Melbourne School of Engineering

Assessment: progression of courses

In 2001, the Academic Board of the University adopted a new policy on Additional Assessment. The policy covers the awarding of Special Examinations resulting from applications for "Special Consideration" and the awarding of Supplementary Examinations. The Progression Guidelines of the Faculty of Engineering have been modified to be in accord with the new policy.
On 11 October 2007 the (then) Faculty Education Committee ratified further changes to the policy. The latest version is documented below.

1. Background

The following guidelines will be referred to by the Faculty of Engineering Examination Review Board when it reviews the results achieved by students enrolled in courses of the Faculty of Engineering in or after 2002.

These guidelines refer to the degrees:

• Bachelor of Engineering
• Bachelor of Geomatic Engineering
• Bachelor of Computer Science, and
• the engineering component of the associated double degrees.

2. The Examination Review Board

The Examination Review Board is the decision-making committee for the award of additional assessment. Recommendations from Departments and other Faculties will be taken into account. In all cases, the students' complete academic record will be considered.

The Examination Review Board meets twice each year and immediately prior to the publication of results for semester-1 and semester-2. Examination results for subjects taught in the Summer Semester are included in the Board's considerations at the end of semester-1.

3. Additional Assessment (Special or Supplementary Examinations)

Additional assessment in the form of a Special Examination may be awarded to students where a Special Consideration application is approved. Where a Special Examination is granted, the assessment marks are recorded as a mark in the range 0-100.

Additional assessment in the form of a Supplementary Examination may be awarded when a student;

• has failed one a single subject with a mark in the range 40-49, and
• the subject has a weighting of not more than 25 points; and
• the subject was attempted in the student’s final or penultimate semester*, and
• if that subject had been passed, the student would now meet all conditions necessary for completion of their degree.

Where a Supplementary Examination is granted, the final mark recorded will be no greater than 50.
*Note: the Summer Semester examination results are not reviewed until the end of semester-1.

If these conditions are met, the student will be requested to choose between two options.

1. Take an immediate conceded pass (NCP) in that subject; or
2. Complete additional assessment of a form to be determined by the examiner of that subject.

The assessment may be of the form of a supplementary exam, or may be in the form of written submission, or may in the form of an oral examination, but regardless of form, must be completed within one month** of the date of the letter requesting the student to nominate their choice of action.

If the additional assessment is completed to the satisfaction of the examiner, a final mark of 50 will be recorded. On the other hand, if the student elects to take additional assessment and does not complete it within one month to the satisfaction of the examiner, then the original failing mark will be retained for the subject, and the degree will remain incomplete.

If, after being invited to undertake a supplementary exam, a student doesn’t make a choice, then the NCP will be recorded.

** Note: Letters pertaining to semester 2 examination results are normally sent after the Christmas break.

4. Further tests

Further Tests are an extension of the first examination. Departments may wish to set Further Tests when circumstances have led to some uncertainty in deciding the final mark to be recorded. Wherever possible, departments should return marks resulting from Further Tests before the meeting of the Faculty Examination Review Board.

In special circumstances a Department may return a "Withheld" mark (WH), pending a further test.

5. Unsatisfactory Progress

A student may be referred to the Unsatisfactory Progress Committee where 50% or more of the semester assessment has been failed and/or a core subject has been failed twice or more.

In these situations students may be required to attend an interview with the Unsatisfactory Progress Committee where the outcome could be :

1. a warning regarding performance, while allowing the candidate to progress; and
2. advice regarding the restructuring of the program; and/or
3. advice regarding alternative course options; or
4. recommendation to the Academic Board that the student be suspended from the course in which they are currently enrolled.

Students who are not referred to the Unsatisfactory Progress Committee may be referred to the Faculty Office or the appropriate Department for counselling.

Additional assessment will not be offered to students who are referred to the Unsatisfactory Progress Committee.

6. Notes

These progression guidelines may not be applied if the Board of Examiners considers them to be inappropriate in the light of a student's application for special consideration.

These progression guidelines may be applied to students who have taken leave of absence during the year but not in the case where the taking of leave has been on the advice of the Faculty with an assurance that the student will not be requested to face the Unsatisfactory Progress Committee.

For the purpose of these guidelines, subjects with a WD recorded will not count as "attempted" or "failed".

Special and Supplementary Examinations for subjects taught in the summer semester and semester-1 will normally be held in late July. Special and Supplementary Examinations for subjects taught in semester-2 will be held in the following January and February.

When students have failed subjects they will be required to make up the deficit in points to meet the total points required for the course. The subjects failed need not be repeated unless these are "core" subjects or are needed to satisfy prerequisites.

See the University Statute referring to Unsatisfactory Progress (Statute 11.5); pdf version here.