the test.
Missed examinations
The regulations are set out in the Examination Regulations of the University Calendar.
qqq
1  Students enrolled for a Masters, Bachelors Honours postgraduate degree,
Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certiﬁ cate, who arrive at the wrong
time must go immediately to the Examinations Ofﬁ ce where, if possible, special
arrangements will be made for them to sit the examination within 24 hours.
2  Any other students who miss an examination by arriving at the wrong time (either
too late for admission to the examination room, or for the wrong session) cannot
sit that examination at another time. These students should go to the Examinations
Ofﬁ ce and complete an application for Special Pass consideration, which is then
forwarded to the appropriate Academic Head who is asked to provide coursework
marks and to make a recommendation.
3  The recommendation is referred to the Senate representative who has
discretionary powers to approve a pass if the student is of at least B+ calibre in
the course, or in that subject, or a particular element of hardship exists.
Announcement and publication
Results are conﬁ dential until released by the University. Provisional and conﬁ rmed
results are available online. Result notices are not mailed.
Where a grade has been lowered after the result has been conﬁ rmed by mail, the
department must advise both the student and the Examinations Ofﬁ ce in writing.
Masters
Each student’s result notiﬁ cation will show the individual grades for courses and
thesis, and the class of honours.
Bachelors Honours, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate
Certiﬁ cates
Result notiﬁ cation will show the individual grades for the courses and the class of
Honours, Distinction or Merit where applicable.
Recount of marks
By making application not later than seven weeks after the last day of the examination
period, any student sitting an examination may have the marks awarded for their
script recounted. The fee for such a recount shall be as prescribed in the Fees
Regulations.
A recount of marks covers a careful rechecking of the marks recorded by the examiner
34 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

and ensures that no answer or any portion of an answer submitted by a student has
been overlooked. Recounts should also include a careful checking of the accuracy and
inclusion of coursework marks. No information pertaining to the application will be
placed before the examiner.
Students may apply for a recount of marks for written examination papers only.
Availability of examination scripts
1  By making application during the three months after the end of the examination
period for the examination, a candidate may obtain a photocopy of his or her
examination script.
2  By making application not before three months and no later than four months
after the end of the examination period for the examination, a candidate may
request the return of their original examination script.
Note: No further consideration of the examination script will be undertaken after
the  original  script  has  been  returned  to  the  student.  Examination  scripts  will
normally be retained until at least six months after the examination period and
thereafter will be destroyed.
3  Applications will be made online and notiﬁ cation will be forwarded to the
department concerned for processing.
4  If it is found that a question or section has not been marked, or there are other  qqq
errors of a similar nature, the Academic Head should notify the Examinations
Ofﬁ ce of the amended grade stating the reason for the change. The student will
then be advised by email of their amended results.
5  Students are not permitted to seek a remarking of the script. If it has been fully
marked, the examiner’s judgement must stand. If a student seeks advice in respect
of the script, that advice must not cover detailed discussion with the examiners of
particular answers. Broad guidance may, however, be given on the general thrust
of the script or on examination technique by the Academic Head or by an examiner
speciﬁ ed by the Academic Head.
Storage and disposal of examination
material
Examiners may keep the scripts for written examinations only for the minimum time
required for marking. They must then hand the scripts over to the department/faculty
where they shall normally be retained in secure storage until at least six months
after the examinations and thereafter be destroyed. In the case of examinations in
Fine Arts, Testimonials of Study need not be so preserved. Masters scripts should be
retained until six months after the assessment has been completed for any thesis,
dissertation, or research portfolio or project required.
2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors |  35

Publication of examination papers
All ﬁ nal examination papers will be made available after examinations for students to
access through the Library ExamBase. Consideration for non-publication of a paper
or part paper must be made to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) through the
Examinations Ofﬁ ce, with reasons for non-publication stated and supported by the
Academic Head.
Examiners’ reports – theses and research
portfolios
qqq
Masters thesis and research portfolio candidates will receive the examiners’
evaluations of their work (Part 2 of the Examiners’ reports) when the examination
is complete. The candidate will not be informed of the names, or other identifying
information, of their examiners. The Dean of the Faculty (through the Associate
Dean (Postgraduate)) reserves the right to remove from an examiner’s report made
available to the candidate any material that they consider should not be released.
PhD candidates who are enrolled under the 2011 PhD Statute will receive the
examiners’ evaluations of their work (Part 2 of the Examiner’s Report on Doctoral
Thesis) no fewer than ﬁ ve working days before their oral examination to assist them
with their preparation for the oral examination. The candidate will not be informed
of the names, or other identifying information, of their examiners, except that of the
Oral Examiner, unless this is speciﬁ cally agreed to by the individual examiner on the
examiner’s report. The Board of Graduate Studies (through the Dean of Graduate
Studies) reserves the right to remove from an examiner’s report made available to the
candidate any material that it considers should not be released. Except in the case
of candidates enrolled under the 2011 PhD Statute, examiners’ reports should not be
discussed with candidates until the examination process is completed.
36 | 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors

Document Outline

Memo EC _2013 Ex & Ass
- Internal
- Memorandum
- To:
- Robin Bruce, Deputy Manager, Examinations
- From:
- 4 October 2012
- Date:
- Subject: 2013 Instructions to Examiners and Assessors
2013-Examiners-Assessors 4-Oct