Assessment Weighting Guidelines (Staff Only)
Purpose
Assessment items need to be carefully evaluated for their weighting as both
individual components of a unit, and within the overall context of a unit. These
guidelines provide a framework of what is appropriate assessment weighting for a
coursework unit.
Clinical Units
Within a clinical unit assessment items and their weighting need additional
consideration. Unit Coordinators need to be aware of the demands involved in
successfully meeting both clinical and academic requirements.
Assessment Load
As a guide, the amount of written assessment expected of students is normally
around 6,000 words (or equivalent) for a 6 credit point unit.
The following may be considered equivalent to 1,000 words:
 1 hour examination
 20 minute individual oral presentation
 10 minute/member group presentation
 10 minute clinical/OSCE assessment
 2,000 word unstructured reflective journal
Number of Assessment Items and modes
The number of assessment items for an individual unit should reflect the scope of
unit objectives. No unit should be assessed on the basis of a single assessment or
examination. In addition, a 6 credit point unit should not normally have more than four
assessment modes. These should seek to assess students in appropriate ways, for
example, combinations of written assessments, written or practical examinations,
hurdle assessments or oral presentations.
Proportional Value of an Assessment Item
No single assessment items should be worth more than 60% or less than 10% of the
total marks available for that unit.
Hurdle Requirement
Where students are required to pass all assessment items in a unit in order to
achieve an overall pass for a unit, this needs to be clearly specified in both unit
approval documents and unit guides distributed at the commencement of the unit.
Related Policies
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Mastery/Hurdle Requirements
Policy
Document Title:
Date & Version:
Authorised by:
Policy Title
/ /
FUEC / , Faculty Board /
V.1
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/policies/hurdle-requirements.html
Governing Documents
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Assessment Policy
Monash University Assessment Policy
http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/unisec/academicpolicies/policy/assessment.html
Monash University Assessment of Coursework Policy
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policybank/academic/education/assessment/assessment-of-coursework-policy.html
Responsibility for implementation
Deputy Dean, Teaching and Quality
Course Convenors
Unit Convenors
Faculty Secretariat
Status: New
Key Stakeholders
Deputy Dean, Teaching and Quality
Course Convenors
Unit Convenors
Faculty Secretariat
Approval Body
Faculty Board
Endorsement Body
Meeting number:
Meeting date:
Agenda item:
Date Effective
January 2009
Owner
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences
Author: Assessment Working Party
Contact: Faculty Secretariat, Email: FUEC@med.monash.edu.au
Document Title:
Date & Version:
Authorised by:
Policy Title
/ /
FUEC / , Faculty Board /
V.1