Learning Outcomes and Assessment Policy

Effective from 01/01/2026

Intent

This Policy establishes James Cook University’s (JCU; the University) approach to ensuring learning outcomes guide assessment methods, align with professional standards, and promote academic integrity. This Policy aims to support students to develop high-level, transferable skills and competencies through structured, relevant and measurable Course Learning Outcomes.

This Policy addresses coursework requirements in the Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF) Standard 1.4.

Scope

This Policy applies to all coursework programs conducted at all JCU campuses, including Brisbane and Singapore, and both staff and students must adhere to this Policy.

Definitions

Except where otherwise defined in this policy, definitions for terms used in this policy are located in the Policy Glossary.

Assessment – the process or an instance of making a judgement about something - a measure to determine how much learning a student has acquired and whether the learning objectives were achieved. Assessment is communicated by grading, ranking, pass/fail or competency descriptors and is formally recorded.

Authentic Assessment – assessment designed to mirror real-life situations, problems, or workplace scenarios, requiring students to apply their knowledge and skills in a meaningful way.

Examination – a method of formal assessment focusing on specific tasks, used to evaluate a person's knowledge, skill proficiency, or abilities in a specific subject conducted at the end of a study period, during the designated exam period. All examinations are monitored for academic integrity.

• Written Examination – may be on campus or online, hard or soft copy and take various written forms, including essays, short answer questions, multiple choice questions, equations, calculations, formulas, code etc.
• Other Examinations – can take various forms, including practical demonstrations, oral questioning, performances, laboratory sessions or other methods that do not focus on written forms of assessments.

Graded Result – a final subject result based on a predefined scale, ranging from high distinction to fail.

Course Learning Outcomes – a statement of what a student will know, the skills they will have acquired and the application of the knowledge and skills that a student can demonstrate at the completion of the course. This includes the generic and discipline related attributes JCU wishes to foster to create job-ready graduates. Subject Learning Outcomes refer to specific knowledge, skills and their application within a subject as part of a course, determined by the year level of study and volume of credit points allocated to the subject.

Moderation – a quality assurance process used to ensure that assessments are fair, consistent, and aligned with predefined standards or criteria across all campuses and modes of delivery.

Programmatic Assessment – a systematic approach to assessment wherein the outcomes of a variety of purposefully selected assessment tasks are longitudinally collected, collated, and combined to obtain triangulated information about a learner's progress in developing key competency domains and capabilities.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Result – a final subject result recorded as Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory or Satisfactory with Supplementary. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory results are predefined and will be determined by student demonstrating threshold Subject Learning Outcomes. Meritorious performance may be acknowledged through narrative feedback or satisfactory exceeded in oncourse assessment but will default to satisfactory or unsatisfactory in the final grade.

Principles

• Course Learning Outcomes guide learning activities and assessment strategies.
• The skills and capabilities our graduates will develop and use to build their professional careers will be used to determine Course Learning Outcomes.
• Graduate capabilities/attributes and competency domains are developed in addition to Course Learning Outcomes.
• Not all learning needs to be assessed.
• Learning activities using artificial intelligence must be encouraged, but must seek to uphold academic integrity
• Graded assessment break points carry risks of subjectivity.
• Individual and group learning complement each other.

Policy

1. Course Learning Outcomes

1.1 The expected Course Learning Outcomes are specified, consistent with the level and field of education of the qualification awarded and informed by national and international comparators.

1.2 The specified Course Learning Outcomes must encompass discipline-related and generic outcomes.

1.3 Course Learning Outcomes must be:

1.3.1 aligned within the course design and Australian Qualifications Framework level;

1.3.2 aligned with professional practice standards for accredited qualifications;

1.3.3 designed to allow students to demonstrate acquisition via authentic assessment instruments;

1.3.4 measurable and seek to maintain academic integrity; and

1.3.5. high-level with broad transferability, not individual competencies.

2. Assessment

2.1 Methods of assessment must be consistent with the Subject Learning Outcomes being assessed, and capable of confirming all specified Subject Learning Outcomes are achieved and that satisfactory competency or grades awarded reflect the level of student attainment.

2.2 On completion of a course of study, students must have satisfactorily demonstrated attainment of the Course Learning Outcomes, whether assessed at module, subject or course level, or in combination. This will be mapped in the assessment matrix demonstrating programmatic assessment.

2.3 A variety of assessment methods must be used across the course to assess students’ knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills.

2.4 Assessment processes must support JCU’s commitment to academic integrity.

2.5 Assessment must be aligned with student workload expectations and not exceed three specified assessment items within a 3-credit point subject. The standard measure of a subject workload is 120 hours of learning and assessment activities, per 3-credit points.

2.6 All level zero and level one-coded subjects will utilise Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory results for subjects commencing from January 1 2027.

2.7 Assessment feedback to students must be timely, constructive, clear, and purposeful.

2.8 Moderation of assessment must be undertaken to ensure fair and consistent marking.

2.9 Students have the right to request a review of grades and results, and to appeal the outcome of a review.

2.10 All students must make themselves available for all methods and modes of assessment, including examinations, at the scheduled times and may apply for Special Consideration if affected by Special Circumstances (refer Student Special Circumstances Policy).

2.11 Assessment methods and results for each course must be calibrated or benchmarked with an external entity every three years.

Related policy instruments

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Procedure

Curriculum Design, Coursework Approval and Accreditation Policy

Qualifications and Certification Policy (to be developed)

Award Finalisation and Graduation Policy

Coursework Award Finalisation, Conferral and Issuance Procedure

Exit and Interim Award Procedure

Finalisation and Publication of Student Results Procedure

Posthumous Award Procedure

Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure

Student Results Policy

Examinations Procedure for Staff

Examinations Procedure for Students

Student Academic Misconduct Procedure

Coursework Academic Integrity Policy

Coursework Academic Integrity Procedure

Student Code of Conduct

Student Special Circumstances Policy

Student Disability Policy

Student Complaints Policy

Student Review and Appeals Policy

Information Privacy Policy

Defence Force, National Service and Elite Athlete Friendly University Procedure

Learning Resources and Educational Support Policy

Coursework Monitoring, Review and Improvement Policy

Schedules/Appendices

Nil

Related documents and legislation

Administration

NOTE: Printed copies of this policy are uncontrolled, and currency can only be assured at the time of printing.

Approval Details

Revision History