Appealing university grades

[AJK]

I asked, because multiple people have said that it can be a difficult thing to measure with differing standards.

And that's true. Different universities will have different policies on weighting of years and modules, and formulae which may be applied if you're over- or under-loaded, or fall near a grade boundary. Of course if you don't want to tell us where you go, we can't help with specifics.

I've looked on my universities website but cannot find anything.

You haven't looked hard enough. Assessment criteria isn't something that universities generally hide. Also, perhaps you could consider asking someone at your university who would know? (Fellow student, tutor...?)

Ultimately, you can post here all you want, but if you think that appealing your grade is the right decision you need to do it immediately and via the correct channels at your institution. You may be required to do this within, for example, two weeks of finding out your classification.

It really doesn't matter whether the OCUK forums agree with you or not...

 

[JonJ678]

Mine was listed on the department page. 20% on year 2, 40% on year 3, 40% on year 4. But it varied significantly between courses. I suppose you could tell us what course you're on and where.

 

[sports_brah]

Mine was listed on the department page. 20% on year 2, 40% on year 3, 40% on year 4. But it varied significantly between courses. I suppose you could tell us what course you're on and where.

Mine is weighted 40/60 between 2nd and 3rd year. 120 credits a year with subjects either 15/30 (final year) in credits or 18/12 in second year.

So basically I calculated grades by finding what each module was worth as a percentage of the year. Eg one of my modules was 30 credits. That is 25% of the year, and I got 70% in it.

This means I got 17.5% for that year. Seeing as it is final year that gives it a 60% weighting, thus it accounts for 10.6% of my degree classification.

And so on.

 

[sports_brah]

Okay it says:

The 2011/12 regulations permitted a PAB to consider reclassifying a student who was within 2% of the higher class.

The 2012/13 regulations permit a PAB to consider reclassifying a student who is within 1% of the higher class.


****.

 

[AJK]

Okay it says:

The 2011/12 regulations permitted a PAB to consider reclassifying a student who was within 2% of the higher class.

The 2012/13 regulations permit a PAB to consider reclassifying a student who is within 1% of the higher class.

I thought your issue was that you'd been treated unfairly etc, and you wanted to appeal on those grounds (presumably to remove from consideration, or increase the mark of, exams in which you did particularly badly, thereby increasing your overall mark to within the range of a 2:1 anyway)? In which case you need to speak to your university (presumably Sussex based on above info?)

Or are you changing that story now, and you just want the higher class because you were close?

 

[sports_brah]

I thought your issue was that you'd been treated unfairly etc, and you wanted to appeal on those grounds (presumably to remove from consideration, or increase the mark of, exams in which you did particularly badly, thereby increasing your overall mark to within the range of a 2:1 anyway)? In which case you need to speak to your university (presumably Sussex based on above info?)

Or are you changing that story now, and you just want the higher class because you were close?

I figure that the university will be a lot more likely to help if it is within their existing framework, rather than arbitrary measures which would be a lot more difficult to quantify.

The university has messed me around, and I'm looking for consideration on the basis of this. My minimum is to see me right with my classification which, I reckon would have been easily achievable but for their messup.

 

[DAnDan]

I figure that the university will be a lot more likely to help if it is within their existing framework, rather than arbitrary measures which would be a lot more difficult to quantify.

The university has messed me around, and I'm looking for consideration on the basis of this. My minimum is to see me right with my classification which, I reckon would have been easily achievable but for their messup.

Generally the rule of thumb is that any sort of mitigating/extenuating circumstance that hasn't been reported before the assessment in question isn't going to be considered.

So any appeal based on something months ago, is likely to be dismissed instantly.

 

[quickshot89]

I think we need to know what degree your on if this extra 1% is so important

 

[Surveyor]

By all means try but it looks like you got what, according to your own words, you deserved.

****.

Really not looking forward to tomorrow. Results of my degree are out. I know I've ****ed up and I'm getting a 2:2, but my family is convinced/expecting that I'll get a 2:1.

