Faculty of Lifelong Learning
World Arts and Artefacts
Certificate of Higher Education
Assessment Guidelines
2008/2009
The assessment requirement for a 15 CAT module on Cert HE programmes is a maximum of
2500 words (or equivalent). For World Arts programmes, the equivalencies are listed below
for both practical and historical/theoretical modules.
All coursework must be accompanied by the appropriate coversheets.
CONTEXT / THEORETICAL MODULES
The assessment is in two parts consisting of:
1. An oral reading review
Students will be allocated one of the required or recommended readings on the course
syllabus. This will
a. be presented verbally to the class in no more than 5 minutes (equivalent of 500 words)
b. be submitted in writing (500 words)
2. One of:
a. A Critical journal
This will comprise of critical notes reviewing any seven of the classes. It should summarise
and critically reflect on what the student considered to be the key points of each class.
Total of approx 1,500 words
Or
b. A critical analysis of a single object. The formal qualities of the object should be linked
to broader questions such as function, its social history and cultural context, display and
interpretation. (approx 1,500 words)
Or
c. An exhibition review. The exhibition should be discussed in relation to broader questions
such as history, gender, race, interpretation, audience, institutional context, techniques of
display. (approx 1,500 words)
Or
d. An essay. The question will be set by the tutor but will require the student to link (a)
specific art object(s) or artefact(s) to broader questions such as the history of its production,
use, interpretation and / or display. (approx 1,500 words)
MARKING & ASSESSMENT
The pass mark for all Cert HE modules from 2008/2009 is 40%. Please see below for the new
criteria for marking to this standard.
Criteria for marking context/theory course work
All course work should cite references and/or give a bibliography as appropriate. All marks
given are provisional until verified by the appropriate exam board. The mark for any piece of
work may be changed by the exam board.
70% and above : An excellent or outstanding piece of work. Demonstrates knowledge and
understanding of concepts and debates and an ability to think critically. Makes well structured
arguments that may be theoretically informed, with very good use of relevant evidence. There
will be clear evidence of awareness of current/relevant debates. Offers a wide range of
references, and is fully and correctly referenced throughout. Marks over 80% indicate an
exceptional piece of work which excels in all these areas.
60-69%: A very good piece of work and complete examination of the task. Clear evidence of
understanding of concepts or ideas. Offers analysis and a clear argument backed by
appropriate examples/evidence. Well written, organised and presented. Good use of sources
with evidence correctly cited.
50-59%: A satisfactory to good answer. Approach and content gives some evidence of
reading and awareness of debate but may be too descriptive or generalised or needing a
clearer focus. May have some gaps in argument, planning or use of evidence. Some
evidence of engagement with and analysis of concepts presented in the module. Appropriate
sources adequately cited.
40-49%: An adequate piece of work. Task examined but major areas may not have been
addressed. Evidence of some reading and attempt to address the question or topic but
generally descriptive and/or not well supported by evidence or examples. Planning,
structuring and presentation relatively weak. Limited understanding of concepts or ideas.
Barely adequate use of sources, often over-dependent on material covered in class. Sources
may be inadequately cited.
30-39% FAIL: A partial and superficial response to the task. Uses a minimal range of reading
or shows no evidence of reading. May be repetitious consisting of a string of weak
assertions/opinions which may not relate to each other and without supporting evidence. Very
poor planning and presentation. No awareness of theoretical perspectives or
misunderstanding of key concepts. Sources inadequately cited or not cited.
0-29% FAIL : Very poor work. Little or no understanding of subject. Poorly organised and
confused argument. Little or no evidence of planning or presentation skills. Question not
addressed and little or no knowledge of the topic.
PRACTICAL MODULES
Assessment fro practical modules is based on a portfolio of work submitted by the student.
This should include coursework, homework, and any accompanying notes or supporting
materials. The tutor may choose to request a final piece of work.
Students should present work in an appropriate format or folder, clearly marked and including
a coursework coversheet.
Where possible, in order to avoid lost and damaged originals, tutors are requested to submit
digital images of student work for moderation purposes.
The digital documentation should:
 show the complete finished work (do not crop)
 that the layout of the image is clear and simple, showing detail (do not photograph at
an angle)
 indicate the size of the students’ work (photograph it alongside a ruler, coin or similar)
 that you include detailed images where necessary
In each case the student should be given appropriate feedback. Use the green forms to
comment on:
 the strengths of the student’s work
 how it could be improved
Criteria for marking practical course work
Please use the following marking criteria as they apply to an introductory level course
70% and above: An excellent piece of work that demonstrates originality, quality of
presentation, and mastery of technique. The student should demonstrate a thorough
understanding of the principles of the design alongside a refined use of technique (materials,
media, process, and colour). There should be a clear development from substantial
preparatory work to final work.
60-69%: A very good piece of work that shows clear evidence of understanding of principles
of design, accomplished and creative. The work ought to show technical proficiency and
dexterity with the materials, colours, and media. There should be a clear development from
preparatory work to final work.
