Report from the one-off meeting of the Working Group held on 19 November 2010.

1. ASC is invited to consider the working group’s proposals as follows:

• The adoption of narrower bands for discretionary zones
• The adoption of guidelines for Boards of Examiners on the operation of discretion indicating:
  • That the following should be taken into account: preponderance, outlying grades, aggregation score
  • That the following should not be taken into account: exit velocity, rank order, borderline viva.

ASC is asked to consider the position in relation to:

• Special status of the dissertation
• The view of the external examiner.

2. ASC is invited to consider the proposed operational principles to be followed by Joint Honours Boards.

3. ASC is asked to consider whether there should be a review of the borderline ranges applying to the award of merit and distinction for PGT degrees and whether guidelines should be developed in relation to the exercise of this discretion.

Senate Office will take forward the drafting of regulations and dissemination of appropriate guidance.

None identified.

New guidelines in relation to the operation of discretion in awarding Honours classifications and for the operation of Joint Honours Boards could be issued for the spring 2011 diet. A change to the discretionary zones in relation to Honours classifications would be effected by a change to the relevant regulation in the Code of Assessment. This would be introduced in the 2011-12 Calendar and would therefore be implemented for the cohort graduating in summer 2012.

None.