Grading System

The grading guidelines are designed to provide students with an understanding of the standards applied when grading assessment tasks. Students should note that the type of assessment will affect the relevance of each ‘subsidiary description’ as outlined in the General Criteria for Allocation of Grades. For example, not all units prescribe an assessment task that evaluates oral presentation skills.

The general description of standards may be applied in conjunction with specific marking criteria. The General Criteria for Allocation of Grades can be found in the Course Unit Booklet for each unit that you undertake. It is possible that they can be adapted to suit each assessment, but they are usually provided in general terms.

A brief explanation of grades:

PASS (P) 50-64%
Work that satisfactorily attains the required outcome(s), with adequate knowledge, understanding, analysis, and presentation.

CREDIT (C) 65-74%
Work that soundly attains the required outcome(s) showing a good level of knowledge, understanding, analysis, presentation, and some evidence of critical interpretation.

DISTINCTION (D) 75-84%
Excellent work that substantially attains the required outcome(s) showing a high level of knowledge, understanding, analysis, critical interpretation, presentation, and some originality.

HIGH DISTINCTION (H) 85-100%
Outstanding work that comprehensively attains the required outcome(s) showing superior knowledge, understanding, analysis, critical interpretation, presentation, and originality.

FAIL (N) 0-49%
Work that fails to attain the required outcome(s), lacking in basic knowledge, understanding, analysis, and presentation.

EXTENSION (E)
This grade may be given under extenuating circumstances, such as illness, accident, misadventure or any other serious problem which make it impossible for the student to complete assignment(s) by the end of the semester. An overall extension for a unit may be given when the student has completed at least one of the prescribed assessment tasks. The fact that several pieces of written work for different units are due within a short period is not a valid excuse for the granting of an extension. Students are expected to plan their study, employment and extracurricular activities so that they are able to submit work by the due date. Upon completion of the work any grade may be given. The date of completion is determined by the relevant lecturer, and is normally at date prior to the commencement of the following semester.

INCOMPLETE (I)
This grade is used when normally one of the assessment tasks for a unit is incomplete. The student will have previously provided an explanation to the Faculty Board of St Andrew’s in writing clearly stating the reasons that extra time is being sought. It will lead to no grade higher than a pass upon the completion of the work by the student.

UNAVAILABLE RESULTS (U)
This grade is given where grades are unavailable at the time of monitoring of results through no fault of the student.

WITHDRAWAL (W)
This grade is awarded where the student withdraws from a unit in accordance with the rules governing withdrawal.

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS (SP)
This grade is used where a unit of study, requiring one piece of assessment (e.g. Research Essay, Research Project), extends across more than one semester. This will automatically flag that no final result is due until a later semester, which will be an amended grade. This grade is also used when a research essay or thesis has been submitted for examination and the final result is still to be resolved. Coursework units that extend across more than one semester (e.g. Clinical Pastoral Education) will be required to submit a grade for monitoring at the completion of the unit.