Grade Descriptors Policy

This policy document applies to all students and staff members of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland (the “University”).

To describe the grades recorded to measure the assessment of students’ performance in taught courses and sub-doctoral research.

1. Graded assessments of students’ performance in taught courses and for sub-doctoral research components will be expressed as a letter grade.

• There are eleven pass grades: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, CP and P.
• There are four fail grades: D+, D, D- and F.
• A pass mark is 50% or more.

2. The following grades will be awarded in accordance with the associated descriptors and recorded using the relevant ranges of marks (expressed as percentages) and grade points.

• Grades of A+, A and A- will be assigned to work of high to exceptionally high quality showing excellent knowledge and understanding of subject matter and appreciation of issues; well formulated arguments based on strong and sustained evidence; maps and diagrams, graphs and tables, etc included where appropriate; relevant literature referenced; high level of creative ability, originality and critical thinking; excellent communication and presentation skills.

• Grades of B+, B and B- will be assigned to work showing good to strong grasp of subject matter and understanding of major issues though not necessarily of the finer points; arguments clearly developed and based on convincing evidence; relevant literature referenced; evidence of creative ability, originality and critical thinking; good communication and presentation skills.

• Grades of C+, C and C- will be assigned to work showing a knowledge of subject matter and appreciation of main issues though possibly with some lapses and inadequacies; arguments developed and supported by some evidence and references; creative ability, originality and critical thinking present but limited; adequate communication and presentation skills.

• Grades of D+ and D will be assigned to work lacking breadth and depth. Work generally has gaps. Frequently work of this grade takes a simple factual approach and understanding and coverage of material is inadequate; does not attempt to interpret the material; at the lower end, indicates a need for considerable effort to achieve improvement; communication and presentation skills are poor.
  

• A grade of D- will be assigned to highly unsatisfactory work. Work shows a lack of knowledge about and understanding of the topic. Inadequate in degree of relevance, sometimes completeness, sometimes both. Communication and presentation skills are weak.

3.  Grade Point Average (GPA) is a measure of a student’s overall performance. GPA is calculated as the average of the grade points earned and weighted for the points value of each course.

4.  The grade of DNS (did not sit) will be used in all cases where a student did not sit an examination. DNS has a grade point value of zero.

5.  Aegrotat or Compassionate Consideration of students who were prevented from being present at an examination or whose performance in an examination was seriously impaired is governed by Examination Regulations, sections 12a - 12k.

• DNS grades may be adjusted subsequently to one of the pass or fail grades.
• An initial pass or fail grade may be adjusted subsequently to a different pass or fail grade.

6.  The grade of DNC (did not complete) is used in cases where a student did not complete a course and carries a grade point value of zero. DNC must be recorded in all cases where a student has gained:

• More than 50 percent in a course but has not completed the approved compulsory coursework; or
• Less than 50 percent in a course without a final examination because of the failure to complete coursework but the entry of a fail grade would inappropriately represent the reasons for failure or the level of achievement.

7.  Courses that have been approved by Education Committee to carry an ungraded pass/fail result do not carry a grade point and are not included in GPA calculations. Grades will be recorded as:

• P (ungraded pass) where a student’s performance is at or above the minimum level of competence
• F (ungraded fail) where a student’s performance is below the minimum level of competence.

8.  A grade of F may be applied by Discipline Committee as a penalty for academic misconduct.

9.  A conceded pass (CP) may be awarded in accordance with Examination Regulations, sections 19, 20 or 21.

10.  Where a final assessment of a student’s performance in a course is not possible within the deadlines for the submission of results, an administrative grade of NA or NAX will be recorded that will subsequently be converted before the completion of a student’s programme:

• NA will be used where a final grade is not immediately available but expected at a later date
• NAX will be used where a final grade is not immediately available owing to a pending case of alleged academic misconduct.

11.  Additional administrative grades include:

• W or WD are applied when a student has withdrawn from a course. These grades carry no grade point value.
• CRD is applied to indicate where credit is applied to a student’s record from courses completed at another institution and for which there is no measure of performance recorded. A CRD grade carries no grade point value.
• NP is an administrative grade and is applied when there is a non payment of fees for the course. This is a temporary grade that will be substituted once the matter of payment has been resolved.
• CPL is used for courses with no points value but for which completion is required. An example is the academic integrity course required for all programmes.
• SBM and SBF are used for the administrative courses used to indicate the start of or extensions to postgraduate research. SBM indicates that the research course was passed and SBF indicates that the research course was submitted and not passed.
  

Administrative grade means a grade used in special situations that does not reflect a student’s performance. These include grades used temporarily and which will be altered following the conclusion of an administrative process.
Course means the basic component of all academic programmes.
Grade point means the numerical equivalent to an assigned letter grade for the purposes of calculating a grade point average (GPA).
Staff members means individuals employed by the University on a full or part-time basis.
Sub-doctoral research means postgraduate research work carried out under supervision, and excluding doctoral research.
Taught course means a course including more than item of assessment that are used to evaluate students’ performance in respect to a programme of study.
Teaching staff refers to an individual employed by the University on a full or part-time basis to provide instruction to students in taught courses.
University means Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland and includes all subsidiaries.

Assessment (Coursework, Tests and Examinations) Policy
Assessment (Coursework, Tests and Examinations) Procedures
Examination of Sub-Doctoral Postgraduate Research Components of 30 Points and Above Procedures
Examination Regulations

Owner: Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education)
Content manager: Manager of the Academic Quality Office
Approved by: Provost – under delegated authority of Council
Date approved: 11 December 2023
Review date: 11 December 2028