C/5.2 QUT grading

Policy Owner	Director, Curriculum Quality and Standards and Director, Student Administration
Approval Date	17/11/2017
Approval Authority	University Academic Board
Date of Next Review	30/11/2021

5.2.1 Purpose
5.2.2 Application
5.2.3 Roles and responsibilities
5.2.4 Grading scale
5.2.5 Grading awards
5.2.6 Grading and awards with honours
5.2.7 Grade point average
5.2.8 Submission and approval of grades
5.2.9 Alteration of grades after release
5.2.10 Definitions
Related Documents
Modification History

5.2.1 Purpose

QUT uses a fair and transparent grading system that is aligned to Assessment and feedback policy (C/5.1) and that provides guidance on the allocation and moderation of grades and grade point averages.

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5.2.2 Application

This policy applies to award courses and credit point based units, it does not apply to higher degree research (time-based study).

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5.2.3 Roles and responsibilities

Position	Responsibility
Director, Student Administration	approves procedures for the submission and notification of grades
Executive Dean of Faculty (including equivalent academic roles)	approves a student's final grade for a unit
Faculty academic board	endorses grades for all units owned by the faculty
Head of school	authorises grades for units taught by their school for approval by the executive team
Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar	determines the manner in which students will be notified of grades
Unit coordinator	responsible for submitting recommended grades

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5.2.4 Grading scale

The University awards numeric grades on a 7-point scale which are used for the calculation of a grade point average (GPA). Some units, generally those incorporating professional competencies that require minimum specified levels of achievement, may report final grades as “S” (Satisfactory) or “U” (Unsatisfactory). When determining the final grades, a unit may only have one grading scale applied (i.e. a 7-point scale or a S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory) scale) which must apply to all students enrolled in the unit.

Other nomenclature and descriptors for final grading include:

succinct qualitative descriptor
generic description of standard to inform grading
standard percentage ranges where numeric references are used.

Standard percentage ranges apply unless an exception has been approved as part of the curriculum design and approval process or by a delegated authority (C/4.1).

Academic numerical pass Academic grades are allocated and determined by academic processes, including appropriate moderation.
7 - High Distinction Percentage range: 85%-100%.	Work provides evidence of an exceptional level of achievement of unit learning outcomes, such as: thorough and well-reasoned critical analysis and evaluation of concepts, theories and practice from the field of study creative and insightful application of well integrated theoretical and practical knowledge to professional contexts
6 - Distinction Percentage range: 75%-84%.	Work provides evidence of a very high level of achievement of unit learning outcomes, such as: thorough critical analysis and evaluation of concepts, theories and practice from the field of study insightful application of integrated theoretical and practical knowledge to professional contexts
5 - Credit Percentage range: 65%-74%.	Work provides evidence of a high level of achievement of unit learning outcomes, such as: critical analysis and evaluation of key concepts, theories and practice from the field of study effective application of theoretical and practical knowledge to professional contexts
4 - Pass Percentage range: 50%-64%.	Work provides evidence of an acceptable level of achievement of unit learning outcomes, such as: adequate analysis and evaluation of key concepts, theories and practice from the field of study sound application of fundamental theoretical and practical knowledge to professional contexts

Academic numerical fail
3 - Marginal Fail Percentage range: 40%-49%.	Work provides evidence of limited and/or disconnected learning which fails to demonstrate that unit learning outcomes have been achieved. Students who receive a grade of 3 in a unit may be eligible to apply for supplementary assessment
2 - Fail Percentage range: 25-39%.	Work provides evidence of minimal learning in relation to unit learning outcomes
1 - Low Fail Percentage range: fewer than 25%.	Work provides little or no evidence of learning in relation to unit learning outcomes

Academic ungraded
S - Satisfactory (where approved for use)	Work provides evidence of an acceptable level of achievement of unit learning outcomes and professional competencies (where applicable)
U - Unsatisfactory (where approved for use)	Work fails to provide evidence of the achievement of unit learning outcomes and/or professional competencies (where applicable) at an acceptable level

Academic unfinalised
A - Grade unfinalised	The grade will be issued when available

Administrative letter grades Administrative letter grades are allocated automatically by QUT’s assessment and student management systems

Administrative finalised
E - Exempt	Specified advanced standing is granted (E/4.2.2)
K -Withdrawn Fail	Student cancels their enrolment in the unit after the published withdrawal date for the relevant teaching period (E/4.3.6)

Administrative unfinalised
SA - Supplementary Assessment	Supplementary assessment granted
DA - Deferred Assessment	Deferred assessment granted
T - Assessment Continues	Studies extend over more than one teaching period

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5.2.5 Grading awards

To recognise meritorious achievement, awards are granted as follows:

Awards with distinction

In recognition of meritorious achievement, awards with distinction may be conferred in undergraduate courses (Associate or Bachelor degrees excluding those awarded with honours) or postgraduate courses (Graduate Diplomas or Masters) as designated in the accredited curriculum

The following minimum grade point average (GPA) thresholds are used in determining eligibility for awards with distinction:

GPA of 5.5 for undergraduate courses, and
GPA of 6.0 for postgraduate courses

In exceptional cases, faculty academic boards may recommend to University Academic Board a relaxation of the GPA requirement for a particular graduand. Such a recommendation must be accompanied by an appropriate rationale

To be eligible for an award with distinction a graduand must have completed at least 50% of the total credit points required for the course at QUT. Eligibility for awards with distinction for double degrees is based on consideration of the separate component degree. For either degree, only the units associated specifically with that component are taken into account in the GPA calculations used to determine eligibility

