Open University

stoofa · 11 Jul 2015 at 11:46

I start my final module in October this year (had to delay for a year due to personal issues last year).
Ideally I want a 2:1 grade on this module as that will give me a 2:1 final mark. A 2:2 in this module and it will be a lot closer.
Count down to my BA (hons) soon to commence

dowie · 11 Jul 2015 at 11:48

shouldn't matter if it is closer... once you've finished it is just the final classification that counts... if you're applying for an MSc then perhaps do so before you finish... they tend to just give offers based on your overall degree result, so it really shouldn't matter for you if a mediocre mark still gets you over the 2:1 boundary overall

they don't give 2:1 or 2:2 for modules anyway - the OU's system is a bit more convoluted than that

Sheff · 11 Jul 2015 at 13:31

dowie said:
good luck with it... make sure your calculus is up to scratch if you're studying quantum mechanics i.e. beyond the level where you're having to pause and think about which rule you should be using - you want to be at the point where it becomes second nature

best thing you can do with maths courses is just practice questions, it gets repetitive but if you just go over every question you can find on a subject it can really help not just with that course but with further courses too as you build up a solid foundation

Thanks for the advice, I did spend quite a lot of time in the exam trying to decide which method to use - my lowish scores are from not answering all of the questions so I think I just need to speed up a bit.

I've realised that it does take me a long time for new techniques to sink in and become second nature, I'm working through the exercises again to prepare for October and will do so again next summer for the level 2 maths module.

I'm also prepared to take the level 3 modules separately if I need to - I really want an upper second or better.

dowie · 11 Jul 2015 at 13:42

maybe take a level 3 module alongside a level 2 one?

or perhaps take one by itself one year, see how it goes and then consider two together the next year

the good thing with part time courses is that you can lock in some marks, your final exams might not be so worrying as you'll hopefully already have a couple of good results from completed level 3 modules - or conversely if things go a bit wrong with your first level 3 module it can still be rectified in later ones once you know what is required at that level and can plan your study accordingly

lunar · 19 Jul 2015 at 19:37

Lokai said:
Yep, I start S142 (topics in science) end of this month, have also made a head start though.

Hope the course is going well.

I did a Physics with Mathematics BSc (Hons) degree in 1995. Took 5 years to complete. Note, to obtain honours you have to do a certain number of level 3 courses.
As for the course material; it was outstanding.

stoofa · 19 Jul 2015 at 20:57

dowie said:
shouldn't matter if it is closer... once you've finished it is just the final classification that counts... if you're applying for an MSc then perhaps do so before you finish... they tend to just give offers based on your overall degree result, so it really shouldn't matter for you if a mediocre mark still gets you over the 2:1 boundary overall

they don't give 2:1 or 2:2 for modules anyway - the OU's system is a bit more convoluted than that

Well....My 2 Level 2 and 1 level 3 modules have all either been graded Grade 1 Pass, Grade 2 Pass or Grade 3 Pass - which equates to 1st, 2:1 and 2:2
So yer - they do use the standard markings on modules.
However the final grade is made up of scores rather than a simple amalgamation of final module grades.

So if I get a Grade 2 pass on my final module, I know that will definitely give me a 2:1 final classification.
If I were to get a Grade 3 pass on my final module, it will all depend on the actual scores as to if my final classification is 2:1 or 2:2

FeFiDoh · 19 Jul 2015 at 21:13

Scored a grade 2 in TT284 and a distinction in MT264 so chuffed

Two more starting in Oct and then one in January, going to be hard work.

dowie · 19 Jul 2015 at 21:21

stoofa said:
Well....My 2 Level 2 and 1 level 3 modules have all either been graded Grade 1 Pass, Grade 2 Pass or Grade 3 Pass - which equates to 1st, 2:1 and 2:2
So yer - they do use the standard markings on modules.
However the final grade is made up of scores rather than a simple amalgamation of final module grades.

So if I get a Grade 2 pass on my final module, I know that will definitely give me a 2:1 final classification.
If I were to get a Grade 3 pass on my final module, it will all depend on the actual scores as to if my final classification is 2:1 or 2:2

I think you're getting confused by the grading system, the score you got on the module won't matter only the grade.

And as you can see the modules are graded distinction, grade 2, grade3 etc... Not 1st, 2:1 etc...

You should be able to figure out right now what grade you require for a 2:1, you will need 2 * 30 credit modules at grade 2 or above, for the other two it depends how well you did on your level 2 modules.

Azza · 4 Aug 2015 at 19:28

I'm seriously considering starting Q62 can someone explain the time frames for the assessments on modules?

