ERRORS IN THE CONDUCT OF ASSESSMENT
An Error in the Conduct of Assessment is where the University has, or has not done something which has then had a negative impact on an assessment (e.g. exam, coursework or placement).
How and when do I make a claim?
To make a claim you need to complete a Claim of an Error in the Conduct of Assessment Process form. You can get these from the
Advice Centre, your Faculty Office, the
Student Complaints, Appeals and Conduct office or from your College Office. Alternatively you can download the Procedure, Notes for Guidance and Form from the
Error in the Conduct of Assessment page on iCity. You should submit the form within
fifteen working days of the publication of your results. Working days do not include weekends, bank holidays or University closed days.
Completing the Claim of an Error in the Conduct of Assessment Process form.
There are six sections that you need to complete:
Parts 1, 2 & 3: Your personal and course details
This is so the Academic Registry knows who you are, how you can be contacted and what course you are studying. You also need to sign a declaration to say that the information you have supplied is genuine
Once a decision has been made about your claim you could initially be informed by email and this will be followed by a letter. It is therefore important that these details are correct and that you can easily access your email and post at the addresses you have given.
Part 4: The assessment which is affected
You need to need to give details of which assessment has been affected by the error.
The number of times that you have been registered to take the assessment is the number of times (including this one) where there has been an opportunity for you to take the assessment and not just the number of times you have taken it.
You should tick the relevant box if you were failed and withdrawn from your course due to failure in the assessment. You will be allowed to continue to attend classes and use the library whilst the claim is being considered.
Part 5: Grounds for your claim
This is where you explain what you feel the University has or hasn’t done and how it has affected your performance in the assessment. If you feel you claim falls into one of the following categories you may have grounds for a claim. This list is not exhaustive and if you are unsure whether you have grounds for a claim, contact the
Advice Centre for advice.
Coursework:
•The coursework deadline was not given in good time or you were not informed of the deadline.
•Your coursework has gone missing after submission (you will need to prove you handed the work in).
Examinations:
•Being incorrectly advised of the time, date or venue of the exam.
•Timetable clashes (e.g. examinations taking place on the same day and at the same time or concurrent examinations where an unreasonable distance has to be traveled to attend both).
•Not being advised of specific examination information (e.g. open book).
Placement:
•Significant periods of absence by the assessor/mentor without a suitable alternative being provided.
•Not being informed of shortfalls in performance with enough notice to rectify any problems, for example a mid-way review meeting was not held on time and action plans to help you improve were not provided.
Other examples:
•Failure to provide agreed support, i.e. reasonable adjustments outlined in a disability statement were not provided.
•Tutor or supervisor support was not available.
Academic judgment:
You can not question the academic judgement of your tutors which means you cannot make a claim of error in the assessment if you disagree with the mark you have been awarded. Similarly, if you are unhappy with the quality of teaching or information provided, you cannot appeal against an Exam Board decision but may be able to make a complaint through the Student Complaints Procedure. If you are unsure of which procedure to use then please contact the Advice Centre.
When writing your statement, don’t leave information out but try not to waffle. Stick to the facts and make sure someone who knows nothing about you or your course will be able to understand what happened and how it affected you. If it makes it easier to read, type your statement and enclose it with the form. Keep a copy of what you write. The Advice Centre can check your statement if you wish. It is useful, and saves time, if you prepare a draft before seeing an Adviser.
Part 6: The nature of the remedy sought
This is where you can suggest what you want the University to do to resolve the situation. In most cases students request that the assessment affected is discounted and that they can re-take the assessment at the next opportunity. If you are unsure what to put here, contact the Advice Centre
Do I need to submit any evidence?
If there is any evidence to support you claim then you should include it. Examples of evidence would include evidence of submission of work, copies of placement documents, relevant emails etc.
What happens next?
Within five working days, the form and evidence are reviewed by the Student Complaints and Appeals team and then sent to your faculty where someone, who is not a member of your course team, will investigate your claim. The faculty will either decide that an error has occurred which affected your assessment or that there are no grounds for the claim and the original exam board decision should stand. The faculty should reach their decision within fifteen working days of receiving the claim from.
If they find there has been an error that can be easily resolved, it will be done as soon as possible and you will receive confirmation of the decision in writing from the complaints and appeals team.
If your faculty disagree that an error occurred they will send a written explanation of their decision to the Academic Registry. A member of the Student Conduct Appeals and Disciplinary (SCAD) committee will review your faculty’s decision.
If they agree that there are no grounds for a claim then you will be given a written explanation of the decision and you will be informed of of the appeals process.
If the SCAD member feels there may be some grounds for a claim they could ask for a panel to consider your claim. You and the faculty would be invited to discuss the case and a panel would decide on the outcome. A Student Adviser from the Advice Centre can accompany you to the hearing and represent you if you wish. You will be notified of the decision within fifteen working days of the meeting of the panel and/or exam board.
The advice centre can help you make a claim of exceptional circumstances or make an appeal if your claim is turned down. If you would like to make an appointment to see an adviser or to speak to someone on the phone contact the Advice Centre on 0121 331 6801.