Explanation of Marks

The University uses a 0-100 numerical marking scale as well as non-numeric marks and suffixes, which are letters applied against marks.

Numerical marking scale

With the exception of modules which as pass/fail, faculties and schools (other than the School of Medicine in relation to the MBChB programme) mark undergraduate and postgraduate modules, examination scripts and other assessed work on the University's 0-100 scale.

All assessed work is marked according to the achievement represented.

Minimum pass mark for modules

The minimum pass mark for Undergraduate level 1, 2 or 3 modules is 40.

The minimum pass mark for taught Postgraduate level M modules is 50.

For further information about grading and marking – including progression and resits – please read the Rules for Award webpage.

Non-numeric module marks

Non-numeric module marks are module marks which are not in the format of a number.  In addition to those noted below, some module marks in the School of Medicine are returned on an A-E scale.

AB

AB stands for absent. A module mark of AB indicates that none of the assessment components (for example coursework or exam) which make up the module mark have been submitted or attended.

If you submitted or attended some assessments for a module, you will see a module mark which covers both those components submitted and 0 for those which are not.

If you have a module mark of AB for a module which counts towards the calculation of your degree, then this will act as a module mark of 0 for classification purposes.

If you are eligible for a resit and do not apply, a mark of AB may be returned against the attempt to show it was available.

F

F stands for fail. A module mark of F indicates a fail in a module which is being marked on a pass/fail basis.

The F is not used in classification calculations. Classifications are calculated using numeric marks.

I

I stands for investigation. A module mark of I indicates that a mark is not available due to an ongoing investigation into possible academic misconduct.  The I is a temporary mark and will be amended once an investigation outcome has been determined.  

You won’t see a mark of I on your official transcript.

P

P stands for pass. A module mark of P indicates a pass in a module which is being marked on a pass/fail basis.

The P is not used in classification calculations. Classifications are calculated using numeric marks.

PM stands for pass with merit. PD stands for pass with distinction.

WD

WD stands for withdrawn. A module mark of WD indicates that a student withdrew before they attended sufficient teaching to attempt the assessment (i.e. usually up to and including week 8 of the teaching for the module).

When a WD is recorded against a module, the module will appear on your official transcript but the mark will be blank.  

Suffixes  

Suffixes are letter codes which are added to module marks to indicate a particular status.  Some suffixes also perform an action in the University’s student records system such as awarding or withholding credit.  Suffixes can be added to both numeric and non-numeric module marks (for example, 35C or ABV). 

C

A module mark with the suffix C indicates that due to mitigating circumstances there is an incomplete, unsubmitted or failed compulsory individual assessment (or assessments).

It can also mean that due to mitigating circumstances, the requirements of a module have not been met (for example, due to a specific assessment mark or mark average).

The C will be attached to the overall module mark (which is composed of any individual assessment marks which have been achieved, including 0 for missing individual assessments). When used against a pass mark, the C suffix will withhold the credits for the module.

To achieve the module credits, you must complete the outstanding work/satisfy the required criteria.

You won’t see the C suffix on your official transcript, only the mark will appear.

G

A module mark with the suffix G indicates an academic misconduct offence has been expunged (i.e.  you have completed the work required to discharge the offence).

The G suffix can be used against both pass and fail module marks but where it is used against a fail mark, the credits will be awarded for the module.

You won’t see a G suffix on your official transcript, only the mark will appear.

H

A module mark with the suffix H indicates either: 

  1. That there is an academic misconduct offence. It should be used with 0 (0H) to indicate an academic misconduct offence on the module.
  2. That an academic misconduct offence has been expunged (i.e.  you have completed the work required to discharge the offence) and the module credits are not awarded.

The H suffix can be used against both pass and fail module marks but where it is used against a pass mark, the credits will be withheld for the module.

You won’t see a H suffix on your official transcript, only the mark will appear.

S

A module mark with the suffix S indicates either:

  • The format of the reassessment is unsuitable to be assessed in August; or
  • The Assessment Board has determined that the student should be denied an August reassessment on the grounds of exceptionally poor performance at their first attempt.  It is used in this format only in exceptional circumstances.

You won’t see a S suffix on your official transcript, only the mark will appear.

U

A module mark with the suffix U indicates that a student has not followed the academic misconduct procedures correctly in one or more assessments within that module and that the University Special Cases Committee (USCC), the Teaching School and the student have agreed that the student should resit the relevant assessment for a mark capped at the pass mark, rather than indicate that this is an academic misconduct offence.

You won’t see a U suffix on your official transcript, only the mark will appear.

V

A module mark with the suffix V indicates there is an incomplete, unsubmitted or failed compulsory individual assessment (or assessments).

It can also mean that the requirements of a module have not been met (for example, due to a specific assessment mark or mark average).

The V will be attached to the overall module mark (which is composed of any individual assessment marks which have been achieved, including 0 for missing individual assessments). When used against a pass mark, the V suffix will withhold the credits for the module.

To achieve the module credits, you must complete the outstanding work/satisfy the required criteria.

If on classification, the V remains against a pass mark, a module mark of 39 for undergraduate modules and 49 for taught postgraduate modules is used when calculating the classification. 

You won’t see a V suffix on your official transcript.  Any mark with a V suffix will show as INC (for incomplete).

Translating marks from the 20-90 scale (pre-2018/19 only) 

Please note this only applies to modules where the mark was returned pre-Autumn 2018

To standardise module grades, the 0-100 scale is used as the basis for degree classification and all grades which were marked on the 20-90 scale are converted to it.

The two scales correspond exactly between 30 and 80, which is where most of the students’ marks will fall.

To be able to use the classification calculator to estimate your final result, you will need to translate any marks awarded on the 20-90 scale to the 0-100 scale.  (See the Classification Calculator webpage for information and links to the appropriate calculator.)

This table shows how the two scales translate to each other.

Mark awarded on 20-90 scale Translation (0-100 scale)
20 0
21 3
22 6
23 9
24 12
25 15
26 18
27 21
28 24
29 27
81 82
82 84
83 86
84 88
85 90
86 92
87 94
88 96
89 98
90 100

Classification Calculator

To calculate your average grade per year or your overall classification see the Classification Calculator webpage.