The 20-point Common Reporting Scale
Updated on: 16 July 2026
Understand the University’s grading scale and the type of grading applied to modules when students have special circumstances.
The University uses a 20-point Common Reporting Scale to calculate module grades.
One decimal point is included in the calculation of final grades.
Some academic Schools use a different scale for marking and a conversion procedure is applied to produce a grade on the 20-point scale after a student completes a module. Schools that use a different scale will publish their procedures for marking and for conversion of marks to final grades in their module or School handbooks, or both.
Module grade descriptors
The following grade descriptors are used alongside numeric marks:
| Grade | Description | Module grade |
|---|---|---|
| P | Pass | 7.0 to 20.0 |
| P | Pass for pass or fail modules | 0.0 |
| F | Failed with right to re-assessment | 4.0 to 6.9 |
| F | Failed with no right to re-assessment | 0.0 to 3.9 |
| F | Failed for pass or fail modules | 0.0 |
| F | Fail due to non-completion, but with right to resit | 6.9 (lowered from pass mark) |
| X |
Failed to meet module requirements Applies where a student has failed to complete the work of a module without good reason or where a student does not register for, or does not attend, any exam without good reason. The student is not entitled to a reassessment opportunity for this module. Where a student obtains a pre-defined adjustment prior to the deadline of the re-assessment their resit record will be closed. |
0.0 |
| D |
Deferred Applies if there is a good medical or personal reason (see Extenuating circumstances policy) for a student’s inability to complete any part of the assessment requirements. Arrangements must be made locally to complete the assessment and report the deferred result. Please enter an expected date of submission for the deferred assessment. |
0.0 |
| Z |
No result reported, although expected Applies when a student’s module result is unresolved due to mitigating circumstances or some other valid reason. Please enter a brief comment through MMS. Registry may request further information from the School or Department. This code should only be left temporarily on a student record, a further result should be reported as soon as possible. |
0.0 |
| S |
Special circumstances Applies if a student’s module was affected by special circumstances (see S-coding policy). The grade should not be altered but reported with the annotation 'S', for example, '6.0 S'. |
0.0 to 20.0 |
| V |
Void Applies for mitigating circumstances where the module is not included in classification. |
0.0 |
| A |
Audited Applies to modules not taken for a grade or credit. |
0.0 |
| PC |
Grade capped Applies to modules capped due to academic misconduct. |
7.0 |
| XA |
Fail – academic misconduct Resit the module assessment at the next available opportunity |
0.0 |
| XC |
Fail – academic misconduct Zero for the module with the right to retake the module for credit only. |
0.0 |
| XN |
Fail – academic misconduct Zero for the module and no right to take an additional module. |
0.0 |
| XR |
Fail – academic misconduct Zero for the module with the right to take an additional module for credit only. |
0.0 |
Special circumstances
The University can make changes to the final module grades of students with special circumstances by applying one of the following policies:
S-coding
Adjustments can be made to a final grade in an Honours module due to special circumstances. This is not available for 1000- or 2000-level modules, except for students in the BA International Honours programme.
When S-coding is applied to a module result of:
- Pass – the credits are retained, but the grade may be excluded from the degree classification calculation.
- Fail – the student may get another opportunity to complete the assessment. This will be treated in the same way as the original assessment.
Requesting S-coding
To request S-coding, students must submit an application to the Director of Teaching of the relevant School as soon as possible.
A request to apply S-coding to grades after they have been published is known as a ‘retrospective request’. This can only be granted in exceptional cases at the discretion of the Assistant Vice-Principal (AVP) Dean of Learning and Teaching, and their decision is final.
There are limits on how many credits can be S-coded in a degree programme.
For more information, read the S-coding guidance.
V-coding
In exceptional circumstances module grades received in a semester or a year can be invalidated as if modules were never taken.
Affected modules are marked with a V instead of a number.
Students cannot request V-coding. It may only be offered by the Proctor or delegate when all other academic options have been exhausted and the circumstances are judged to be serious enough.