Assessment methods
You will encounter two types of assessment during your time at University: formative and summative.
Formative assessment has a developmental purpose and is designed to help you learn more effectively by giving you feedback on your performance and on how it can be improved and/or maintained. You will not receive a mark/grade and it does not contribute to your final degree mark.
Summative assessment takes into account the extent of your success in meeting the assessment criteria and how well you have fulfilled the learning outcomes of a particular module or programme. This type of assessment will contribute to your final degree mark and/or towards progression decisions.
For Open Assessments, e.g. the writing of an essay, report etc., the marker of the formative assessment is normally the same person who marks the summative assessment.
Methods of Assessment
Definitions of some assessment methods frequently used by the Department of Health Sciences are given below. Some or all of these may be used in your programme of study.
Closed exam
A closed examination is a timed, invigilated examination conducted under traditional examination conditions.
Open exam
An assessment task that is completed in a limited time (e.g. 3.5 hours) that is not completed under exam conditions in an exam room. You will be told when and where to attend to collect the exam paper, and when and where to return your completed script.
Online 24-hour open exam
You may be asked to take an online examination. This means the paper will be uploaded to the VLE and emailed to you at a certain time and you upload your answers before a specified deadline. See our guidance for online exams.
Open book exam
An open book exam is a closed exam in which students are allowed to bring certain specified papers or books into the exam to refer to during the exam. The aim is to reduce the reliance on memorising information that is often very accessible eg formulae. This allows more time in the exam for higher level tasks. If you are taking an open book exam your module leader will confirm prior to your exam what can and cannot be brought into the exam.
Open assessment
An assessment other than a closed examination, e.g. the writing of an essay, report, dissertation etc.
Assessment in practice
Practice learning accounts for 50% of nursing programmes. The hours and outcomes required are captured through practice placements and simulated learning opportunities. As an academic assessment, all placement assessments need to be passed in order for an award to be conferred. To achieve a pass you must complete the required outcomes for a placement.
Practice placement modules are summatively assessed by the achievement of pre-specified competence in practice outcomes, contained in an Electronic Ongoing Achievement Record (E-OAR) that demonstrates successful integration of theory and practice. The specific criteria for each placement are incorporated into the Electronic Ongoing Achievement Record. The Electronic Ongoing Achievement Record for each practice experience module must be completed by the assessment deadline.
OSCE
OSCE stands for Objective Structured Clinical Examination. It is a practical assessment that is held under exam conditions. The purpose of an OSCE is to assess your ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills relevant to clinical practice whilst being observed by an examiner.
During the OSCE you would perform an assessment, or range of assessments, to demonstrate specified skills. Some OSCE examinations involve the use of a simulated patient (a simulated patient is an actor who has taken on the role of a person with the particular clinical condition being examined). OSCE stations can vary in length and number depending on the knowledge and skills being tested.
The key themes tested in an OSCE have specific marking criteria against which an examiner assesses student performance. The criteria denote safe and competent practice and these must be observed and/or heard by the examiner during the assessment. You will receive specific information from your module leader if a module involves an OSCE.
OSCE examinations are taken under examination conditions and the University rules regarding access to phones, electronic equipment, toilet visits, academic misconduct etc. all apply. Whilst you wait for your OCSE you will be located in a chaperoned area and will not be permitted to communicate with students who have completed their OSCEs. You may, whilst waiting, read notes and talk to other students in the room who are waiting to take their OSCE. You may not access the internet, a laptop, tablet or other electronic equipment. You are advised to bring a drink and/or snack with you to the chaperone room as you may not leave the room to access these.
Posters and presentations
On this programme, there are assessments that require you to undertake an oral presentation to your student peer group. These presentations will be assessed by two examiners using published criteria and will be audio and video recorded for moderation purposes. The External Examiner is invited to attend all presentations.
You may be required to prerecord your poster presentation and submit to the student Dropoff Facility by the deadline stipulated on the assessment schedule. Information as to how to do this will be provided by the module leader during the module. In this instance recordings may be sent to the External Examiner as opposed to them being invited in person.
Summative numeracy assessment
The Nursing & Midwifery Council Standards for pre-registration nursing programmes (2018) (R4.6) and pre-registration midwifery programmes (2019) (R4.5) state that “all programmes [nursing and midwifery] include a health numeracy assessment related to [nursing and midwifery] proficiencies and calculation of medicines which must be passed with a score of 100%.”
In line with the University’s Standing Committee on Assessment regulations, you will be permitted two attempts to achieve a pass mark of 100% at this assessment.