Numeric Grade: 72, 77
Grade Descriptor: Very good

Equivalent Classification Descriptor (L5 and L6): 1st Class Honours

For grades in the 70s the work will demonstrate consistently very good levels of performance over a range of subject-specific, professional and/or practice-based skills.

The student will have demonstrated very good abilities in analysis and evaluation of materials, ideas, practices, and/or arguments.

Written work will be highly accomplished, displaying extensive and confident research, sharpness in analysis, critical evaluation and/or reflection, and the ability to structure, an argument, to write with fluency and accuracy, and to observe academic protocols of referencing.

Numeric Grade: 62, 65, 68
Grade Descriptor: Good

Equivalent Classification Descriptor (L5 and L6): Upper 2nd Class Honours

Grades in the 60s are an indication of good work, showing a developed breadth and depth in knowledge, understanding and/or practical skills. There will typically, however, be minor errors, flaws, limitations or inconsistencies in one or more aspects, preventing the work from achieving an excellent outcome, equivalent (at L5 and L6) to a 1st class pass.

Numeric Grade: 52, 55, 58
Grade Descriptor: Clear Pass

Equivalent Classification Descriptor (L5 and L6): Lower 2nd Class Honours

Grades in the 50s are an indication of a clear pass.

The work will have demonstrated solid skills and levels of achievement across the Learning Outcomes. There will be some elements of consistent weakness in the work, though these might not be of a serious nature.

Work deemed to be clearly of a passing standard will typically present an ability to discriminate appropriately, with awareness of contrasting viewpoints and/or processes, showing quite broad understanding of problems and ramifications.

Written work will mostly be correctly and convincingly presented, although there might be some limitations to the research and development of knowledge, understanding, and analytical skills. There are likely to be some errors in spelling, grammar and/or referencing.

Numeric Grade: 42, 45, 48
Grade Descriptor: Marginal Pass

Equivalent Classification Descriptor (L5 and L6): 3rd Class Honours

For grades in the 40s, the work has passed and the Learning Outcomes for the assignment will have been met. However, the work is deemed only satisfactory (a marginal pass) due to lower performance within some key areas: practical skills, analysis, evaluation or presentation, for example. There will be a basic (limited) knowledge and understanding presented, with a reasonable grasp on the central aspects being tested, but significant weaknesses will be evident in key areas. A mark in the upper 40s might indicate that some Learning Outcomes have been fulfilled to the level of a clear pass, but not enough to lift the work into the 50s band of achievement overall.

Numeric Grade: 32, 35, 38
Grade Descriptor: Marginal Fail

Equivalent Classification Descriptor (L5 and L6): *Not Applicable*

Grades in the 30s will be awarded to work which has marginally failed.

The work will have fulfilled some, but not all, of the Learning Outcomes. The work might be considered very close to a ‘pass’ in some aspects but it has not reached undergraduate standard overall. There will typically be a low level of performance demonstrated across a range of subject-specific, professional and/or practical skills.

For written work, there will typically be little evidence of appropriate research and developed understanding, writing will be poorly structured, with little coherence or shape to the argument, and/or poor presentation. Academic practices of referencing might not have been followed fully and accurately.

Numeric Grade: 25
Grade Descriptor: Clear Fail

Equivalent Classification Descriptor (L5 and L6): *Not Applicable*

Grades in the 20s represent a clear fail.

This means that the quality of the work could not possibly be considered as university undergraduate standard. There will be a clear lack of knowledge and understanding of the subject matter, suggestive of poor engagement, very low levels of analysis and evaluation, and/or very low performance in the required practical skills.

There will be some merit to the work, but this will be significantly underdeveloped.

Numeric Grade: 10
Grade Descriptor: Little or nothing of merit

Equivalent Classification Descriptor (L5 and L6): *Not Applicable*

Grades below 20 are awarded when the work is considered significantly below university undergraduate standard, and does not even loosely fulfil the expected Learning Outcomes.

The work will demonstrate a serious lack of understanding, effort/engagement, or ability in analysis and evaluation. It will demonstrate exceptionally low performance over most subject-specific, professional, academic and/or practice-based skills.

Note: students receiving an overall module grade below 20 will not usually be eligible for a referral opportunity and will be required to repeat the module if a further attempt is permitted and agreed by the Board of Examiners.