Retention of Assessed Work
Undergraduate Examination Convention W73
Postgraduate Taught Examination Convention C72
Supplementary notes:
- It is suggested that any individual assessment (e.g. an essay, a set of exercises) which contributes 30% or more of the assessment for the module should be retained.
- In practice, in order to satisfy the requirements of the External Examiners and QAA, it is likely that all assessments that meet item a) above and that contribute to the final degree classification will be retained in Schools for a period of one year after the award of the degree. In most cases, this will mean that Schools will retain some material for three years - because of the Stage 2 assessments, and the need to be ready for an appeal during the year after graduation. In many cases of small individual pieces of set work e.g. 5 or 6 (or more), which in total contribute less than 30%, it is sufficient to keep a sample only of the work.
- Note March 2013. Regulations Sub-Committee is consulting on advice. That is:
- that course work and exam scripts should be treat the same
- that past assessments and exam scripts are rarely consulted in appeals, they are also rarely requested by external examiners; in addition QAA and related requirements have changed over recent years
- merit in the retention of all coursework and exam scripts for the current year + 1 year unless there are requirements from professional bodies to retain scipts for a longer period
- that if practical this would apply to all items of coursework regardless of the %age contribution to credit *
- that this matter should be raised with heads of admin to obtain a view from school administrators/managers
- it is desirable to have a consistent approach across all academic units
