Concerns about assessment are not uncommon. Issues may range from confusion about how a mark was derived or what went wrong in an assignment or exam to more complicated matters regarding procedural fairness or the specific conduct of the assessment.
Generally you should start by discussing any concern over assessment with the lecturer, tutor or course coordinator before taking the issue further. You have the right to know your overall grade and the breakdown of each mark or how the overall grade was derived. You can ask the lecturer to go over your work and assist you in understanding what you could do to improve your result next time.
You may ask for the piece of assessment or the exam to be remarked by someone else, but there is no obligation for the faculty to do so. Any grades that result in a fail for the subject will have been automatically remarked. You can appeal any decision on assessment, however if the disagreement is based solely on academic judgment, it is highly unlikely the result will be altered. “Academic judgment” refers to a situation where the student simply thinks that they should have received a better mark than the examiner has given them. The University would probably grind to a halt if every mark could be disputed for this reason alone.
If your lecturer is not very cooperative with you on this matter, you can approach the course coordinator or the Head of Department for further assistance. Should the matter still not be resolved, it may be helpful to make an appointment to see one of the advisors at the Advocacy Service who can assist you to write a letter to the Dean/Associate Dean of the Faculty. This letter will ideally list your concerns and all the steps you have taken to try to resolve the matter. You should expect a reply to your letter from the Dean within a week unless it is a highly complicated issue. If, after this, the outcome is still unsatisfactory, staff at the advocacy service can support you in an appeal to the Academic Board.
It’s not unusual for students to feel worried that they will be seen as a troublemaker by the department. If you are feeling that it may be easier to give up, make an appointment with a staff member from the Advocacy Service. We can assist you with each step, and in some cases, approach the department on your behalf. You don’t have to face the problem alone.
Sometimes the issue may be how you have been treated by staff when you seek assistance. Occasionally students report being treated poorly and feel too intimidated to continue with a complaint. If this situation has happened to you, it is best to seek advice from someone who is independent and can assist you in deciding the best course of action. If you feel you have been discriminated against in some way, you should also seek advice (see our Anti-discrimination information). The Advocacy Service can help you in either case.
Special Consideration
If you have performed badly in a piece of assessment or an exam due to substantial disruptions to your study caused by illness or other problems, you should apply for Special Consideration. The way Special Consideration is implemented varies between faculties, however as a general rule, you may be granted supplementary assessment if your application is approved and deemed moderate or severe. Usually the mark you end up with in the assessment will also be a relevant factor in determining whether supplementary assessment is provided. If you have missed an exam due to severe illness or an unexpected problem out of your control, you may be eligible for a Special Exam. You should contact your faculty as soon as possible if you miss some assessment for any unexpected and exceptional circumstances.
