E/6.5 Allocation and release of results

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6.5.1 Authority of the executive dean to submit and approve results
6.5.2 Submission of results
6.5.3 Approval of results
6.5.4 Special consideration
6.5.5 Alteration of results after release
6.5.6 Finalisation of results
6.5.7 Release of final grades
6.5.8 Final grades
6.5.9 Grading scale - honours degrees (post-bachelor degree program)
6.5.10 Grade point average
Modification History

This policy should be read in conjunction with the QUT Student Rules and the procedural information provided on the Student Services website.

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6.5.1 Authority of the executive dean to submit and approve results

For the purposes of this policy (E/6.5), the executive dean of faculty is acting as the chair of faculty academic board.

In accordance with Student rule 50(1), the executive dean may delegate to another person or body the authority to approve results, provided that the executive dean has determined policy on assessment of results and the decisions of the person or body are consistent with this policy and reported to the executive dean.

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6.5.2 Submission of results

The Student Business Services Department processes results in cooperation with heads of school and unit coordinators.

Recommended grades and/or marks (%) must be submitted on disk in correct electronic format for loading to the student information system.

Examiners (see E/6.2.2 ) should include the names of any students who undertook assessment but who do not appear to be correctly enrolled in the unit. Such students may not have a result released until the problem with their enrolment is resolved.

Results must be authorised by the head of school and should be submitted progressively to the Examinations Officer. Results must be received no later than the published date for incorporation in reports for faculty academic boards.

Where students are enrolled in teaching periods that do not have a central examination period, executive deans of faculty submit final results to the Examinations Officer for recording and release to the student.

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6.5.3 Approval of results

Each executive dean is provided with a list of students in the faculty's courses with recommended results for all units. In accordance with Student Rule 35, executive deans review and approve results recommended for each student of each course in accordance with course rules and faculty policy.

The executive dean may determine a unit result of a student enrolled in one of the faculty's courses which is different from the result recommended by the examiner and/or the head of the school offering the unit.

The determination should occur after consultation with either the examiner of the unit or the head of the school offering the unit regarding the intended variation and considering any matters which either of them wish to place before the faculty academic board. Examiners and heads of schools must make every effort to make themselves available for such consultation, which may take place in person, electronically, or by any other means that will facilitate the process. If consultation is unable to occur due to the unavailability of both the examiner and the head of school, the faculty academic board may make the decision to alter the grade.

Following approval by the executive dean, the Student Business Services Department formally notifies results to the student on behalf of the Registrar (see Student Rule 35).

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6.5.4 Special consideration

Students who consider that their performance in an assessment item was adversely affected by illness or other exceptional circumstances may apply for special consideration.

Applications for special consideration must include detailed documentation of the medical or other grounds upon which the application is based and should normally be submitted prior to or within three days of the examination or the submission of the assessment item. Applications are considered by heads of school. Unit coordinators determine how special consideration will be applied to the particular assessment item. Additional marks may be granted in accordance with any faculty academic board determinations (see Student rule 36).

Documentation requirements and application forms are available on the Student Services web site ( Special Consideration ).

Records of applications for special consideration and their outcomes should be retained in the school or faculty.

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6.5.5 Alteration of results after release

An executive dean of faculty administering a course may, with the concurrence of the relevant unit coordinator or the head of the school offering the unit, alter his or her decisions on results in order to

• correct a patent error
• make a decision accord with a decision that the executive dean, head of school and/or unit coordinator are satisfied would have been made if relevant circumstances which were not considered by the executive dean had been taken into account.

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6.5.6 Finalisation of results

Where a result is unfinalised at the time of release, including units where supplementary assessment is to be granted, the faculty academic board must advise Student Business Services Department of the final result no later than six weeks after the release of results.

If, because of exceptional circumstances, a result can not be finalised within the time specified above, the executive dean must advise the Registrar of the circumstances and request an extension of time. All unfinalised results are converted to 'K' grades (Withdrawn - Failure) six weeks after release of results, unless an extension of time has been granted.