Do all the TMAs have the same cut off? Or are they ordered? Same for iCMAs? iCMAs I've read you can save your progress and go back into them at a later date before submitting? Guessing they're not very weighted if that's the case?

dowie · 4 Aug 2015 at 19:52

you'll have different cut offs

Jonnybmac · 5 Aug 2015 at 12:29

Icmas are usually about 2-3%

Azza · 5 Aug 2015 at 22:41

Cool thanks for the replies.

FeFiDoh · 5 Aug 2015 at 23:08

ICMAs you can save and go back to but once submitted that is it. Should be grateful for that in case your net ever drops out

Jae-So · 8 Aug 2015 at 18:33

Finished my MSc in Technology Management in June and passed everything. Advice to anyone considering it, the Open uni courses are not easy and doing it part time only makes it harder. However I found it more fulfilling than doing a full time course

Jonnybmac · 9 Aug 2015 at 10:34

Anyone else get problems with their tutor being late with everything? My assignments for one of my modles has been 1+ week late from the 2 week cutoff every time. I'm now currently waiting 1.5 weeks for an email response for something I would like answering and I'm wondering what to do.

I haven't really felt the need to complain as even though they're late, I've always had a good and fair grading albeit sometimes maybe being a bit strict but cant argue with 90+ scores! I'm finding it annoying when I'm having to wait ages to get an answer to something he should have replied to by now. I know most tutors have day to day jobs but if they don't have time to commit to a course they shouldn't be teaching it. What's the expected time frame for email replies and how do I go about complaining? I'm going to give it 2 weeks then I feel that's enough to raise a complaint

Fubsy · 9 Aug 2015 at 11:29

I'm currently studying TU100 as well and found it generally boring beyond belief, to the point where I gave up with the course material months ago and just completed the TMAs. I've had pretty good results so far but getting a bit worried about the EMA due to my disregard to the material and whether I'm going to get caught out.

Anyone had experience with the CCNA T216 course? I'm signed up to do that next and I'm hoping it's a little more interesting.

dowie · 9 Aug 2015 at 11:54

Jonnybmac said:
Anyone else get problems with their tutor being late with everything? My assignments for one of my modles has been 1+ week late from the 2 week cutoff every time. I'm now currently waiting 1.5 weeks for an email response for something I would like answering and I'm wondering what to do.

I haven't really felt the need to complain as even though they're late, I've always had a good and fair grading albeit sometimes maybe being a bit strict but cant argue with 90+ scores! I'm finding it annoying when I'm having to wait ages to get an answer to something he should have replied to by now. I know most tutors have day to day jobs but if they don't have time to commit to a course they shouldn't be teaching it. What's the expected time frame for email replies and how do I go about complaining? I'm going to give it 2 weeks then I feel that's enough to raise a complaint

If it is a query related to the course material/exercises and not about a TMA question then you could ask on the online forum for your course. Or at a tutorial - some tutors will share tutorial groups in say London etc.. whereby they take it in turns to do the tutorials for both groups.

If it is question about a TMA then you're going to have to wait for the tutor - you could perhaps chase it up, do you have a phone number for him/her? Shouldn't be an issue to phone them up say at a reasonable time on a week day evening.

Otherwise if it is continually a problem and affecting you then I think you can ask for a new tutor - they'll just switch you across to someone else's tutor group.

Jonnybmac · 9 Aug 2015 at 12:11

dowie said:
If it is a query related to the course material/exercises and not about a TMA question then you could ask on the online forum for your course. Or at a tutorial - some tutors will share tutorial groups in say London etc.. whereby they take it in turns to do the tutorials for both groups.

If it is question about a TMA then you're going to have to wait for the tutor - you could perhaps chase it up, do you have a phone number for him/her? Shouldn't be an issue to phone them up say at a reasonable time on a week day evening.

Otherwise if it is continually a problem and affecting you then I think you can ask for a new tutor - they'll just switch you across to someone else's tutor group.

One question is about my EMA and the other is about the course material. I'm at the end of my module so I don't really have much left to endure anyways so I don't think it is necessary to move tutors now. I'll phone him through the week thanks for the advice.

Sheff · 15 Nov 2015 at 10:08

I've submitted my first TMA for my first level 2 module, S217 on Thursday so I thought I'd review the module so far.

The first unit was very basic, observing motion along a straight line but then it quickly moved on to two and three dimensions, Simple Harmonic Motion, forces, Kepler's laws...

This is a lot of material covered in a month, had I not studied MST125 or A- level maths then I think I could have struggled.

The support has been fantastic for anyone needing it, prompt replies from tutors on the forums, weekly online tutorials and a 3.5 hour in person tutorial which I sadly couldn't attend as I was working.

The negatives are that it's an online course without any books, some of the units have an ebook version which I will hopefully write a review for when I submit my next TMA.