5.3 Participation of External Examiners in assessment and examination procedures
- 5.3.1 Curriculum approval / setting assessments
- 5.3.2 Marking examination scripts and other assessment
- 5.3.3 Role of External Examiners at Module Boards
- 5.3.4 Role of External Examiners at Degree Classification Boards
An External Examiner is a full member of the relevant Board of Examiners.
No University qualification (other than honorary degrees) should be awarded without participation in the examining process by at least one External Examiner. This includes participation in the following:-
5.3.1 Curriculum approval / setting assessments
- Scrutinise and comment on new module and programme proposals.
- Approve the final versions of all end-of-module examination question papers.
- Review the totality of the set assessment for a module (examinations and coursework).
5.3.2 Marking examination scripts and other assessment
- Review grade/mark descriptors for each level of study and type of assessment.
- Review samples of continuous assessment and examination scripts.
- Review consistency and standards of marks and grades.
- Comment on School marking strategies.
- Approve grade conversion procedures.
- Review the method for assessing dissertations and projects.
- Review exceptional cases, eg where a student’s final module grade is awarded on the basis of a single individual’s marking of all elements.
- Approve the procedures employed for student peer (summative) assessment.
5.3.3 Role of External Examiners at Module Boards
The essential input of the External Examiner as monitor and benchmarker of standards takes place at modular level. The External Examiner’s primary role is as a moderator of grades rather than proposing actual adjustments to grades.
- Monitor the standard of assessment, marking and feedback procedures.
- Feedback on the assessment outcomes and procedures and on wider issues of quality assurance and enhancement.
- Identify any outlying marks and discuss with Schools the reasons why these might have occurred.
- Monitor any adjustment of the distribution of grades in modules.
- Advise on particular problematic cases that cannot be resolved within the School.
5.3.4 Role of External Examiners at Degree Classification Boards
External Examiners do not have a role in determining final degree classifications. Instead, the External Examiner’s role at the Classification Board is to:-
- Provide comments on the spread of degree results and performance of students.
- Comment on the degree programme as a whole, ie balance, breadth and depth.
- Comment on the assessment outcomes and procedures and on wider issues of quality assurance and enhancement.
- Offer comparison of academic standards at St Andrews with those in other institutions, identifying models of best practice.
Prior to the submission of module grades to Registry, the External Examiner must endorse the outcomes of the assessment processes they have been appointed to scrutinise.