FBE Examination Results Report Semester 2 2010
The results comparisons between S1 2010 and the results presented at S2 2009 are affected by the
ongoing industrial action. Not withstanding this qualification, the general conclusion is that there are only
very modest changes to the distribution of results. Exceptions are noted below.
COMMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS
ACCOUNTING
The most import exception to the general stability of the results distribution for 2010 is in 100 level
accounting units. The fail rates for ACCG 100, 101 and 106 are, respectively, 36%, 40% and 40%.
For ACCG 100, the cohort of students were found to be significantly weaker than previous years’. The
unit content has not changed, with diagnostic and other tests done in weeks 4, 8, and 11. Furthermore
there were extra consultation PAL sessions, and online assistance was offered. There is little to explain
this performance
For ACCG 101,15% of the students did not attend the mid term test, and 10% did not attend the final
examination. Students who were identified as at risk were encouraged to attend PAL sessions but there
was a significant lack of interest / engagement in lectures, consultations and the PAL sessions. Only
34% of the students were enrolled in the professional accounting course and 45% of the students had a
GPA at 2 or below. The lecture and tutorial materials, together with the teaching style were moderated.
The unit coordinator was supported by the cluster head, a professor and a teaching mentor. All marks
were checked and the exam paper was externally moderated. In general the standard of the unit was
improved. However it was found that as a second accounting unit, students failed to show their
competence nor understanding in very basic accounting knowledge which should have been learned
from their first accounting unit. This, together with the lack of participation and motivation of students,
have resulted in a high fail rate.
ACCG 106 is a subject for non-accounting students. This subject was offered for the first time, with a
change of syllabus. All assessment tasks were reviewed and the final exam was moderated. Special
workshops and extra classes were conducted for students identified as ‘at risk’. All solutions were
available in Blackboard with all lectures recorded. Written feedback were given to students on
assignments and homework. A comprehensive final exam guide was given to students with revision
materials (with solutions) were given close to the examination. The final exam was very closely aligned
with the revision materials. Though there were new materials introduced in the syllabus, they were basic
and students were given all possible support to understand and consult. The overall attendance was
relatively poor and even with familiar questions in the final exam, the performance was very poor.
61% of the students in ACCG 106 have a GPA of 2 or below.
The HOD of Accounting reported extensive moderation checking that has taken place in these units both
during the semester and in the exam period. The moderation typically involved a considerable number of
staff. A variety of reasons were cited for the poor outcome. High proportions of repeating students
(ACCG100 and ACCG106), worsened ATAR although this was confined to the very upper end of the
distribution, changed content (ACCG106), and general poor attendance at lectures and tutorials. With
the exception of ACCG106 the performance of International and Non-international students was similar
in terms of Fail rates. It was noted that significant numbers of students failed to complete the required
assessment tasks.
In contrast to the elevated Fail rates in 100 level units 200 level performance was considerably improved
by the changes introduced following problems previously identified in some units (ACCG250). At the 300
level there was a slight fall in upper end grades.
ACTUARIAL STUDIES
The fail rate for ACST101 has increased by 5% over S2 2009. This change is smaller than that observed
in S1 (9%) and in both cases there was a large increase in the PC rate. This is attributed to the
introduction of the common year for the BCom and the lower mathematical skills of that group. This
observation is consistent the significantly better International students in this unit. Both the ATAR and
GPA distributions show a large drop in the upper ranges. The distribution is virtually identical to the S1
offering.
BUSINESS
Comparison with previous years shows consistency, except for 100 level units there is a marked trend
for 0 or very low failure rates that are not consistent with the outcomes of units in other departments with
similar grade distributions. The trend that began in the last reporting period to stretch out the grade
distribution to include HDs has been reversed with decrease in upper end grades particularly in 300 level
units. There was discussion of restrictions on the amount and assessment of group work and the
Department is monitoring the issue having made change to some unit assessment modes.
BUSINESS LAW
Comparison with previous years shows consistency.
ECONOMICS
New staff in ECON241 and the introduction of a new text with extensive computer exercises
administered through Blackboard produced a dramatic shift in the distribution towards HD and D grades.
For the remainder of the units available there was no change in the distribution of results
POSTGRADUTE
Because of time constraints, the consideration of P/G results presented by HODs was abbreviated. The
committee was of the view that they were not significantly different to those presented in previous years.
There were no dramatic changes compared with S2 2009. There was a disturbing number postgraduate
units with very small enrollments in Business and Business Law which will presumably be part of the
process of unit rationalization foreshadowed by Dean for 2011. After the meeting the Chair performed a
second check of the results.
HONOURS
Honours grades were reported only from Accounting 1 H1 4H2/1, Finance 6 H2/1 and Economics 3 H1
and 2 H2/1. There incomplete grades in Actuarial Studies, Business and Economics.
General comment
The time available for FBE to mark, collate, and scrutinize results was again inadequate. FBE has
consistently asked for large units to be scheduled early in the examination period and the University has
consistently ignored these requests. This puts an intolerable burden on staff to manage thousands of
scripts. I would like a Senate resolution to that effect.
This situation was exacerbated by the university software upgrade which took place and disrupted the
uploading of results. I had academic and professional staff in the faculty after midnight trying to upload
results.
The Faculty will be reviewing the three 100 level Accounting units to understand why the fail rates are so
high and inconsistent with previous years.