Grade Grade Criteria relevant to modules in Additional criteria more relevant to and 1st Year and in the 2nd Year of 4 year modules in the later programme years Marks programmes Band D+ Satisfactory An acceptable response to the An acceptable level of intellectual engagement 45 50 assessment tasks with with the assessment task showing – basic grasp of subject matter, but some familiarity with the relevant literature • • somewhat lacking in focus and structure or theoretical, technical or professional main points covered but insufficient framework • detail mostly statements of ideas, with limited • some effort to apply knowledge to the development of argument • task but only a basic capacity or limited use of evidence, citation or quotation • understanding displayed limited critical awareness displayed • little or no evidence of background • limited evidence of capacity for original and • reading logical thinking several minor errors or one major error • satisfactory presentation with an • acceptable level of presentation errors D Acceptable The minimum acceptable The minimum acceptable level of intellectual 40 44 standard of response to the assessment tasks engagement with the assessment task with – which the minimum acceptable appreciation of the • shows a basic grasp of subject matter but relevant literature or theoretical, technical or • may be poorly focussed or badly professional framework structured or contain irrelevant material ideas largely expressed as statements, with • has one major error and some minor little or no developed or structured argument • errors minimum acceptable use of evidence, • demonstrates the capacity to complete citation or quotation • only moderately difficult tasks related to little or no analysis or critical awareness • the subject material displayed or is only partially successful no evidence of background reading • little or no demonstrated capacity for • displays the minimum acceptable original and logical thinking • standard of presentation (spelling, grammar, graphical) E Marginal A response to the assessment tasks A factually sound answer with a partially 35 - 39 which fails to meet the minimum acceptable successful, but not entirely acceptable, attempt standards yet to engages with the subject matter or integrate factual knowledge into a broader • • problem set, despite major deficiencies in literature or theoretical, technical or structure, relevance or focus professional framework has two major error and some minor develop arguments • • errors support ideas or arguments with evidence, • demonstrates the capacity to complete citation or quotation • only part of, or the simpler elements of, the task an incomplete or rushed answer e.g. the • use of bullet points through part/all of answer Page 3 of 5
Grade and Marks Band Grade Criteria relevant to modules in 1st Year and in the 2nd Year of 4 year programmes Additional criteria more relevant to modules in the later programme years D+ 45 – 50 Satisfactory An acceptable response to the assessment tasks with • basic grasp of subject matter, but somewhat lacking in focus and structure • main points covered but insufficient detail • some effort to apply knowledge to the task but only a basic capacity or understanding displayed • little or no evidence of background reading • several minor errors or one major error • satisfactory presentation with an acceptable level of presentation errors An acceptable level of intellectual engagement with the assessment task showing • some familiarity with the relevant literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework • mostly statements of ideas, with limited development of argument • limited use of evidence, citation or quotation • limited critical awareness displayed • limited evidence of capacity for original and logical thinking D 40 – 44 Acceptable The minimum acceptable standard of response to the assessment tasks which • shows a basic grasp of subject matter but may be poorly focussed or badly structured or contain irrelevant material • has one major error and some minor errors • demonstrates the capacity to complete only moderately difficult tasks related to the subject material • no evidence of background reading • displays the minimum acceptable standard of presentation (spelling, grammar, graphical) The minimum acceptable level of intellectual engagement with the assessment task with • the minimum acceptable appreciation of the relevant literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework • ideas largely expressed as statements, with little or no developed or structured argument • minimum acceptable use of evidence, citation or quotation • little or no analysis or critical awareness displayed or is only partially successful • little or no demonstrated capacity for original and logical thinking E 35 - 39 Marginal A response to the assessment tasks which fails to meet the minimum acceptable standards yet • engages with the subject matter or problem set, despite major deficiencies in structure, relevance or focus • has two major error and some minor errors • demonstrates the capacity to complete only part of, or the simpler elements of, the task • an incomplete or rushed answer e.g. the use of bullet points through part/all of answer A factually sound answer with a partially successful, but not entirely acceptable, attempt to • integrate factual knowledge into a broader literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework • develop arguments • support ideas or arguments with evidence, citation or quotation Page 3 of 5
3-BA-2015-2016-Handbook.docx