As the Spring term draws to a close, we thought it might be useful to remind you of a few key points relating to the undergraduate rules of assessment and what you need to do to pass the year. ^OP

1. Information about what you need to pass the year/your degree
Year 0 and Year 1
To be able to proceed, you must pass all your modules with an overall module mark of 40%
(regardless of whether your year average is above 40%). If you fail to do this, you may be offered
reassessment over the summer, but this will be capped at the pass mark. The failure will show on
your academic transcript (which you may need to show future employers), therefore it is in your
best interests to pass everything at the first attempt. To assist you with your exam revision sample
exam papers are available on Moodle. Also, make sure you check your timetable and attend the
relevant revision sessions.
Year 2 and Final Year
You must pass 330 credits to obtain a degree. As you will take 360 credits in total, this means that
you are allowed to carry a maximum of 30 credits of failure overall and still pass your degree. If you
fail this summer, you may be offered reassessment, but this will be capped at the pass mark and will
therefore affect your overall degree class. It is therefore in your best interests to pass everything at
the first attempt. It is very risky for Year 2 students to carry 30 failed credits into the Final Year
because it means you will have to pass everything in the Final Year. To assist you with your exam
revision, sample and past exam papers are available on the CMR/Moodle. Also, remember to check
your timetable and attend the relevant revision classes.
Your degree class is dependent on the marks obtained in Year 2 and Final Year. There are two
methods of calculating your degree, but depending on which method is used your Year 2 and Final
Year marks will either be weighted 50:50 or Year 2 at 40% and Final Year 60%. Therefore it is very
important to do as well as possible in both years. For a fuller explanation of how your final degree
class is calculated, see the bottom of this email.
Note that the following courses have additional requirements to achieve a pass: Biomedical Science;
courses with an industrial year; courses with a year of study abroad; and Integrated Masters
courses. If you are unclear what is required to pass these courses, please ask.
Full details of the rules of assessment can be found in the Undergraduate Handbook here:
http://bsintra.essex.ac.uk/bsteach/ugrad/Handbook/Assessment.htm#rulesofass or on the rules of
assessment website here: http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/ug/rules.htm
How degree classes are calculated
Results for Honours degrees are calculated by two methods, known as ‘Dominant Quality’ and
‘Arithmetic Average’. Students will receive the more favourable degree class of the two. The results
from both methods are published on the grid presented to Boards of Examiners. Class is based upon
Stage Two and Three marks.
Arithmetic Average
Stage marks from second and final years are weighted 40% and 60% respectively and combined to
give a degree mark. The degree mark is used to calculate a degree class as follows:
70% and over - Class 1
60%-69% - Class 2.1
50%-59% - Class 2.2
40%-49% - Class 3
under 40% - Fail

2. Dominant Quality
The number of modules in each class in the second and in the final Stage is assessed in order to
determine the dominant quality of the student’s work:
Class 1
Minimum number of credits at Class 1: 120
Maximum number of credits below Class 2.2: 0
Class 2.1
Minimum number of credits at Class 2.1 or above: 150
Maximum number of credits at Class 3: 90
Maximum number of failed credits: 0
Class 2.2
Minimum number of credits at Class 2.2 or above: 150
Maximum number of failed credits: 30
Class 3
Maximum number of failed credits: 30