Bachelor honours degrees

For all bachelor honours qualifications, the level of honours awarded is determined by the grade point average (GPA) calculated only on the designated honours component of the course. For a one year bachelor honours degree, the GPA is calculated across the entire course. For a four year bachelor honours cluster qualification, the GPA is calculated on the 96 credit points specified as the honours component consistent with the AQF qualification type descriptor approved as part of the curriculum development and approval process or by a delegated authority (C/4.1)

For all bachelor honours qualifications, the following levels of honours are awarded:

Honours I (First Class Honours): GPA of 6.50 to 7.00
Honours IIA (Second Class Honours, Division A): GPA of 5.50 to 6.49
Honours IIB (Second Class Honours, Division B): GPA of 4.50 to 5.49
Honours III (Third Class Honours): GPA of less than 4.50

Honours and double degrees

Eligibility for awards with honours for double degrees is based on consideration of the separate component degree. For either degree, only the units associated specifically with that component are taken into account in the grade point average (GPA) calculations used to determine the level of the award with honours

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5.2.6 Grading and awards with honours (applicable only to students who commenced bachelor degree study before 31/12/2014)

For bachelor degrees of 384 credit points or more, which were initially offered before 1 January 2012, and where approved by University Academic Board, the following levels of honours are awarded:

Honours I (First Class Honours): GPA of 6.00 - 7.00
Honours IIA (Second Class Honours, Division A): GPA of 5.50 - 5.99
Honours IIB (Second Class Honours, Division B): GPA of 5.00 - 5.49.

To be eligible for an award with honours a graduand must have completed at least 50% of the total credit points required for the course at QUT. The GPA is the basis for the award of the level of honours and is calculated across the entire course. Students who do not attain a GPA for second class honours or higher remain with a bachelor degree without honours.

This procedure should be read in conjunction with the procedural information provided at the QUT Students portal.

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5.2.7 Grade point average

The grade point average (GPA) is a simple numerical index summarising a student's academic performance. GPAs are reported by course.

GPA is calculated as follows:

sum of (unit credit points x numeric grade awarded for the unit)	= GPA
sum of credit points of completed units

e.g. for a semester of completed study comprising four x 12 credit point units with grades of '7', '4', '6', '3'

(12 x 7) + (12 x 4) + (12 x 6) +(12 x 3)	= 5
48

The GPA calculation includes all attempts at units which are awarded either a numeric grade or the grade 'K' (withdrawn - Fail) which is calculated as '1'.

The following are not included in the GPA calculation:

unfinalised results
final grades of 'S' (Satisfactory) or 'U' (Unsatisfactory)
units undertaken at another institution
units where the status recorded is ‘E’ (Exempt).

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5.2.8 Submission and approval of grades

Executive Deans review and approve grades recommended for each student in accordance with course rules and faculty policy.

A final grade is awarded for each unit attempted.

The Executive Dean may approve a unit grade of a student enrolled in one of the faculty's units which is different from the grade recommended by the examiner and/or the head of the school offering the unit.

This change to a unit grade 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 wishes to place before the Faculty Academic Board. If consultation is unable to occur due to the unavailability of both the examiner and the Head of School, the Faculty Academic Board may endorse the Executive Dean’s decision to alter the grade.

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

Following approval by the Executive Dean, the Director, Student Administration notifies grades to the student.

Grades that are unfinalised at the time of notification will be resolved by QUT promptly.

Where a student fails to meet a debt or obligation to the University, the Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar may approve the withholding of the student's grades.

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5.2.9 Alteration of grades after release

An Executive Dean of Faculty may, with the concurrence of the relevant Unit Coordinator or the Head of the School offering the unit, alter their decisions on grades to:

correct a patent error, or
accord with a decision that the Executive Dean, Head of School and Unit Coordinator are satisfied would have been made if relevant circumstances which were not considered by the Executive Dean had been taken into account, or
accord with the outcome of a faculty level Review of Grade.

A Head of School responsible for a unit may change a grade to accord with a school level Review of Grade outcome.

The Executive Dean may delegate to another person the authority to approve a change of grade.

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5.2.10 Definitions

Assessment management system (AMS) means the portal used to transfer grades into the student management system.

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Modification History

Date	Sections	Source	Details
17.11.17	All	University Academic Board	Policy retitled and revised to include former policy E/6.5
07.11.14	C/5.2.4	University Academic Board	Policy revised to clarify awards with distinction - effective 01.01.15
20.09.13	All	University Academic Board	Revised policy to include changes to honours grading - effective 01.01.14
23.03.12	C/5.2.4, C/5.2.5, C/5.2.6	University Academic Board	Policy revised to reflect revised Australian Qualifications Framework
19.02.11	All	Vice-Chancellor	Policy revised to include approved name change for Office of Teaching Quality to Learning and Teaching Unit
13.11.09	All	University Academic Board	Revised policy effective from Semester 1, 2010; includes grading systems for awards with distinction and awards with honours (formerly C/3.2.12).
14.11.08	All	University Academic Board	Revised and renumbered policy to C/5.2, effective from 01.01.09 (formerly C/9.2, E/6.5.8, E/6.5.9 and E/6.5.10) (endorsed by University Teaching and Learning Committee 21.10.08)
04.04.08	All	University Academic Board	Revised policy – effective from 01.01.09 (endorsed by Academic Policy and Procedures Committee 10.03.08)
25.06.04	All	University Academic Board	Revised policy relating to grades of 3 (effective 25.06.2004)
26.09.03	All	University Academic Board	Revised policy (endorsed by Teaching and Learning Committee 09.09.03)- effective 01.01.2004

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