The Student Room Group

Degree Classification

Hi I am currently coming to the end of my degree and just curious about degree classification based on my grades.
I have looked at the regulations here: https://regulations.docstore.port.ac.uk/ExamRegs9BoardofExaminers.pdf
And have seen the rules below for working out degree classification:
5.4.3.4. The Board of Examiners shall recommend to a student who is eligible for the relevant award, as defined in the document Awards of the University of Portsmouth, the highest classification arising from the application of the following formulae:
a) the classification of the weighted mean of all relevant credits at Level 5 and all relevant credits at Level 6 in the ratio of 40:60 respectively after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits both at Level 5 and at Level 6;
b) the classification of the weighted mean of all relevant credits at Level 6 after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits at Level 6
c) the minimum classification in which more than 50% of the combined relevant credits at Level 5 and Level 6 were attained after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits both at Level 5 and at Level 6

I have also used the calculator here:
https://soc.port.ac.uk/dcalc/

I was just curious about the wording of rule C. Does that mean if I got 3 modules worth 20 credits graded at 60% in level 5 and another 3 modules of 20 credits graded at 60% in level 6 that I would get a final grade of 60% overall regardless of what I got from my dissertation which is worth 40 credits?

I was just a little confused and unsure if the calculator was correct,
Thank you!
Original post by NeoXlm
Hi I am currently coming to the end of my degree and just curious about degree classification based on my grades.
I have looked at the regulations here: https://regulations.docstore.port.ac.uk/ExamRegs9BoardofExaminers.pdf
And have seen the rules below for working out degree classification:
5.4.3.4. The Board of Examiners shall recommend to a student who is eligible for the relevant award, as defined in the document Awards of the University of Portsmouth, the highest classification arising from the application of the following formulae:
a) the classification of the weighted mean of all relevant credits at Level 5 and all relevant credits at Level 6 in the ratio of 40:60 respectively after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits both at Level 5 and at Level 6;
b) the classification of the weighted mean of all relevant credits at Level 6 after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits at Level 6
c) the minimum classification in which more than 50% of the combined relevant credits at Level 5 and Level 6 were attained after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits both at Level 5 and at Level 6

I have also used the calculator here:
https://soc.port.ac.uk/dcalc/

I was just curious about the wording of rule C. Does that mean if I got 3 modules worth 20 credits graded at 60% in level 5 and another 3 modules of 20 credits graded at 60% in level 6 that I would get a final grade of 60% overall regardless of what I got from my dissertation which is worth 40 credits?

I was just a little confused and unsure if the calculator was correct,
Thank you!

Clause (c) isn't terribly clear is it? I read is saying:
1. First discard the worst 20 credits at Level 5 and the worst 20 credits at level 6.
2. Then look at the 200 credits remaining. If more than 50% of them (i.e. more than 100 credits) would be classified as 2:1, then you get a 2:1.

So, in the scenario you describe, you would get a 2:1 overall. Is that what their calculator said?
Reply 2
Original post by DataVenia
Clause (c) isn't terribly clear is it? I read is saying:
1. First discard the worst 20 credits at Level 5 and the worst 20 credits at level 6.
2. Then look at the 200 credits remaining. If more than 50% of them (i.e. more than 100 credits) would be classified as 2:1, then you get a 2:1.

So, in the scenario you describe, you would get a 2:1 overall. Is that what their calculator said?
Hi thank you for the response! Yeah that's what the calculator came out with I just wasn't sure if it was correct but thank you for clearing it up! I'm glad someone else agrees its rather confusing haha thank you again!
Reply 3
Original post by DataVenia
Clause (c) isn't terribly clear is it? I read is saying:
1. First discard the worst 20 credits at Level 5 and the worst 20 credits at level 6.
2. Then look at the 200 credits remaining. If more than 50% of them (i.e. more than 100 credits) would be classified as 2:1, then you get a 2:1.
So, in the scenario you describe, you would get a 2:1 overall. Is that what their calculator said?

Hi

I studied 200 credits all together at UoP because I had recognition of prior learning from previous study. This is contributed to a degree I have just completed.

I just wanted to see what your thought were on how I will be graded?

Over those 200 credits, 180 were markable with 20 credits being pass/fail.

Out of the 180 credits I received 70% or above on 100/180 which to me seems like a first class result? However if I drop 20 credits twice I will not, il have 60/80. Do they still drop credits off if I have only studied 200 credits?

My worst pieces of work were both of my project work which were 40 credits each and I scored 62 % in each of them coincidently. Will they only remove 20 credit scores even if my project work was the lowest score? Or will they half the project work down to 20 credits? In that case my overall GPA is higher?

