Understanding your results

When your assessment is marked, it will receive a percentage score. We use a method called ‘categorical marking’ to ensure consistency and fairness across all markers, which associates each grade with a description, as follows:

Learning Outcome: Exceptional in most/all aspects, substantially exceeding expectations for this level.
Assessment Criteria: Inclusion of elements beyond those required.

Learning Outcome: Excellent quality, exceeding expectations for this level in many aspects.
Assessment Criteria: Inclusion of elements beyond those required.

Learning Outcome: Meets all the intended learning outcomes and exceeds the threshold expectations for this level in several of them.
Assessment Criteria: Complete with no important omissions.

Learning Outcome: Meets all the intended learning outcomes and exceeds the threshold expectations for this level in some of them.
Assessment Criteria: Addresses the question/assignment. Some omissions.

Learning Outcome: Meets all the intended learning outcomes but rarely exceeds the threshold expectations for this level
Assessment Criteria: Addresses some aspects of question/assignment. Some omissions.

Learning Outcome: Fails to meet all of the intended learning outcomes and is inadequate for this level.
Assessment Criteria: Fails to address much of the question/assignment. Lots of omissions.

No submission

The University doesn’t have a minimum achievement level for an individual assessment component, only for modules. However, some accrediting bodies may have pass standards or thresholds of achievement that apply to specific assessment components of accredited courses. You’ll be informed of any partner requirements at the start of any module that has them.

When your assessment is marked, it will receive a percentage score. We use a method called ‘categorical marking’ to ensure consistency and fairness across all markers, which associates each grade with a description, as follows:

Learning Outcome: Exceptional in most/all aspects, substantially exceeding expectations for this level.
Assessment Criteria: Inclusion of elements beyond those required.

Learning Outcome: Excellent quality, exceeding expectations for this level in many aspects.
Assessment Criteria: Inclusion of elements beyond those required.

Learning Outcome: Meets all the intended learning outcomes and exceeds the threshold expectations for this level in several of them.
Assessment Criteria: Complete with no important omissions.

Learning Outcome: Meets all the intended learning outcomes and exceeds the threshold expectations for this level in some of them.
Assessment Criteria: Addresses the question/assignment. Some omissions.

Learning Outcome: Meets all the intended learning outcomes and exceeds the threshold expectations for this level in some of them.
Assessment Criteria: Addresses some aspects of question/assignment. Some omissions.

Learning Outcome: Meets all the intended learning outcomes.
Assessment Criteria: Addresses some aspects of question/assignment. Some omissions.

Learning Outcome: Fails to meet all of the intended learning outcomes and is inadequate for this level.
Assessment Criteria: Fails to address much of the question/assignment. Lots of omissions.

No submission

The University doesn’t have a minimum achievement level for an individual assessment component, only for modules. However, some accrediting bodies may have pass standards or thresholds of achievement that apply to specific assessment components of accredited courses. You’ll be informed of any partner requirements at the start of any module that has them.

When the Module Assessment Board confirms your marks, it makes a final decision on your grade for a complete module, and reports that result to the Board of Examiners.

Grades

The grade they report follows rounding rules: 

• If a decimal is .5 or greater, it rounds up to the next whole number.
• If a decimal is .4 or less, it rounds down to the nearest whole number.
• Marks ending in a 9 after rounding are rounded up to the next whole number.

For example, if a module’s assessments averaged to 68.6, it would round up to 69, following the first rule, then round up to 70 with the third. A mark of 68.4 would round down to 68, following the second rule.  

Grade points

For honours degree courses, you’ll also be allocated a Grade Point for each overall module mark. The Grade Point is given to two decimal places according to the following table:

Moderation

It’s possible that the Board will apply moderation to your results. This could happen in response to issues with how the pass mark was applied or if the marks did not match the expected distribution of marks.  Exceptionally, moderation might also occur if there has been a problem in how the course ran that put you at a disadvantage.

If moderation does happen, you’ll be informed in writing of why this happened and how it impacted your grade.

As well as a numerical grade, the Module Assessment Board will also give you one of the following outcomes for each module:

a) Passed: You have successfully completed the module

If you have received a Pass, it means you have successfully completed the module and the credit has been assigned to you.

b) Deferral:  Your assessment is deferred to a later date

A Deferral is when you have not been able to finish an assessment for a module due to a valid extenuating circumstances claim. But don’t worry, deferral gives you a chance to complete the assessment at a set time in the future without being capped at the pass mark.  Your deferral assessment will be decided by the Module Assessment Board, and you’ll have to complete it by a specific date.    After the date, you will not be able to take the deferral assessment.

