Assessment
- Higher Education Assessment Procedure
- VET Assessment Procedure
- Higher Education Assessment Policy
- VET Assessment Policy
- Gap Training and Assessment Procedure
- Higher Education Examinations Procedure
- Supplementary Assessment Procedure
- Forms
- Printable PDF Version
- Purpose
- Scope
- Legislative Context
- Definitions
- Supporting Documents
- Responsibility
- Actions
- 1. Examination rules
- 2. Examination Appeals
- 3. Management of centrally organised examinations
- 4. Management of non-centrally organised examinations
- 5. Personal exam adjustments and special consideration
- 6. Ensuring security of completed examination papers and other examination materials
- 7. Ensuring examination/s are appropriately marked and graded
- 8. Ensuring quality of examination (Continuous Improvement)
- Promulgation
- Implementation
- Records Management
This procedure mandates operational activities and assigns responsibilities to support the implementation of the Federation University Australia’s Higher Education Assessment Policy.
This procedure applies to examination of all Federation University Australia undergraduate and coursework postgraduate courses and for those courses offered through collaborative provision (ie through partner providers). However it does not apply to examination of individual students in higher degrees by research which is the subject of Regulation 5.1 Higher Doctorates, The Degree of Philosophy, Professional Doctorates and Masters Degrees by Research.
All staff of the University must comply with the Higher Education Assessment Policy and this procedure whenever they are engaged in any aspect of the assessment process.
- Statute 2.2 - Academic Board
- Statute 5.1 - Academic Awards and Courses
- Regulation 5.1 – The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Masters Degrees by Research and Professional Doctorates
- Statute 5.3 – Assessment
- Regulation 5.3 – Assessment
- Statute 5.4 – Exclusion for Reasons of Unfitness
A complete list of definitions relevant to this procedure is contained within the Higher Education Assessment Policy.
A further list of definitions specificallyrelevant to this procedure is included below:
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Alternative examination adjustments | Special examination arrangements, including take-home examinations, under different conditions or at different times or locations, that are designed to accommodate the needs of students who are unable to undertake their regular scheduled examination or take-home examination for reasons as approved by Disability and Learning Access Unit (DLAU) |
Breach | An act or omission which is likely to have the effect of obtaining an advantage by unfair or unauthorised means |
Closed book examination | Students are not permitted to take into the examination room, any books, notes (either written on paper or on other items or on the person), electronic devices, calculators or pencil cases. All permitted materials, including drinks, must be transported in transparent containers. |
Deferred Examination | An application for deferment of an examination can only be made in exceptional circumstances and a student may not normally apply to have an examination deferred more than once in a particular course in a given teaching period. Refer to sub-section 8(3) of Statute 5.3 The Schedule Part 1. |
Examination | Any invigilated assessment task (written or practical) or other written paper that is timetabled within an examination period and that forms part of the final results in a course or program. |
Examination commencement time | The designated time in an examination when students are permitted to begin writing |
Examination period | The official examination periods (including deferred and supplementary periods) listed in the Course Description and published on the Academic Calendar. |
Examination venue | A room in which an examination is taking place or about to take place |
Examination supervisor | An invigilator tasked with conducting the examination under university procedures and guidelines |
Invigilated Assessment | Any type of supervised assessment, e.g. exams, in-class tests. |
Specified materials only examination | Students may be authorised to take into the examination room, items such as calculators, textbooks and/or notes, as specifically listed on the cover of an exam paper. |
Other significant cause |
Other issues outside of hardship/trauma, loss or bereavement, and medical reasons that significantly impacts on a student’s ability to prepare for, present to, undertake, and/or complete work or assessments including but not limited to:
|
Open book examination | Students are permitted to take into the examination room and use any materials and specified electronic devices indicated in the examination timetable. |
Reading time | 10 minutes prior to the commencement of the examination which allows students to read the examination paper, unless otherwise specified (refer Statute 5.3 The Schedule Part 1, Section 14) |
Reasonable adjustments |
Measures and adaptations put in place to facilitate student participation in Course and Program while ensuring that academic standards and inherent requirements of the Course are not compromised. Reasonable adjustments as a result of Special Consideration applications are relevant for the period outlined in the Special Consideration application. Reasonable adjustments as a result of a disability, and outlined in a Learning Access Plan are relevant for the duration of the Learning Access Plan. Students with a disability can re-negotiate, update or cancel adjustments and/or supports at any stage. |
Serious health condition | A health condition, including medical conditions, mental health conditions or disability that adversely impacts on a student’s capacity to successfully complete an assessment, progress in a program or results in repeated behaviour that adversely impacts on other students or staff |
Special consideration - Deferred Examination | Acknowledgement by the Dean or delegate that a student has experienced or encountered some form of disadvantage or impediment that has prevented them from undertaking or completing an examination during the timetabled examination period. The University will schedule the deferred examination in the timetabled deferred examination period. Refer to Federation University Higher Education Special Consideration Procedure SS1967 |
Special consideration - General | Acknowledgement by the Dean or delegate that a student has experienced or encountered some form of disadvantage or impediment that has prevented them from performing on their merits in an assessment task/s. In such circumstances, the particular disadvantage or impediment will be taken into account when assessing the students work. To enable the student to demonstrate their achievement of the course learning outcomes, they may be granted deferred assessment, supplementary examination, or extension of an assessment due date or other suitable accommodation deemed necessary. Such allowances may be made for one or more assessment tasks or courses within any teaching semester. Grounds for a student to submit an application for Special Consideration include illness, psychological condition, loss or bereavement, hardship/trauma, family violence or other significant cause. Refer to Federation University Higher Education Special Consideration Procedure SS1967 |
Supplementary assessment (examination context) | A supplementary assessment is an extra examination that occurs after a previous examination has occurred. It is offered in particular circumstances where failure would significantly impede a student’s progress or completion of the course |
Take-home assessment | Conditions and instructions dictated according to the requirements of the course which enable the student to complete the assessment away from the University |
Higher Education Assessment Policy
Higher Education Special Consideration Procedure
Student Access, Progression and Wellbeing Policy SS1965
Disability Learning Access Plan (LAP) Procedure SS1966
Higher Education Deferral or Leave from Studies Procedure
Deferment, Suspension or Cancellation of a Student's Enrolment (ESOS Specific) Procedure
- Academic Board is responsible for monitoring the implementation, outcomes and scheduled review of this procedure and will receive annual reports as part of the annual Program Performance Report from each School
- Chair, Learning and Teaching Committee (L&T) is responsible for maintaining the content of this procedure as delegated by Academic Board
- Executive Officer, Learning and Teaching Committee is responsible for the administration support for the maintenance of this procedure as directed by the Chair, Learning and Teaching Committee (L&T)
- Deans of Schools are responsible for oversight of the operational implementation of this procedure
Each of the mandatory procedures below, details the activity which must be conducted in accordance with the assessment principles referred to in the Higher Education Assessment Policy.
ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
---|---|---|---|
A. | Conducting examinations | Course Coordinator |
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B. | Timetabling examinations |
Team Leader, Exam Scheduling Course Coordinator Centre for University Partnerships (CUP) |
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C. | Booking examination rooms/venues | Team Leader, Exam Scheduling |
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D. | Ensuring student Availability | Student |
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E. | Resulting | Student HQ |
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ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
---|---|---|---|
A. | Dealing with examination complaints | Dean or nominee |
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ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
---|---|---|---|
A. | Determining arrangements for courses which include centrally organised examinations as part of the assessment |
Course Coordinator Team Leader, Exam Scheduling |
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B. | Scheduling of examinations | Team Leader, Exam Scheduling |
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C. | Exam Locations |
Student Student HQ Team Leader, Exam Scheduling |
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D. | Changes to Exam Location |
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E. | Non-attendance at off-campus & disability exams |
Team Leader, Exam Scheduling Student HQ |
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F. | Dictionaries in centrally coordinated examinations | Student |
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G. | Supervision of centrally coordinated examinations | Team Leader, Exam Scheduling |
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H. | Notifying students of exam timetables | Team Leader, Exam Scheduling |
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I. | Approved alternative sittings arrangements outside of examination periods |
Course Coordinator Coordinator, Disability Services |
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J. | Unexpected disruptions during exam session | Team Leader, Exam Scheduling |
2. The University does not consider an event that has mass impact, eg a bomb threat, sufficient grounds for special consideration by an individual student |
ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
---|---|---|---|
A. | Arranging non-centrally organised examinations, including take-home assessments |
Course Coordinators CUP Disability Services |
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ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
---|---|---|---|
A. | Alternative examination arrangements, including deferrals | Disability Services, Team Leader, Exam Scheduling |
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B. | Seeking approval to grant alternative examination arrangements | Student HQ and/or designated approval authority |
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C. | Conducting supplementary/special consideration examination (not deferred examinations) |
Team Leader, Exam Scheduling CUP/Partners Course Coordinators |
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ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
---|---|---|---|
A. | Submission, collection and distribution of Exam Papers to venues | Course Coordinator (or delegate) Team Leader, Exam Scheduling |
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B. | Distribution of exam materials to Academic Staff |
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C. | Ensuring security of completed examination/s | Team Leader, Exam Scheduling Schools/Academic staff/Partners |
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D | Ensuring security of examination/s materials, including Script Books |
Team Leader, Exam Scheduling Schools/Academic staff/Partners |
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.E | Protecting confidentiality of students |
Course Coordinator/ Partners |
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F | Retaining/disposing of students' examination/s | Academic staff/Partners |
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ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
---|---|---|---|
A. | Marking and grading examination/s is based on criterion referencing | Academics/Partners |
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B. | Accessing exam scripts following publication | Academic Staff |
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C. | Requesting second marking |
Course Coordinator/ Partners |
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D. | Granting of special consideration | Dean of School or nominee |
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E. | Assessing supplementary examination |
Course Coordinator/ Partners |
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F. | Recording examination results |
Student Administration/ CUP/Partners |
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ACTIVITY | RESPONSIBILITY | STEPS | |
---|---|---|---|
A. | Benchmarking of examination/s |
Associate Dean, Teaching Quality or nominee |
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B. | Ensuring examination integrity | Course Coordinator |
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The Higher Education Examinations Procedure will be communicated throughout the University community in the form of:
- An Announcement Notice via FedNews website and on the ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page on the ‘Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University’ website to alert the University-wide community of the approved Procedure.
- Learning and Teaching Committee
- School meetings
- Academic Induction Program
- Partner communications
- Examinations newsletter
The Higher Education Examinations Procedure will be implemented throughout the University via:
Information Sessions; and/or
Training Sessions
Partner communications
Document Title | Location | Responsible Officer | Minimum Retention Period |
---|---|---|---|
Proof of collection/delivery/transfer of completed exam materials between staff members. | School Administrative Office | Manager, School Services | Until the completed exam has been marked and marks recorded in a university endorsed system of record. |
Amendment to Result Form | School Administrative Office | Manager, School Services | Destroy 7 years after action completed |
Examination Benchmarking/Validation schedule | University's approved records management system | Manager, School Services | Destroy 7years after action completed |
Final Examination Results |
University's approved student management system School Administrative Office if hard copy |
Manager, School Services | Permanent |
Record of Examination (Master Copy of Exam Paper) | School Administrative Office or transferred to Central Records, if hard copy, or otherwise retained in a University's approved records management system in line with the Records Management policy and procedure. | Manager, School Services /Partner | Destroy 7 years after action completed |
Student completed exam paper/booklets | School Administrative Office | Manager, School Services /Partner | Destroy 2 years after administrative use has concluded |