Undergraduate study in Economics, Management, Finance and Social Sciences
STATEMENT FROM THE DEAN OF THE University of London International Programmes
Paper 21 Zone B - Principles of Sociology Examination 2007
I am writing in response to some concern students have expressed about the above examination. Before going any further, I must reiterate the University's apologies for the considerable trouble you have had as a result of a printing error in the question paper.
The purpose of this letter is to try and lay to rest your concerns and provide you with some clarification and guidance on the way the Examinations Board dealt with this matter.
I thought it would be helpful for you to know that the Board devised and applied a very special and highly sophisticated marking scheme for this paper which included a range of scenarios in order to appropriately compensate candidates for the missing questions.
Having closely examined the Board's assessment documentation and procedures, I am fully satisfied that my academic colleagues have looked very carefully at each individual candidate affected. I am also content that the compensatory measures in arriving at your final mark were applied fairly and consistently across the board so that that no candidate was disadvantaged in his or her overall result for this paper. I should perhaps add that the handling of the matter drew praise from the External Examiner who was involved throughout the entire assessment process.
In view of the exceptional circumstances surrounding the examination, the Examinations Board recommended further remedial actions whose approval is already underway. This means that the provisions set out below will apply to any student who has been unsuccessful in the 2007 examination:
- All students who have failed Zone B paper 21 in 2007 will be permitted to write the paper again in 2008, with no academic penalty, and the attempt made in 2007 will not be shown on any subsequent transcript.
- Students will be permitted to take a further unit for which Principles of Sociology is a prerequisite, but only if they have been awarded an overall mark of 25 % or above in this year's examination for paper 21, Zone B. If the mark is below 25, they will not be allowed to take a further unit for which Principles of Sociology is a prerequisite until they have passed their resit examination in paper 21.
- All diploma students who have only failed Zone B paper 21 in 2007 will be permitted to transfer to the BSc programme and on satisfactory completion of the Diploma, be eligible for the award of the Diploma while being on the BSc degree programme.All diploma students who have failed Zone B paper 21 in 2007 and one other unit or half unit will also be permitted to transfer to the BSc programme (but will not be awarded the Diploma in Economics) and may sit a maximum of 5 examinations in 2008.
- In all cases, the resit examination in Principles of Sociology will not count towards the total permitted number of units students are allowed to take for examination; this means that diploma students will be allowed to take a total number of 5 units in the 2008 examinations, i.e. either 3 new units and 2 resits or 4 new units and 1 resit, whereas completing degree students only may write up to 5 new units in addition to a resit in Principles of Sociology. All students will however be required to pay the appropriate re-entry fee for all their resit examinations.
- Students who do not wish to resit the examination for Principles of Sociology may transfer to another degree for which paper 21 is not a prerequisite for a compulsory unit or named paper.
I have tried to fully address your concerns and again, I apologise for the situation that arose because of a printing error.
Last not least, may I take the opportunity of extending my very best wishes to you for your studies this session and success in the examinations next year.
September 2007