4 Assessment for the programme
4.1 (GR)
A student sitting an examination must comply with the rules given in the Notice to Candidates, which accompanies the Admission Notice, in addition to those given in this section.
Assessment methods
See Glossary for the definition of 'examination' and 'written paper examination'.
4.2
As indicated in the Programme Specification, each course of the BA degree Spanish and Latin American Studies will normally be assessed by one three-hour unseen written examination and coursework. Both elements of the assessment must be completed in the same year for the entry to be valid.
There is an aural and/or oral assessment for the language elements of the programme. Aural/oral examinations are held in London unless permission has been granted by the Examinations Centre for these to be conducted elsewhere.
The ratio of coursework to written examination for literary and cultural courses is 30:70. For the Spanish Languages 1 and 2 the ratio of aural assessment:oral assessment:written examination is 25:25:50. For Spanish Language 3: the ratio of aural assessment:written examination is 30:70. The overall assessment percentage for oral/aural assessment:coursework:written examination is therefore 12:22:66.
The written examinations take place on one occasion each year, normally in May and are held at established centres worldwide.
4.3 (GR)
All examinations will be based on the syllabuses that are current for the year of the examination concerned. A student must ensure that they have studied the correct syllabuses.
4.4 (GR)
An examination is governed by the regulations in force at the time of the examination and not at the time that a student was initially registered or first attempted the examination concerned, except where the conditions for changing regulations with notice apply.
See the Introduction for information on changing regulations.
4.5 (GR)
Where necessary, Examiners may change the format or rubric of a written paper examination, from that of the previous year, without giving prior notice to students.
4.6 (GR)
Examinations by written paper are held at established examination centres worldwide. In countries where there is an established examination centre, a student must use the facilities provided by that centre. The University will not establish an alternative centre in those countries.
See the website for the list of examination centres: www.londoninternational.ac.uk/exams/
4.7 (GR)
All examinations are held at the discretion of the examination centre and are subject to any conditions they may impose.
4.8
Oral and aural examinations are normally held only in London. Permission to take oral/aural examinations at a centre other than London is dependent on the ability of the examination centre to make arrangements acceptable to the University for the conduct of the examinations. A student for whom arrangements to take the oral/aural examinations outside of London cannot be made may apply for permission to take these examinations in London and the written paper examinations elsewhere in the United Kingdom and Ireland or overseas.
4.9
For the language courses, Spanish language 1, 2, 3 and 4, the coursework will consist of an aural and/or oral test. Further details are given under the individual syllabuses.
4.10
The dates of the aural/oral examination for Spanish language 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be notified at the time of examination entry to the students directly affected.
4.11
For all other courses, the coursework will consist of the better of two compulsory essays. If a student fails to submit the two compulsory essays then their unseen written paper will not be considered by the Examiners. If a student submits the two essays but due to extenuating personal circumstances is unable to sit the unseen written paper in the same year, the marks for that essay may, at the discretion of the Examiners, be held over provided that the student attempts the unseen written paper at the next available examination. As soon as possible before, or after, the examination, students must inform the University, in writing and with relevant documentary evidence (a doctor's certificate, etc.), of the circumstances which will prevent, or have prevented them from sitting it. A student who submits one of the two compulsory essays will not be permitted to carry the mark forward.
Date of examinations
4.12
Written paper examinations normally take place, commencing in the last week of May each year.
4.13 (GR)
At any examination session, all students will be examined by the same written paper examination, on the same date, at the same time, except where there are unavoidable delays in the arrangement. However, the University reserves the right to set different papers in the same subject in separate countries and in different time zones.
4.14 (GR)
Where delays are unavoidable in countries other than the United Kingdom, the examination centre will arrange for the relevant examinations to be taken with as little deviation as possible from the original dates and times assigned to them. A student must abide by these revised arrangements. The University reserves the right not to mark an examination taken at a different time from that prescribed.
4.15
The first compulsory essay for the literary and cultural courses must be submitted by 15 January and the second essay by 22 April in the year of examination. Essays which arrive after these dates will not be marked. Two copies of each essay should be sent to the Examinations Office in accordance with the instructions given in the Student handbook.
Sitting examinations
4.16 (GR)
A student who wishes to sit an examination in any given year must:
- have registered with the University as an International Programmes Student for the relevant programme of study
- have entered for the examination in accordance with the University's and the appropriate examination centre's instructions and deadlines
- have an effective date of registration of 30 November of the previous year.
The full examination entry procedure is in the student handbook.
4.17 (GR)
A student is required to apply to the relevant examination centre for permission to sit the examination. The University cannot accept responsibility for making examination arrangements on behalf of a student. It is entirely at the examination centre's discretion to accept or refuse an entry to an examination.