50-59%: A satisfactory piece of work that demonstrates the some application of skills and
design principles. Somewhat imprecise in the execution but nevertheless shows an
engagement with the materials and the creative process.
40-40%: A partial response to the course requirement. An adequate piece of work that shows
some application of some of the design principles, but may be inconsistent or incomplete. The
students’ work may lack attention to detail, or be rushed in execution.
0-39% Fail: A very partial and superficial response to the course requirement. Demonstrates
no or very limited evidence of planning, understanding of principles of design or technique.
Little or no effort to produce material related to the assignment.
Deadlines for submission of coursework
The following information applies to all modules
Late submissions
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Any work that is submitted for formal assessment after the published final
deadline for the module concerned (the last day of class unless
otherwise stated), and without mitigating circumstances, will be subject
to a penalty pass mark of 40% only. The ‘real’ mark that would have been
awarded if the work had not been late will also be included on the
coursework cover sheet. Late work should be submitted to the Subject
Executive Officer for the programme.
Coursework submitted more than 2 weeks after the deadline, and without
a mitigating circumstances request, will not be accepted and will be
returned to the student unmarked.
ORSA forms and all other paperwork relating to student assessment
must be submitted to the subject team no later than 2 weeks after the last
class.
If a student submits late work and would like mitigating circumstances to
be taken into consideration, please see the section below for procedures
and deadlines.
Mitigating Circumstances
The College Policy on Mitigating Circumstances determines how the Exam Board will treat
assessment that has been affected by adverse circumstances.
Mitigating Circumstances are defined as ‘unforeseen, unpreventable circumstances that
significantly disrupt your performance in assessment’. This should not be confused with long
term issues such as medical conditions, for which the College can make adjustments before
assessment. Students should contact the Programme Manager for details.
Please note that discussing your claim with a member of staff does not constitute a
Submission of a claim of mitigating circumstances. Please see the following information
for details of the processes to be followed.
A Mitigating Circumstances claim should be submitted if valid detrimental
circumstances result in:
a) the late or non-submission of assessment;
b) non-attendance at examination(s);
c) poor performance in assessment.
For a claim to be accepted the student must produce independent documentary evidence to
show that the circumstances:
a) have detrimentally affected performance or will do so;
b) were unforeseen;
c) were out of the control of the student and could not have been prevented;
d) relate directly to the timing of the assessment affected.
Guidance on what may constitute acceptable mitigating circumstances is available from
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/reg/regs; this is not an exhaustive list, and that each case will be
considered on its merits by the relevant Mitigation Sub-Committee.
The process for consideration of mitigating circumstances is as follows:
Step 1: Complete the standard Mitigating Circumstances form (available from the
Subject
Executive Officer or www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/forstudents)
Step 2: Submit the form, with supporting documentary evidence, to the
Programme Manager. Any supporting documents should be:
a) on the official headed paper of the issuing body
b) include the dates of the period in which the circumstances applied.
c) the original document (photocopies of documentary evidence will not normally be
accepted.
d) submitted with the mitigating circumstances form at the earliest opportunity and
no later than 2 weeks after the due date for submission of coursework.
Step 3: The case will then be considered by the Mitigation Sub-committee of the
Exam Board. This is in confidence and students may request that only the sub
committee panel has sight of the form.
Outcomes
 If no case is made, or the mitigating circumstances are not accepted,
then the penalty mark will stand.
 If a case is made and accepted then the examination board may allow
the ‘real’ mark to stand.
 A student who fails to submit one or all elements of assessment for reasons judged to
be valid by the Mitigating Sub-committee of the Exam Board may be allowed to be
assessed as if for the first time. This shall be known as a ‘deferral’. Any request for
deferral must be made on the Mitigating Circumstances form.
Where mitigating circumstances are accepted, and it is judged by an examination board that
these circumstances were sufficiently severe to have affected performance in assessment the
usual response will be to offer another opportunity for assessment without penalty, at the next
available opportunity.
Failure and Re-Assessment of a Module
Re-take
 For any module on an undergraduate programme, if a module result is less than 30%
any subsequent attempt to pass the module will normally be a “re-take”.
 A re-take requires attendance at the module’s lectures and seminars as well as
another attempt at the assessment.
 This attempt will be capped at 40%.
Re-assessment
 A module result of between 30% and 39% for any module on an undergraduate
programme then the Board of Examiners may offer “re-assessment” as an alternative
to a “re-take”.
 Re-assessment is where a student will re-attempt a failed element of a failed module;
it does not require attendance at lectures and seminars.
 A student will not normally be reassessed in elements already passed.
 Students may be required to take an alternative form of assessment for failed
elements as part of re-assessment.
 The timing of any re-assessment will normally be at the next normal assessment
opportunity
 This attempt will be capped at 40%.
Attempts and Re-takes
 Students are normally offered three attempts at passing a module (the original attempt
plus two further attempts, each of which will either be a re-assessment or a re-take).
 Second and third attempts are capped at 40%; students cannot retake a module to
gain a higher mark, unless a deferral is granted due to mitigating circumstances.