Where a student fails to meet a debt or obligation to the University, the Registrar may approve the withholding of the student's examination results.

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6.5.7 Release of final grades

Students are advised of final grades at the end of each teaching period.

A student may have the grade obtained in any unit reviewed on request (refer MOPP E/9.1 for policy on review of grades and academic rulings).

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6.5.8 Final grades

A final grade is awarded for each unit attempted.

Grading scale

University academic board specifies the grading scale to be used in allocating a record of achievement for studies at the university (Student rule 34).

QUT has adopted the following grading scale for allocating final grades. Generic descriptors of these grades are available at MOPP C/9.2.

Pass Grades:

• 7 - High Distinction
• 6 - Distinction
• 5 - Credit
• 4 - Pass
• 3 - Low Pass*
• S3 - Pass Supplementary - final grade awarded following satisfactory completion of supplementary assessment*
• S - Satisfactory (where approved for use).

* A grade of 3 counts as a passing grade for the purpose of completing award requirements and fulfilling prerequisite requirements There are limits on the number of grades of 3 which may be credited towards an award (Student Rule 44). Grades of S3 are not regarded as equivalent to grades of 3 for these purposes.

Fail Grades:

• 2 - Fail
• S2 - Fail Supplementary
• 1 - Low Fail
• K - Withdrawn-Failure
• U - Unsatisfactory (where approved for use)

Other Results:

• E - Exempt
• W - Withdrawn

Unfinalised Results:

• A - Result unfinalised - The result will be issued when available
• SA - Supplementary Assessment - Student is to undertake supplementary assessment
• DA - Deferred Assessment - Student is to undertake deferred assessment
• T - Assessment Continues - Studies extend over more than one teaching period

Pass Parameters

The percentages below constitute standard result parameters, but may be changed at the discretion of the executive dean or delegated faculty officer.

• 7 - High Distinction: 85%-100%
• 6 - Distinction: 75%-84%
• 5 - Credit: 65%-74%
• 4 - Pass: 50%-64%
• 3 - Low Pass: 47%-49%
• 2 - Fail: 25%-46%
• 1 - Low Fail: 1%-24%

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6.5.9 Grading scale - honours degrees (post-bachelor degree program)

Honours degrees are awarded after account is taken of the candidate's performance in all units and appropriate weight applied to the project or dissertation.

The grade point averages shown are to be used as guidelines in determining the level of honours awards.

Honours I = First Class Honours: Grade point average of 6.50-7.00 or equivalent

Honours IIA = Second Class Honours, Division A : Grade point average of 5.50-6.49 or equivalent

Honours IIB = Second Class Honours, Division B: Grade point average of 4.50-5.49 or equivalent

Honours III = Third Class Honours: Grade point average of 4.00-4.49 or equivalent

A candidate who does not reach the standard required for Honours III remains with a pass degree.

On behalf of faculty academic boards, Student Business Services Department forwards lists of graduands to the Registrar for conferral of awards. For honours degrees, the class of honours, as determined by these guidelines, is included in those graduands lists for approval. However, in exceptional cases, faculty academic boards may recommend to University Academic Board a variation in class of honours for a particular graduand. Such a recommendation must be accompanied by an appropriate rationale.

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6.5.10 Grade point average

The grade point average (GPA) is a simple numerical index which summarises the student's academic performance in a course in a single teaching period and over the duration of the student's enrolment in the course. The GPA is reported on the Certificate of Results and on the Statement of Academic Record.

Two values of the GPA are given: the GPA for the semester and the GPA in the course.

(a) The GPA calculation includes all attempts at units which are awarded a numeric grade or the result `Withdrawn-Failure' (which is converted to a 1).

(b) Unfinalised results are not included in the calculation.

(c) Only QUT units are included (not units taken at an external institution).

(d) Only units taken after the introduction of the seven-point grading scale are included in the calculation.

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Modification History

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