Introduction 

The University of Peradeniya is committed to providing high-quality education to all its learners, both full-time and part-time. Therefore, the  University has taken all measures to ensure the reliability and fairness of assessments by conducting them in accordance with established  standards and guidelines. The standards, guidelines, and practices have evolved over the last 80 years and have become well-entrenched in the University. They were last published in 1977 as a manual, and the new "Manual of Procedures for Conduct of Undergraduate examinations" is a compilation of all the well-established practices and includes recent developments. The procedures and conduct detailed in the new Manual are aligned with the efforts to ensure that all university graduates satisfactorily achieve the graduate profile and intended learning outcomes.

The Manual aims to enhance the quality of assessment practices in all undergraduate study programmes by ensuring validity, consistency, objectivity, comprehensiveness, and the absence of ambiguity in assessments. The guidelines will also ensure that individuals and administrative entities are well-prepared to conduct assessments in a comprehensive manner. In order to achieve the aims, the Manual includes university policies relevant to assessment practices, an overarching comprehensive assessment procedure, regulations relating to examination offences and punishments, duties and responsibilities of examiners, guidelines for moderation, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and relevant templates.

Within the guidelines and procedures stated in the Manual, the faculties and programmes will be able to develop detailed SOPs covering the entire process of assessment. If a faculty wishes to deviate from any overarching guidelines, fresh approval from the Senate and Council must be obtained.

The Manual shall be reviewed, updated, and revalidated by the University every five years. In addition, new SOPs and any amendments to the Manual will be incorporated and uploaded as they are developed.

The University appreciates the contribution of all academic, administrative, and non-academic staff members in bringing out this Manual.

Vice-Chancellor

University of Peradeniya

10.04.2023