About Mark Codes
- Michael Hughes
The use of mark codes was agreed through consultation facilitated through the Faculty Managers between August and November 2018. This article covers the reasoning behind the decision for including or not including marks along with mark codes.
Mark Codes only apply to a Marks Return, they are not relevant to the Myplace Gradebook.
Mark Codes
This table was included in the SIMS ‘What’s Changing’ document circulated just after the new system went live, and explains which mark codes are returnable through the VLE and how they should be used:
Mark Code | Description | Valid with a Mark/ Grade | Definition | Return through VLE? | Board can select? | Inc in CWA? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABS | Absent | NO | The student did not attend the final exam. Recorded as a failed result. | Y | Y | Y Mark = 0 | Similar to VAX (0500) |
AD | Attempt Discounted | OPTIONAL | The class mark of the attempt is not being counted towards the programme. | N | Y | N | Similar to VAX (9000) |
EN | Extension | NO | The student has been given an extension to a piece of coursework impacting the final mark. | Y | Y | N | When EN is used, then the next attempt submitted will not increment an attempt number (and will use the same attempt number as the extension). |
EX | Exempt from Final Assessment | MANDATORY | The student has completed coursework to a sufficient standard of passing performance to be exempt from sitting the final assessment. | Y | Y | Y | Similar to VAX (EX) This must now be submitted with a mark or grade. |
FO | Failed Overall | MANDATORY | The aggregate class mark would be deemed as a pass, but a compulsory assessment results in a failed outcome. | Y | Y | Y | Similar to VAX (00) |
NQ | Not Qualified for Final Assessment | NO | The student is not qualified to complete the final assessment | N | Y | Y Mark = 0 | NQ will stop users returning via VLE. |
PBC | Pass by Compensation | MANDATORY | The class mark was deemed as a Pass outcome, as a result of the University of Strathclyde Compensation Scheme. | N | Y | Y | Similar to VAX |
ABS
If the student was absent from the final assessment, the mark is incomplete and cannot be returned.
EN
If the student has had an extension approved, the mark is incomplete and cannot be returned.
EX
This is an exemption from the final assessment ONLY. (Exemption from Class will be dealt with below) The agreement was that in order to have achieved an exemption from the final assessment, the student has to have demonstrated an agreed level of performance, which has been measured – the mark used to determine eligibility for an exemption MUST be returned, as this will contribute to a student’s CWA calculation.
FO
This is where the student has attained what looks like an overall passing mark and, as such, this mark should be returned. But some mandatory element of the coursework has not been passed, and therefore the mark code will set the ‘pass mark’ to a fail.
Pass/Fail Classes
Classes with a Pass/Fail or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory marking schemes can have a P/F or S/U returned through the VLE and entered at Online Exam Boards. These classes/credits will not be included in the CWA calculation.
Exemption from Class
Where a student is exempted from a class (i.e. they do not need to attend classes or complete assessments at all) this should be notified to Student Lifecycle Services, who will apply Personal Credits and change the status of the class for the student to EXE. This is different from an exemption from the final assessment, as described above.
At exam boards, these classes will show as below, and the student will have the equivalent number of Personal Credits in their Credit Summary.
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