When you complete your deferral assessment, it will be marked like it is your first attempt, and there will not be any cap on your mark.

c) Referral: You need to resit or redo part or all of the assessment

Referral is a chance to retake a failed assessment without having to retake the entire module.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The purpose of Referral is to give you another opportunity to pass the module and move forward with your studies.
2. There are set deadlines by which you must complete Referral Assessments.
3. Referral assessments will be marked, but your marks will be capped at the pass mark of the module.  However, your overall module mark will not be capped, and it will be recalculated with the capped Referral marks.  On your Transcript, it will be noted as ‘Passed After Referral’.
4. There is no limit on the number of credits you can take as a Referral.

d) Combined Referral Deferral: You have both a referral and deferral 

Combined Referral Deferral means that you have not completed one or more assessments of a module for valid reason, and conditions have been set for you to complete these assessments.  At the same time, you have also failed one or more other assessments in the module and that assessment is are eligible for a Referral.

e) Repeat: You need to retake the entire module

Repeat indicates that you are you have failed either the Referral Assessment or Deferral Assessment.  You may be eligible to trail the assessment or repeat the module in the next academic year.

f) Trailing asssessment:  Your repeat assessment is deferred to a later date

Trailing Assessment applies to a module you have failed after Referral Assessment or Deferral Assessment.    Depending on the requirements of the course, you may still have an opportunity to try again in the next academic level to pass the module.   However, you must have attempted the referral or deferral assessment, unless there is a valid extenuating circumstances claim. 

Trailing Assessment is not an automatic student right, it is a discretionary power of the Board of Examiners.  While we strive to offer this opportunity wherever possible, there are instances where it may not be available.  This can depend on the nature of the module and/or assessment, the amount of credit failed, and any restrictions applied by a professional body.   

If you are offered a Trailing Assessment, it is your choice if you wish to accept or decline the opportunity.  If you accept the offer of a trailing assessment, then you will be able to progress to the next level of your course and a date will be set for you to take the trailing assessment at the earliest opportunity possible in the next academic year. 

The trailing assessment is offered without any new or additional teaching.  Wherever possible, the trailing assessment will take the form of a resubmission of the original assessment to enable you to raise it up to the pass standard.  The trailing assessment mark is capped at the module pass threshold.

If you choose to decline the offer of a trailing assessment, then you will not be eligible to progress to the next level of your course and you will repeat the module instead.  If you temporarily halt your progression, and repeat the module instead, the repeated module marks are not capped.  

Trailing assessments may not suit everyone, so it is important that you seek advice about what would be most appropriate for you.  You can seek advice from your Personal Tutor, myport@port.ac.uk and  Advice Service - USPU

There are limits on the amount of assessment which can be trailed into the next academic level.   These are the maximum limits, the Board of Examiners may agree lower limits, depending on the requirements of the course:

• For Level 4, you can trail up to 40 credits of modules into level 5 
• For Level 5,  you can trial up to 40 credits of modules into level 6 
• And for Level 6, including Integrated Masters, up to 40 credits can be trailed into Level 7. 

If you fail the trailing assessment, and the module cannot be compensated, then you will be invited to a meeting with your Personal Tutor or Course Leader who will discuss what options and study routes are available to you in your specific circumstances.   The range of options available will depend on your course, your level of study, and if you are on a Student Visa.

g) Decision Pending: The decision on the outcome is pending further review or information.

Decision pending means that the Module Assessment Board has been unable to confirm the mark and assign the credit to you at the time of the Board.  This could be for a number of reasons, such as a query relating to an assessment, waiting on a mark to be confirmed, or due to an academic misconduct enquiry.

When the marks for all your modules are considered by the Board of Examiners, there are a number of decisions they may make regarding your studies. 

If you've met your study objectives, the Board will either approve your entry to the next year of your course, or recommend a final award. If you haven't met the study objectives, however, the Board can recommend compensation - which allows you to progress despite this - or exclusion. 

Recommending your final award

When the Board of Examiners recommends your award, it's telling the University's Academic Council that you've earned all the credits you need for this degree, directly or through compensation, and that you're in compliance with our academic regulations. You can read the full policy here: Awards of the University of Portsmouth. It's also telling the Council what your degree classification should be, as set out below. 

