The University of Sheffield uses a standard form of marking which groups student achievement into a number of classes:

70-100 – Class I (First)

60-69 – Class II Division 1 (2:1)

50-59 – Class II Division 2 (2:2)

45-49 – Class III(Third)

40-44 – Pass

0-39 - Work in respect of which a candidate fails (including work submitted more than 5 days late without special dispensation)

No mark awarded - Work not submitted, or work submitted but deemed to be of no academic merit, or work submitted in respect of which credit is refused or denied will not normally be awarded a grade. 

Postgraduate

Below is an outline of the general marking scale used. Some assessments have their own specific marking criteria which you can find  on the Blackboard page for each module, under “Details and Submission”.

70 - 100 | First Class

• Work of exceptional quality which displays an excellent command of the subject/medium.

• Content demonstrates detailed, accurate knowledge and understanding of the subject.

• There is considerable evidence of accurate and relevant research

• There is highly skilled use of sources and resources.

• The work shows sophisticated levels of communication with a confident, clear and appropriate style which addresses the task comprehensively.

60 - 69 | Upper Second Class

• Very good work with a strong command of the subject/medium.

• Content demonstrates significant knowledge and understanding of the subject.

• There is strong evidence of relevant research.

• There is skilled use of sources and resources.

• The work shows very good levels of communication with a clear style that addresses the task effectively

50 - 59 | Lower Second Class

• Good work with some command of the subject/medium.

• Content demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the subject

• There is some evidence of research

• There is some use of sources and resources.

• There is an adequate level of communication which adequately addresses the task

45 - 49 | Third Class

• The work demonstrates a modest grasp of the subject/medium.

• Content demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the subject

• There is evidence of research

• There is some use of sources and resources

• There is some communication and there has been an attempt to address the task

40 - 44 | Pass

• The work demonstrates a limited grasp of the subject/medium.

• Content demonstrates a basic knowledge and understanding of the subject

• There is little use of sources and resources

• The work is in part anecdotal or unsubstantiated

• There is some attempt at communication and an attempt to address the task, but it is brief/unfinished

1 - 39 | Fail

• The work demonstrates an inadequate grasp of the subject/medium.

• Content demonstrates insufficient knowledge or understanding of the subject

• There is negligible use of sources and resources.

• The work is largely anecdotal or unsubstantiated

• Communication is confused and there is little or no attempt to address the question

Wherever possible, your work will be marked anonymously which means that markers are not aware of the identity of the student whose work is being assessed. You must include your registration number in all assessed work, whether this is an examination or a written and submitted piece of work.

Some forms of assessment mean that anonymous marking is not possible. Common examples of this include group work, presentations and dissertations. In such cases, additional processes are used to ensure a rigorous approach to assessment.

A sample of work from each module is internally moderated by members of the programme team to ensure fairness and consistency of assessment and feedback. A sample of dissertations is also internally moderated. Grades awarded are occasionally altered as a result of internal moderation.

All borderline/fail assignments and dissertations are moderated internally.

A sample of work from all modules and a sample of dissertations are seen by the external examiner.

Module marking is also subject to inspection and comment by the Department’s external examiners. Details about what the external examiners do is available here.

If you fail a module and are required to resit, the maximum mark you can be awarded is:

• 40 for the whole module at undergraduate level

• 50 for the whole module at postgraduate level 

If you fail a module or modules assessed by a formal examination you must make sure that you register and pay to retake it/them and that you will be available in the Resit Examination period during the whole of August.

The dates of individual Resit Formal Examinations are managed by the Examinations Office and will be announced during the Summer vacation, usually by the end of July.

Holidays booked in advance will not be accepted as a valid reason for missing August resit examinations.

You will get feedback on your work in multiple ways throughout the semester: from verbal comments or suggestions from your tutors in workshops or seminars, to the grades and written comments you receive on your assessed work. You may get informal feedback from your peers, or have a discussion about feedback with your personal and academic tutor.

"Before this chat, I honestly thought feedback was more of a criticism of what you’ve done wrong, and I would see it as a way of saying “you’ve messed up on this essay.” But now I know that feedback is the tutor’s way of helping you out. They could just throw a grade at you and leave you to take that in and forget about it, but they don’t. They spend time to give you valuable feedback which is all to help you with future essays" 

Level one student on the experience of getting feedback

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