Distribution of Grades

Intent

To monitor the allocation of grades across disciplines for quality assurance purposes.

Scope

This policy relates to the distribution of grades within disciplines, and applies to all disciplines studied at undergraduate level. It should not be taken to apply directly to the distribution of grades for individual subjects.

Policy and Procedures

As a general principle, students must be given the grade that they deserve, according to the criteria specified.

However, as a quality assurance measure, the Academic Board monitors the allocation of grades across disciplines. Its reason for doing so is to promote consistency across all faculties. This is important not only for equity reasons but also to ensure that all students, irrespective of the discipline studied, can be considered for a University Medal and can compete for merit-based postgraduate scholarships on equal terms.

The guidelines established by Academic Board for result distribution across each discipline are as follows:

Pro-Vice-Chancellors will present a report to the Academic Board after each main examination period on the distribution of grades by discipline. The report should also:

• contain data from previous years to allow for trend analysis;

• specify the sample size; and

• present grade distributions separately for the different year levels of disciplines, that is, levels 1 through to 6 as appropriate.

Where more than one School is responsible for teaching subjects with the same discipline code, it is the responsibility of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor(s) to segregate data or obtain additional data. Heads of School may aggregate data for disciplines, where approved by the relevant Pro-Vice-Chancellor.

Heads of School and the Pro-Vice-Chancellors are required to justify any substantial variations from the above guidelines.

It is emphasised that the distribution guidelines do not apply to individual subjects, but to aggregations, or groups of subjects, at undergraduate level by discipline e. g. psychology or chemistry. The lecturer of each subject is not required to give a certain number of students a pass, credit, distinction or high distinction or to fail a certain number of students.

Approval Details

Modification History