ACADEMIC REGISTRY
QUALITY & STUDENT LEARNING
Two Tier Examination Board Process
Contents
1
Introduction
2
Timing of Examination Boards
3
Authority of Examination Boards
4
External Examiners
5
Membership of Examination Boards
6
Records
7
Procedures for Review of a Decision of an Examination Board
1
Introduction
The University operates a two-tier Examination Board structure:
2
3
•
The Module Examination Board (MEB) is responsible for a set of modules provided by
a Faculty or part of a Faculty. The MEB will confirm the marks awarded for each
module.
•
Marks from one or more MEBs are supplied to a Faculty Progression and Awards
Board (PAB) which determines classification of awards and progression of students.
Timing of Examination Boards
•
The Faculty Registrar determines a schedule for MEBs and PABs.
•
Exceptionally, where a student has exhausted all retrieval opportunities part way
through a progression or award board stage in accordance with Assessment
Regulations for Northumbria Awards, an extraordinary MEB and PAB can be
conducted by Chair’s action to determine the outcome for the student. In such cases,
consultation with the External Examiner/s should take place.
•
Faculties should determine the most appropriate arrangements for Education
Provision with Others (formerly referred to as collaborative programmes), whilst
ensuring comparability of performance and standards with Northumbria provision. It
is recommended that separate examination boards are convened where it is not
practicable to consider both types of provision at the same examination board,
provided that alternative means of ensuring comparability are in place.
Authority of Examination Boards
Only the PAB has authority to recommend to the University the conferment of an award.
The decision of a properly constituted MEB or PAB, acting within its powers and in
accordance with the regulations governing its conduct and the regulations for the relevant
programme of study, cannot be amended by any other body except in cases of review
(section 7).
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4
External Examiners
External Examiners are nominated and appointed by Faculties with oversight by the Student
Learning and Experience Committee’s Regulations and Frameworks Sub-Committee.
•
Academic provision at level 3 and level 4 is not normally subject to external
examining except for intended level 3 and 4 awards, or where required by
professional bodies.
•
All level 3 and 4 awards must be confirmed at a PAB with External Examiner
involvement. This includes lower level awards arising from withdrawal or failure at
the next level.
•
The number of External Examiners appointed to each MEB is determined by the
Faculty, taking into account the number and levels of the modules, their academic
range and parity of External Examiner workload. At least one External Examiner
must be appointed to each PAB.
•
The role of the External Examiner is to assist the University in ensuring that:
•
5
6
2
the threshold academic standards set for the awards are in accordance with
1
the frameworks for higher education qualifications and applicable subject
2
benchmark statements .
o
the assessment process measures student achievement rigorously and
fairly against intended learning outcomes and is conducted in line with the
University’s policies and regulations.
o
the academic standards and the achievements of students are comparable
with those in other UK higher education institutions.
External Examiners will also advise on enhancing the quality of learning, teaching
and assessment.
Membership of Examination Boards
•
In normal circumstances, no student can be a member of an Examination Board or
attend an examiners’ meeting other than as a candidate for assessment. If,
however, a person who is otherwise qualified to be an examiner for a module or
programme (e.g. as a member of staff or as an approved External Examiner) is
coincidentally registered as a student on another programme either in the University
or elsewhere, that does not in itself disqualify that person from carrying out normal
examining commitments.
•
Any conflict of interest arising from the personal or family relationship of a Board
member to a student whose marks are under consideration must be declared to the
Chair of the Examination Board.
Records
•
1
o
Detailed and accurate records of the proceedings of both MEBs and PABs,
including the marks submitted to/approved by the Boards, are made by the
available at http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-and-guidance/publication/?PubID=2718/.
available at http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements/.
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Secretary to the Board. The record must refer to each case involving the use of
discretion, including a description of the evidence or other good reason relied on by
the Board for exercising discretion.
•
7
Procedures for the Review of a Decision of an Examination Board
•
3
The Faculty Registrar is responsible for ensuring that a definitive file of the records
of Examination Boards is maintained.
Academic Board, or another body authorised by it to act as a review group may, in
the following circumstances, require an Examination Board to reconsider its
decision/s:
o
If a candidate requests a reconsideration and establishes to the satisfaction of
Academic Board or review group that his or her performance in the
assessment was adversely affected by illness or other factors which he or she
was unable, or for valid reasons unwilling, to raise under the procedures for
considering personal extenuating circumstances before the Examination
Board reached its decision. Medical certificates, or other documentary
evidence acceptable to the Academic Board or review group, must support
the candidate’s request.
o
If Academic Board or the review group is satisfied on evidence produced by
the candidate or any other person that there has been an internal
administrative error, or that the examinations were not conducted in
accordance with the regulations for the programme of study or that some
other material irregularity relevant to the assessments has occurred.
o
If a student has appealed against a decision and the appeal is upheld.
•
Disagreement with the academic judgement of an Examination Board in assessing
the merits of an individual piece of work or in reaching any assessment decision
based on the marks, grades and other information relating to a candidate’s
performance does not in itself constitute grounds for granting a request for
reconsideration by a candidate.
•
If, after reconsideration, the Examination Board does not modify its decision,
Academic Board has the power to annul that decision if, in its opinion, due and
proper account has not been taken of the relevant factors.
•
In case of procedural or other irregularity, or where it is impossible to reconvene an
Examination Board, Academic Board has the power to annul a decision of the
Examination Board without making a prior request for reconsideration. If an error or
irregularity is found to have affected more than one candidate, Academic Board
may annul the whole examination or any part of it and require a reassessment.
When a decision has been annulled, the Academic Board may take action which, if
necessary, may include the appointment of new External Examiners.
•
The procedures for dealing with requests by candidates or with other evidence
which may lead to the reconsideration or annulment of a decision of an Examination
3.
Board are published in the Handbook of Student Regulations
available at http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/vc/leservteam/saac/
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QUALITY & STUDENT LEARNING
Version 1.1
Last updated September 2015
Document Notes:
•
this information was included in the Examiners Handbook up to / including 2014/15 (Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4,
2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8)
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