Examinations and assessment

Methods of assessment

We use different methods of assessment including the research dissertation (a long essay of 7,000-10,000 words), the open paper (a take-home examination lasting 48 or 72 hours), assessed essays and formal two-hour closed examinations. 

The Class Descriptors outline the marking criteria used:

Class Descriptors (MS Word , 30kb)

Cover Sheets

All submitted work must include a cover sheet containing the module title, essay title, your examination number, word count, and year of graduation. 

A sample is given here:

Sample Cover Sheet (MS Word , 12kb)

Closed Examinations

Details of closed examination schedules and processes are available through the Exams Office website:

https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/assessment-and-examination/

Dissertations

You are expected to meet with your dissertation supervisor regularly throughout the year, completing an action planner sheet each time:

BA Dissertation / Bridge Dissertation Action Planner (PDF , 39kb)

In addition to the cover sheet detailed above, dissertations have additional formatting requirements, which can be viewed here:

HoA UG Dissertation Layout Guidelines (PDF , 104kb)

Penalties

Penalties for late submission of assessed work, or non-attendance at university examinations, can be severe if not supported by mitigating circumstances documentation and supporting evidence (or if the exceptional circumstances claimed are in the list of those not judged by the university to be acceptable). Penalties can also be applied for other reasons, e.g., over- or under-length work when there is a word count, incomplete work, poor English, poor presentation (including illistrations), inadequate proof reading, loss of anonymity when handing in work, and Plagiarism.

For full information about Penalties, see the relevant Handbook for your entry cohort.

Results

Marks and feedback are released through your e:Vision account, and an e-mail will be sent to your University account when these are available. 

For undergraduates

Exceptional circumstances

The University allows resits or extensions to assessments only in exceptional circumstances. To be accepted these must be exceptional (i.e. serious and unusual) relative to the normal daily challenges that academic study presents, and unpredictable in that you could not reasonably have been expected either to avoid them, or to allow for them in planning the assessment work or preparation. An application must be made, with supporting evidence, to the Exceptional Circumstances Committee. Full details are available here:

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Who to contact

Office opening hours: 9.30am-4.30pm, Monday - Friday

Contact details

Dr Hanna Vorholt
Examinations Officer