Can anyone help?
Original post by js00890375
Hi

I studied 200 credits all together at UoP because I had recognition of prior learning from previous study. This is contributed to a degree I have just completed.

I just wanted to see what your thought were on how I will be graded?

Over those 200 credits, 180 were markable with 20 credits being pass/fail.

Out of the 180 credits I received 70% or above on 100/180 which to me seems like a first class result? However if I drop 20 credits twice I will not, il have 60/80. Do they still drop credits off if I have only studied 200 credits?

My worst pieces of work were both of my project work which were 40 credits each and I scored 62 % in each of them coincidently. Will they only remove 20 credit scores even if my project work was the lowest score? Or will they half the project work down to 20 credits? In that case my overall GPA is higher?

Can anyone help?

At which level are each of those 200 credits, and which level were the 20 credits which were pass/fail? (Note that I'm asking about the level of the modules, not the level level you were in when you took the module - as these are not always the same.)

I suspect your situation will be handled via paragraph 9.8.6 in Examination & Assessment Regulations, which says:

"9.8.6 The Board of Examiners shall have discretion to recommend classification of honours other than would accord with regulations if at Level 6, 20 credits or more have been obtained from RPL or pass/fail modules."

That basically says if the total of your pass/fail and prior learning credits exceeds 20 (which it does), then they adjust the rules on a case-by-case basis.

However, depending on in which level you achieved those 180 graded credits (and 20 pass/fail credits), it may be that 9.8.4 b) will provide the result you seek:

"b) the classification of the weighted mean of all relevant credits at Level 6 after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits at Level 6;"
Reply 5
Original post by DataVenia
At which level are each of those 200 credits, and which level were the 20 credits which were pass/fail? (Note that I'm asking about the level of the modules, not the level level you were in when you took the module - as these are not always the same.)
I suspect your situation will be handled via paragraph 9.8.6 in Examination & Assessment Regulations, which says:
Reply 6
Original post by DataVenia
At which level are each of those 200 credits, and which level were the 20 credits which were pass/fail? (Note that I'm asking about the level of the modules, not the level level you were in when you took the module - as these are not always the same.)
I suspect your situation will be handled via paragraph 9.8.6 in Examination & Assessment Regulations, which says:
"9.8.6 The Board of Examiners shall have discretion to recommend classification of honours other than would accord with regulations if at Level 6, 20 credits or more have been obtained from RPL or pass/fail modules."
That basically says if the total of your pass/fail and prior learning credits exceeds 20 (which it does), then they adjust the rules on a case-by-case basis.
However, depending on in which level you achieved those 180 graded credits (and 20 pass/fail credits), it may be that 9.8.4 b) will provide the result you seek:
"b) the classification of the weighted mean of all relevant credits at Level 6 after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits at Level 6;"

Hi,

Thanks for coming back to me.

So the 200 credits were split,120 L6 & 80 L5. 20 of the L5 credits were pass/fail.

Out of the 180 markable credits I received a score:

L6
70% @ 20 C
70% @ 20 C
70% @ 40 C
62% @ 40 C

L5
75% @ 20 C
625 @ 40 C

I think 9.8.4 b the weighted mean puts me under 70%. However, 9.8.5 b) the minimum classification in which more than 50% of the combined relevant credits at level 6 have been attained after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits at Level 6. This puts me over 70% i think?

For students studying over 200+ credits, classification is considered on the 200 credits, I suppose my question is, with me being under that would they still remove any credits i.e 20 credits at each level?
Original post by js00890375
Hi,

Thanks for coming back to me.

So the 200 credits were split,120 L6 & 80 L5. 20 of the L5 credits were pass/fail.

Out of the 180 markable credits I received a score:

L6
70% @ 20 C
70% @ 20 C
70% @ 40 C
62% @ 40 C

L5
75% @ 20 C
625 @ 40 C

I think 9.8.4 b the weighted mean puts me under 70%. However, 9.8.5 b) the minimum classification in which more than 50% of the combined relevant credits at level 6 have been attained after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits at Level 6. This puts me over 70% i think?

For students studying over 200+ credits, classification is considered on the 200 credits, I suppose my question is, with me being under that would they still remove any credits i.e 20 credits at each level?

Based upon your module breakdown, I agree that 9.8.4 b puts you just under 70% (I make it 67%). I don't think 9.8.5 applies, as it starts, "A Board of Examiners shall, where a student has been admitted with credit to study only the final stage". If you have level 5 credits from Portsmouth then you must have been admitted to level 5 - i.e. not "only the final stage". Agreed?

You say that, "For students studying over 200+ credits, classification is considered on the 200 credits". Is that rule written into the regulations somewhere? I don't see it mentioned in Examination & Assessment Regulations or Examination & Assessment Regulations: Board of Examiners.

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