How to Interpret Grades

It is important that students understand both the way in which work is assessed within the unit of study, and the broader policy framework within which grades are distributed.

The Faculty of Arts’ policy on the distribution of merit grades requires that departments attempt to distribute grades for Senior Units of Study according to the following guidelines:

• High Distinction (85-100%) 7%
• Distinction (75-84%) 18%
• Credit (65-74%) 40%
• Total percentage of marks at Credit or above = 65%

In simple terms, this means that we expect to give 7% of students a High Distinction as a final result, 18% Distinctions, and 40% Credits; the corollary is, of course, that 35% of students may expect to receive a Pass grade for the unit of study.

For Junior Units of Study, the proportions are:

• High Distinction (85-100%) 5%
• Distinction (75-84%) 15%
• Credit (65-74%) 35%
• Total percentage of marks at Credit or above = 55%

Our assessment tasks, including the criteria and marking guidelines for tutors, have been designed over a period of several years to produce a spread of results roughly conforming to the above distributions.

The following Grade Descriptors are to be read in conjunction with the specific criteria for each assignment. Taken together, these will indicate to you how we have gone about assessing your work.

High Distinction 85-100

• Treatment of material evidences an advanced synthesis of ideas
• Demonstration of initiative, complex understanding and analysis
• Work is well-written and stylistically sophisticated, including appropriate referencing, clarity, and some creativity where appropriate
• All criteria addressed to a high level

Distinction 75-84

• Treatment of material evidences an advanced understanding of ideas
• Demonstration of initiative, complex understanding and analysis
• Work is well-written and stylistically strong
• All criteria addressed strongly

Credit 65-74

• Treatment of material displays a good understanding of ideas
• Work is well-written and stylistically sound, with a minimum of syntactical errors
• All criteria addressed clearly

Pass 50-64

• Treatment of material indicates a satisfactory understanding of ideas
• Work is adequately written, with some syntactical errors
• Most criteria addressed adequately

Fail 0-49

• Treatment of ideas indicates an inadequate understanding of ideas
• Written style inappropriate to task; major problems with expression
• Most criteria not clearly or adequately addressed