This page is intended to help new staff to understand what the policies are for marking within ECLS. It will also serve as an aide memoire to those of us who have been around for a long time but have not managed to remember all the changes along the way. Module convenors are reminded that the responsibility for applying lateness penalties and conducting plagiarism checks lies with them.

MA marking

Please follow the link for further information on MA marking conventions & criteria.

We do not use the 20-point scale for MA marking. Colleagues should bear in mind the danger of grade inflation. An essay deserving at 65 on the undergraduate scale would be awarded a lower mark at MA level (see the criteria for guidance on what mark to award). However, it has become clear that some caution will have to be applied, since the University moved (this year) to a new system where distinctions and merits are now awarded on averages rather than on preponderance. This means that markers should consider very carefully before they hold down marks right at the bottom of class boundaries. In years gone by it was possible to get a distinction with three low distinction marks and some mid merit marks but this is no longer the case. If you think the work is of clear distinction level, please reward it accordingly (though not over-generously, of course).

All MA essays are double marked (informed) with the convenor of the module acting as the first marker.

All MA Dissertations/Long Projects are double marked (blind) with the supervisor acting as second marker. The supervisor should not let the first marker have their comments before the first marker has finished marking.

Please note for all MA marking there is a need for both markers to write substantial comments (c. 200 words) -- this may be annotations on the dissertation or a final comment. This is a result of several requests from our external examiners that two sets of comments should be given to help the student improve their research. Markers should agree marks before entering in Tabula.

Graduate Diploma marking - currently not applicable

We often have diploma students following undergraduate modules as part of their single-year course. There has been some confusion in the past about how we mark these students. However, the Diploma is a Level 6 qualification and work submitted for it should marked on the 20-point scale and in accordance with BA not MA criteria.