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UAL Research Online

Mark my words: the role of assessment criteria in UK higher education grading practices

Bloxham, Sue and Boyd, Pete and Orr, Susan (2011) Mark my words: the role of assessment criteria in UK higher education grading practices. Studies in Higher Education, 36 (6). pp. 655-670. ISSN 1470-174X (electronic) 0307-5079 (paper)

Type of Research: Article
Creators: Bloxham, Sue and Boyd, Pete and Orr, Susan
Description:

This article seeks to illuminate the gap between UK policy and practice in relation to the use of criteria for allocating grades. It critiques criterion-referenced grading from three perspectives. Twelve lecturers from two universities were asked to ‘think aloud’ as they graded two written assignments. The study found that assessors made holistic rather than analytical judgements. A high proportion of the tutors did not make use of written criteria in their marking and, where they were used, it was largely a post hoc process in refining, checking or justifying a holistic decision. Norm referencing was also found to be an important part of the grading process despite published criteria. The authors develop the notion of tutors’ standards frameworks, influenced by students’ work, and providing the interpretive lens used to decide grades. The implications for standards, and for students, of presenting the grading process as analytical and objective are discussed.

Official Website: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03075071003777716
Keywords/subjects not otherwise listed: Art and Design Pedagogy, Teaching and Learning, Assessment, teaching and learning research
Publisher/Broadcaster/Company: Taylor & Francis
Your affiliations with UAL: Other Affiliations > The Teaching and Learning Exchange
Date: 2011
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1080/03075071003777716
Date Deposited: 25 Nov 2013 10:30
Last Modified: 02 Aug 2016 14:45
Item ID: 6248
URI: https://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/id/eprint/6248

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