Calculating an Honours degree classification

To work out your final classification, the Board of Examiners will:

• calculate the weighted mean (average) of all relevant credits at Level 5 and Level 6, in the ratio of 40:60 respectively after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits at both level 5 and 6;
• calculate the weighted mean of all relevant credits at Level 6 after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits at Level 6
• consider the minimum classification where more than 50% of your 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 Level 6. (This last rule will be removed from September 2025.)

You'll also receive a Grade Point Average (GPA), presented to two decimal places.This is calculated as a weighted mean of Grade Points from all the relevant credits at Levels 5 and 6, in the ratio of 40:60 respectively, after first discounting any pass/fail modules and the Grade Points in the worst 20 credits at each level.

If these formulas give different results, you'll receive the highest result. The Board of Examiners may also use its discretion to recommend a different result if you've earned credits from Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or pass/fail modules at Level 6.

Pass/fail modules do not count towards your classification, and the mean average will be calculated on the remaining credit.

Final year entrants

If you entered directly into the final stage of our course, they will:

• calculate the weighted mean of all relevant credits at Level 6, after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits at Level 6

• consider the minimum classification where more than 50% of your combined relevant credits at Level 6 were attained, after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits both at Level 6. (This last rule will be removed from September 2025.) 

In this case, your GPA is calculated using the weighted average of Grade Points of all relevant credits at level 6 after first discounting the Grade Points in the worst 20 credits at level 6.

Calculating other award classifications

Integrated Master's degrees

If you studied an integrated Master's, the Board of Examiners will recommend the highest classification resulting from these formulas:

• calculate the weighted mean from all relevant credits at Level 6 and 7 in the ratio of 50:50 respectively, after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits at Level 6 and 7
• calculate the weighted mean from all relevant credits at Levels 5, 6 and 7 in the ratio of 20: 40: 40 respectively, after first discounting the marks in the worst 20 credits at Level 5, Level 6 and Level 7.

Other non-honours awards, at undergraduate or postgraduate level (except Integrated Masters degrees)

For these awards, the Board of Examiners will recommend the highest classification resulting from these formulas:

• the weighted mean of all relevant credit
• The minimum classification in which more than 50% of the relevant credits were attained.
  • For Certificate of Higher Education, Diploma of Higher Education, Higher National Certificates, Higher National Diplomas and Foundation Degrees, relevant credits can be at Level 4, 5 and 6.
  • For Ordinary Degrees, relevant credits are at Level 5 and 6 only.
  • For Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, or taught postgraduate Masters Degree, relevant credits are at Level 7 only.

In certain cases, the Board of Examiners may use its academic judgement to recommend a Distinction or Merit award to a student who does not meet all the usual criteria  

Sometimes, despite not meeting all the standard requirements, you may still be deserving of a higher award.    The Board will carefully review your situation to ensure fairness.  For example, if you have Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) credit without marks, they will take that into account.  They will record their reasons for any special decisions made in the meeting minutes.

Special awards recommended by the Board of Examiners

• An Aegrotat Award may be conferred if you're unable to continue your studies for valid extenuating circumstances, but you would have satisfied the standard required for the award. An Aegrotat award has no classification, and accepting one means you won't be able to take up further assessment or reassessment. You'll be asked to indicate your willingness to accept an Aegrotat award before it's recommended, and you'll be advised if it's recognised by any accrediting body.
• A Posthumous Award may be conferred to a deceased candidate who was a registered student at the time of death, and who had sufficient accessible work available at the time of death for the Board of Examiners to recommend an award.  

Departing from the University’s Regulations

In exceptional circumstances, the Board of Examiners may need to make an adjustment to the standard regulation.  This might be necessary when sticking strictly to the regulations would be unfair.  Before departing from the Regulations for any reason, the Board must consult with the Award External Examiner and the Academic Registrar to ensure they are making the best decision.  These measures are in place to ensure fairness and your best interests are always considered, as well as upholding academic integrity. 

Compensation

Compensation, granted by the Board of Examiners, serves to support you if you have not achieved sufficient credit for progression to the next level of your course or for your final award.

Compensation is not a student right. The Board of Examiners decides on compensation, considering the academic standards and learning outcomes.  It may be granted if you perform well overall, even if you fail specific modules. Here is the criteria of when it can be applied.

1. You must have attempted the final assessment or had valid extenuating circumstances.
2. You must have a minimum average mark of 40% across the relevant modules at that level, after discounting the worst 20 credits at levels 5, 6 and 7. 
3. At level 4, if the module to be compensated is 40 credits, you must have a minimum overall mark of 30% in the module to be compensated.
4. Compensation is not available for pass/fail modules.