4.18 (GR)
A fee is normally charged by all examination centres except for London. This fee is payable by a student each time they make an examination entry. The University is not responsible for this fee and cannot influence the level of fee charged.
4.19
All non-language papers (essays and unseen written examinations) may be written in either English or Spanish, but no special credit will be given for answering in Spanish. Students are normally expected to have read the set texts in Spanish and to quote from them in Spanish.
4.20 (GR)
The University reserves the right to require a student sitting a written paper examination to remain in the examination room or its precincts for the duration of the relevant examination.
4.21 (GR)
All examination scripts are the property of the University and will not be returned to students. All question papers will be retained by the University.
4.22 (GR)
A student who finds handwriting difficult due to medical or learning difficulties must apply to the University for special arrangements to be made. The University will not transcribe illegible scripts. Any script deemed illegible by the Board of Examiners will be assigned a mark of zero and a fail result given. This will count as an attempt.
In order to apply for special examination arrangements, contact specialneeds@london.ac.uk
See also section 12, Students with specific access requirements.
Materials and aids permitted within the examination room
4.23 (GR)
Examinations must be completed without aids, unless indicated otherwise in the individual syllabuses. A definitive list of materials permitted in the examination room will also be sent to students who have entered an examination with the Admission Notice/timetable.
Aids permitted in examinations are noted in the syllabuses in Annex B.
4.24 (GR)
It is an examination offence to take into, or use in, the examination room any unauthorised materials or aids. A student must not take into the examination room, or consult during the examination, any books, notes, instruments or other materials or aids that are not permitted. All such materials or aids must be given to the Invigilator before the examination starts. A student who takes any unauthorised materials or aids into the examination room must hand them to the Invigilator when requested to do so.
4.25 (GR)
Without exception, electronic devices with communication capability are forbidden in the examinations. This includes personal digital assistants (PDAs) and mobile phones.
4.26 (GR)
The use of calculators in the examination is strictly controlled. Calculators may only be used in examinations where indicated in the course description for the course concerned.
4.27 (GR)
Calculators will not be provided by the University. A student is responsible for providing their own calculator and for ensuring that it is in working order for the examination. A student must ensure that they have an alternative means of calculation in case their calculator fails during the examination (i.e. a second calculator which must also comply with the specification below) or must be prepared to continue the examination without a calculator. Borrowing another student's calculator during the examination is not permitted. If a student uses an electronic calculator in an examination, they must indicate on their examination script the name and type of machine used.
4.28 (GR)
Where calculators are permitted, the specifications listed below will apply, unless otherwise indicated in the course description and on the Notice for candidates for the course concerned.
Calculators must:
- be hand held, compact and portable
- be quiet in operation
- have no external wires
- be non-programmable
- not be capable of receiving, storing or displaying user supplied non-numerical data
The use of a calculator that communicates or displays textual messages, graphical or algebraic information is strictly forbidden.
4.29 (GR)
If a student uses a calculator that does not comply with the above specification, they will be considered to have made an assessment offence and will be subject to the rules governing such offences.
4.30 (GR)
It is an examination offence to take into, or use in, the examination room any unauthorised materials or aids. A student must not take into the examination room, or consult during the examination, any books, notes, instruments or other materials or aids that are not permitted. All such materials or aids must be given to the Invigilator before the examination starts. A student who takes any unauthorised materials or aids into the examination room must hand them to the Invigilator when requested to do so.
See section 6 for assessment offences and penalties.
Illness during examinations
4.31 (GR)
A student who thinks that illness or other circumstances may have affected their performance in an examination must immediately inform the Student Assessment Office ensuring that notification is received within three weeks of their last examination. A supporting medical certificate or other certification obtained at the time of illness must be provided at the same time. Notification received more than three weeks after the date of the last examination will not be taken into account.
Administrative re-check of marks
See www.londoninternational.ac.uk/exams/admin_recheck.
Students can request an administrative re-check of marks online, or contact uolia.rechecks@london.ac.uk
4.32 (GR)
A student may apply to the University for their results to be re-checked if they think a mark received is due to an administrative error.
4.33 (GR)
A student who wishes to apply for a re-check of marks must do so by the specific deadlines and by following the procedure set out on the University of London International Programmes website.
A request for an administrative re-check of marks received after the given deadlines cannot be processed.
4.34 (GR)
A student who wishes to apply for a re-check of marks, must pay an administrative fee which is refundable in the event that an error is found.
4.35 (GR)
The University will not consider appeals against examination results that are made on academic grounds.
For information on the procedure for representations concerning the decision of the Boards of Examiners, refer to the University of London Regulations, www.london.ac.uk