I'm not happy with my 2:2 but its what I deserve, but I don't want to deal with everyones sympathy.

grrr.


(though I do not take being loved for granted).

 

[Deleted member 651465]

Only twice have I ever argued a grade

1) a mate copied my advanced electronics lab report and got 10% higher than me!
2) I submitted my assignment at 23:50 thinking the deadline was midnight and it was at 5pm. Now usually I'd take it on the chin, but this was a distance learning diploma and there was no mention of the time of the deadline; just a date. I had to submit an extenuating circumstances form to get my real grade (75%).

 

[RDM]

Only twice have I ever argued a grade

1) a mate copied my advanced electronics lab report and got 10% higher than me!

Did your mate get kicked out for cheating?

 

[Deleted member 651465]

Did your mate get kicked out for cheating?

No. I didn't say he copied but rather "we worked on this together, how can I have 10% lower?!" and the lecturer literally just changed the mark like it was nothing

 

[sports_brah]

I don't believe it's not there. And it's a simple thing to calculate, it's just different everywhere. Where did you go? If you tell me where you went, and give me a breakdown of your grades, I don't mind working it out for you (I've worked it out for numerous people at my uni, as somehow they couldn't work it out themselves). Message in trust, or whatever.

That'd be great. I'll send you trust now.

 

[sports_brah]

Sent.

 

[=XDC=FluphyBunny]

From what you have said I don't see why the University would up your grade, particularly due to the fact that you yourself have admitted that you didn't work hard enough. That's something the Uni via your Tutors and lecturers will be aware of. It may only be a %, but that single percent doesn't necessarily represent the actual difference between a 2:2 and a 2:1.

It will be interesting to know how this works out. Either way its a learning experience if nothing else.

 

[skippy2421]

I know our university didn't have its boundaries set in stone. ie if a year does particularly badly (like mine did due to a ridiculous fluid dynamics exam where they changed the whole format and had poorly worded instructions) they'll work it differently. I got 58.8% I believe but had you taken out my fluid dynamics I'd have been in at 64% so I got a 2:1 as nearly all those that took fluid dynamics suffered as a result. If your university does the same and your year performed well you could in fact be quite a way off the boundary. I understand why you'd appeal however as you wouldn't voluntarily settle for it and restrict the possible jobs open to yourself as that would just be retarded. Especially now as the minimum requirements for grad schemes appear to be going up everywhere. I can't help with regards to the appeal process as that'll probably be dependent on your university but I wish you good luck with it.

When you eventually get yourself a job you'll soon find (like some of the other posters here have mentioned) that degree classification is often a poor indicator of an individual's ability to carry out a role.

 

[manic111]

Why not just go into/phone your university department and ask? Mention the mitigating circumstances and find out about the appeals process.

There's no harm in asking them. As others have said, once you start work your 2:2 will matter much less, but getting your first job will be affected by not having a 2:1. Ask your department.

 

[Freefaller]

Once you're employed and been have employed for a few years or with a few employers your actual degree becomes less important as your experience builds.

However getting that initial foot in the door seems a lot harder now unfortunately.

If there are extenuating circumstances it's worth appealing, otherwise, if it is just for the sakes of getting bumped up a grade with no mitigating situation then it's hard to support that.

 

[AJK]

Why not just go into/phone your university department and ask? Mention the mitigating circumstances and find out about the appeals process.

Seems pretty clear he's not ready to do this based on conversation in this thread so far! Though, as I mentioned above, some (I imagine all) universities have pretty strict deadlines around appealing so any appeal needs to be registered pretty quickly once results are out.

 

[manic111]

If there are extenuating circumstances it's worth appealing, otherwise, if it is just for the sakes of getting bumped up a grade with no mitigating situation then it's hard to support that.

Can't hurt to try though. It's potentially (not necessarily) the difference between being on a very good grad scheme and having to work your way up from the bottom. For the sake of an email or phonecall it's worth it.