High distinction

85 - 100

Work receiving a high distinction grade will generally exhibit the following characteristics:

• Completely answers the question.
• Contains striking originality of approach or analysis.
• Demonstrates exhaustive or innovative research (where independent research required).
• Exceptionally well written, structured and expressed.
• Is otherwise exceptional in some way.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work receiving a distinction grade will generally exhibit the following characteristics:

• Completely answers the question.
• Achieves a critical and evaluative approach to the issues.
• Content and structure is well organised in support of the argument.
• Demonstrates extensive research and analysis to support a well-documented argument.
• Generally well expressed and free from errors.
• Has a clear structure and is well articulated.

Credit

65 - 74

Work receiving a credit grade will generally exhibit the following characteristics:

• Covers main issues fairly well in answering the question.
• Contains no significant errors
• Demonstrates an attempted critical approach to the issues.
• Demonstrates reasonably sound research and analysis in addressing the key issues.
• Has a clear structure and reasonably clear expression.

Pass

50 - 64

Work receiving a pass grade will generally exhibit the following characteristics:

• Identifies the key issues, but does not follow through with a reasoned argument.
• Contains some significant errors.
• Displays satisfactory engagement with the key issues.
• Offers descriptive summary of material relevant to the question.
• Superficial use of material, and may display a tendency to paraphrase.
• Demonstrates little evidence of in-depth research or analysis.
• Adequate expression.
• Overall, demonstrates the minimum level of competence in the assessment and satisfies the requirements to proceed to higher-level studies in the degree or subject area.

Fail

0 - 49

A student must make a satisfactory attempt of all assessment tasks set out for this Unit of Study in order to obtain a Pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this Unit of Study.

Work may fail for any or all of the following reasons:

• Does not answer the question.
• Contains significant or numerous errors.
• Few or no identifiable arguments.
• Content that is inappropriate or irrelevant.
• Lack of research or analysis.
• Difficult or impossible to understand through poor grammar, expression or structure.
• Overall, does not demonstrate the minimum level of competence in the assessment.