Marking criteria

Your work is marked according to carefully defined criteria. Follow the navigation links for the criteria that apply to each subject area or type of assessed activity.

Marks are usually given as a percentage. You will find a descriptor corresponding to the mid-point mark for each degree class: 75, 65, 55, 45. (There is no strict upper limit on a first-class mark, but in practice marks above 80 are rare.) The numerical mark translates into degree class as follows:

The detailed descriptors relate to level 3 (final year) work. To understand how expected standards of work and assessment change as you move through your three years of study, see the page on Intellectual development and the other materials in the Learning & teaching section. Level 1 and 2 units based on coursework will have their own criteria made clear when the work is set.

Please refer to these marking criteria when preparing and planning your work. You should note that these categories, while rigorously applied, will not necessarily all be present in order to obtain a mark in a particular category, nor will they be equally weighted in arriving at a final mark.