As compensation is a discretionary power of the Board of Examiners, the Board may set higher thresholds than those set out above.

The limit applicable to compensation for all undergraduate courses (except Integrated Masters) is:

1. a single module of up to 40 credits at level 4 of the course. 
2. a single 20 credit module at each other level of the course subject to an overall maximum of compensation of 60 credits for an Honours Degree and 40 credits for lower awards.

The limit applicable to compensation for Integrated Masters is a single 20 credit module at the first three levels of the course and a single module up to a maximum of 30 credits in the final year, subject to an overall maximum of 90 credits.

The overall limit applicable to compensation for a Postgraduate Diploma and/or a Masters Degree is a single 30 credit module.  Compensation cannot be awarded for Postgraduate Certificate courses.

Where the Board of Examiners awards you credit through compensation, the following will apply:

1. Your transcript will show the pass mark, annotated as ‘Compensated Pass’.
2. Your original mark will be used to determine any classification.
3. The reasons for applying compensation will be recorded in the Board of Examiners minutes.

The Board of Examiners will decide if you have sufficient credit to progress to the next level of your course.  If you are at the final stage, it will calculate what award and classification you have achieved. If you are not yet in a position to progress to the next stage of your course, or if you are not eligible for an award, the Board of Examiners will decide whether you should be offered a referral, deferral, or a combination of both.  It may also make decisions about trailing assessment and repeat assessment.  

Exclusion

If you have not made sufficient progress on your course, the Board of Examiners has the authority to exclude you for lack of academic progress.  The Board of Examiners will exclude you if you have not passed any modules for a period of two years.  In addition, the Board of Examiners has the discretion to exclude on academic grounds if in the Board’s academic judgement you fail to make satisfactory progress.  The Board will also exclude you if you have exceeded the maximum registration period.

In such cases, you will be offered an opportunity to meet with the Chair of the Board of Examiners.  The Chair may reconsider the decision if you are able to provide details of reasons , supported by acceptable evidence, which means you performance on the course was adversely affected.  You will need to advise why it was not possible for you to apply for an Extenuating Circumstances claim at the time of the assessments.  If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the meeting, you are still able to submit an Academic Appeal.  You have ten working days from receiving the outcome of the meeting with the Chair to appeal against the decision.

However, they understand that each situation is unique, so if they feel it would not be appropriate to apply this rule in your case, they have the flexibility to waive it.    You will be offered the opportunity to meet with the Chair of the Board of Examiners to discuss the exclusion. 

In the event that you are excluded, the Board of Examiners will award to you any credit and award you are entitled to.

Excluded students are not able to re-join their course or transfer to another course within the University.  If you are in this situation, and wish to join another course, you will need to complete an application form and apply through the standard admissions process.  There should be no expectation of re-admission and any previous work will be considered through the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning process.

Degree Apprenticeship Exclusion 

As apprenticeships are governed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) there are three key compliance requirements that all apprentices must adhere to in order to remain eligible for apprenticeship funding. These include:

1. Logging and uploading eligible off the job (OTJ) learning to APTEM every month;
2. Attending Tripartite Progress Reviews with Work Based Tutors at least every 12 weeks. This includes the signing and completion of set targets as agreed during the review;
3. Attendance and engagement with on campus and online learning.

If at any stage during your apprenticeship these funding conditions are not met, you will be supported to ensure you fully understand the requirements and what is expected.  If after this support, you continue to not meet these requirements, a risk of exclusion notice will be given to formally outline what action is needed.  This action plan will set out clear expectations, with dates, to enable you to be compliant with the funding rules. Your employer will also be informed of this action plan as well as outlining the next steps if non compliance continues to be demonstrated.

Mathematical conventions used

When they make their decisions, the Board of Examiners follows these conventions:

• They will treat module marks as whole numbers (integers).
• When they use averages, these are weighted mean averages (in which, for example, a 40-credit module has twice the influence on your final mark as a 20-credit one). They’ll also round these averages to the nearest whole number, using these rules: 
  • Decimals of .5 or greater round up to the next highest integer.
  • Decimals of .4 or less round down to the nearest integer.
• Modules which are pass or fail only do not count towards your classification.  The mean values (average scores) are calculated based on the remaining credits.

If you have earned more credits than the minimum requirements for your award, the weighted mean average will be based on:

• Your performance in all compulsory modules; plus
• Your best performance in optional modules up to the total number of credits required.

All other modules will be disregarded in your final grade, except in relation to the award of credit.