Types of Assessment

There are different types of assessments that may be used to assess and examine modules.

Information on how each module is assessed can be found in the Module Catalogue.

Assessed Coursework

Coursework is a piece of work or activity completed outside of formal timetabled sessions. This may include essays, projects, reports and online assessment.  The format of the coursework as well as the deadline to submit or complete will be confirmed by the school.

Students must complete a Statement of Academic Integrity for all assessment submissions. The statement reminds students of the University’s definition of plagiarism and that in signing the form they are confirming the work they have submitted is entirely their own.  The University takes plagiarism and other forms of academic malpractice, including collusion and contract cheating very seriously. You may be excluded from the University without award if you present coursework in breach of the University’s rules which you have not wholly completed yourself.  Information regarding plagiarism can be found Academic Integrity webpages.

Aural Examination (Listening Examinations)

Some modules (such as language modules) may be assessed with listening examinations where students will be required to listen to excerpts and complete the examination questions based on what they have heard.

Usually these examinations take place on campus as formal examinations, and are timetabled and invigilated centrally by the Progress & Assessment Team. These examinations fall under the university rules governing the conduct of examinations.  Information rule breaking in examinations can be found Academic Integrity webpages.

Examination (On-Campus Examinations)

A university examination is a formal examination which will take place on campus in an examination venue and will be invigilated.  Usually these examinations are timetabled and invigilated centrally by the Progress & Assessment Team. 

These examinations fall under the university rules governing the conduct of examinations.  Information regarding rule breaking in examinations can be found on the Academic Integrity webpages.

Information regarding question papers, multiple choice examinations and instructions regarding preparations of what to do before and on the day of the examinations can be found on the Preparing for your Assessments webpages.

The timetable for each assessment period will be published in advance and students will be able to view personal timetables through Minerva.  For more information about timetables and when they will be published please see the Key Dates and Locations webpages.  (Though please note that there are schools that hold ad hoc or departmental examinations which may take place outside of the published assessment/examination periods.  If that is the case the dates/venues of the examinations will be communicated by the school.)

Field Work

If appropriate for the programme of study, students will carry out field work. For certain modules, attendance on field work is compulsory for the successful completion of the module and/or progression to the next stage of the programme. Where this is the case, it is clearly stated in the module catalogue entry.  All assessment of this kind will have clearly set guidelines, and students are expected to follow the instruction of the module leader and members of the teaching team.

In-Class Test

In-Class Tests are normally short duration timed assessments which help to consolidate your learning of a particular topic. They may take the form of, for example, a multiple choice assessment (MCQ), a quiz, OTLA, etc. These may be carried out in scheduled teaching time, or outside of this, and may be completed online.  More information about assessment types can be found on the Preparing for your Assessments webpages.

When and where these tests will take place will be communicated by the school.

Students must complete a Statement of Academic Integrity for all assessment submissions.  More information about this can be found and downloaded in the Declarations of Academic Integrity PDF.  The statement reminds students of the University’s definition of plagiarism and that in signing the form they are confirming the work they have submitted is entirely their own.  The University takes plagiarism and other forms of academic malpractice, including collusion and contract cheating very seriously. You may be excluded from the University without award if you present coursework in breach of the University’s rules which you have not wholly completed yourself.  Information regarding plagiarism, malpractice, contract cheating and fraudulent or fabricated coursework can be found on the Cheating and Plagiarism webpage.

Laboratory Work

If appropriate for the programme of study, students will carry out laboratory exercises. For certain modules, attendance in laboratory sessions is compulsory for the successful completion of the module and/or progression to the next stage of the programme. Where this is the case, it is clearly stated in the module catalogue entry.  All assessment of this kind will have clearly set guidelines, and students are expected to follow the instruction of the module leader and members of the teaching team. Students must adhere to the rules of the laboratory and Health & Safety requirements at all times.

Oral Examination (Speaking Examinations)

Some modules (such as language modules) will be assessed with speaking examinations where students will be required to complete the examination orally. 

These examinations may take place in the published University examination/assessment periods but also may be scheduled on an ad hoc basis by the school.  The school will confirm the details of when and where the examinations will take place.  If the examination does appear on the published timetable, usually students are given a specific timeslot by the school within the published duration.

OSCE

An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a type of examination used in health sciences. It is designed to test clinical skill performance and competence in a range of skills. It is a practical, real-world approach to learning and assessment.

OSCE examinations will be scheduled by the school and details or when and where they take place will be communicated to students in advance.

Online Time Limited Assessment

An Online Time Limited Assessment (OTLA) is a defined format of assessment at Leeds.  These are online assessments with a duration of 48 hours or less and are usually scheduled by the Assessment & Progress Team and take place during the University Assessment Periods.

The timetable for each assessment period will be published in advance and students will be able to view personal timetables through Minerva.  For more information about timetables and when they will be published please see the Key Dates and Locations webpages.

Students must complete a Statement of Academic Integrity for all assessment submissions.  More information about this can be found and downloaded in the Declarations of Academic Integrity PDF.  The statement reminds students of the University’s definition of plagiarism and that in signing the form they are confirming the work they have submitted is entirely their own.  The University takes plagiarism and other forms of academic malpractice, including collusion and contract cheating very seriously. You may be excluded from the University without award if you present coursework in breach of the University’s rules which you have not wholly completed yourself.  Information can be found on the Academic Integrity webpages.

More information about OTLAs can be found on the Online Time Limited Assessments webpage.

Performance Examinations

For some modules students may be required to complete a performance (for example in music performance modules).

These examinations may take place in the published University examination/assessment periods but also may be scheduled on an ad hoc basis by the school.  The school will confirm the details of when and where the examinations will take place.  If the examination does appear on the published timetable, usually students are given a specific timeslot by the school within the published duration.

Presentations

Presentations are an important part of the learning process and sometimes these will be assessed. Assessed presentations can take the form of either an individual or group presentation to an audience which may include peers.  Details of when and where presentations will take place will be confirmed by the school.

Video Examinations

Some modules may be assessed with examinations where students will be required to watch excerpts and complete the examination questions based on what they have seen.

Usually these examinations take place on campus as formal examinations, and are timetabled and invigilated centrally by the Progress & Assessment Team. These examinations fall under the university rules governing the conduct of examinations.  Information regarding rule breaking in examinations can be found in the Academic Integrity webpages.

Vivas

Some modules may include a viva voce examination as part of the assessment. This entails a live discussion between an Internal Examiner and an individual student, or group of students, based on a piece of work which has been prepared in advance (a project report, for instance). The function of the examination is to explore the student’s understanding of the material which they have presented and to enable them to remedy any deficiencies or omissions. Viva voce examinations which form part of the assessment of a module may be recorded and archived.