Categorizing student performance levels
GEOL3036 Biodiversity and Macro-evolutionary Patterns
Excellent is the performance expected of students gaining a First class honours (MSci) or Distinction
(MSc). Typical is the performance currently expected of students at the Lower/Upper Second class
boundary (MSci) or 60% (MSc). Threshold is the minimum performance currently required to gain an
honours degree (MSci) or master’s degree (MSc).
Definitions
Intellectual skills
-knowledge and
understanding
Practical skills
Communication
skills
Excellent performance
Knowledge base extending
well beyond that
experienced through the
programme of set
problems, plus evidence of
strong critical evaluation of
complex evidence.
Highly developed ability to
tackle open-ended
palaeobiological research
questions.
Thorough understanding of
the resources (data-bases,
analytical methods etc.)
available to
palaeobiologists, and a
clear perception of when
these resources are relevant
to a question.
Detailed understanding of
key analytical methods and
principles, especially
taxonomy, phylogenetic
analysis, diversity
reconstruction,
morphometrics,
biomechanics and
biogeography
Strong familiarity with the
use of museum collections,
online and library
databases and the use of
the research literature.
Typical performance
Knowledge base extending
beyond that experienced
through the programme of
set problems.
Threshold performance
Knowledge base largely
derived from experience
of the programme of set
problems.
Ability to tackle open-ended
palaeobiological research
questions.
Basic ability to tackle
open-ended
palaeobiological research
questions.
Basic understanding of
the resources (data-bases,
analytical methods etc.)
available to
palaeobiologists.
Understanding of the
resources (data-bases,
analytical methods etc.)
available to
palaeobiologists.
Understanding of key
analytical methods and
principles, especially
taxonomy, phylogenetic
analysis, diversity
reconstruction,
morphometrics,
biomechanics and
biogeography
Familiarity with the use of
museum collections, online
and library databases and
the use of the research
literature.
Ability to write critically,
Ability to write efficiently
efficiently and effectively. and effectively.
Strong ability to work as an Ability to work as an
Basic understanding of
key analytical methods
and principles, especially
taxonomy, phylogenetic
analysis, diversity
reconstruction,
morphometrics,
biomechanics and
biogeography
Basic familiarity with the
use of museum
collections, online and
library databases and the
use of the research
literature.
Ability to write
effectively.
Basic ability to work as
individual, in groups and in individual, in groups and in
a ‘whole class’ setting.
a ‘whole class’ setting.
an individual, in groups
and in a ‘whole class’
setting.