Monash University Law Handbook 1995

Copyright © Monash University 1995
Enquiries to publishing@udev.monash.edu.au

The undergraduate program


Assessment

Modes of assessment in all subjects offered during the year appear in the outline of subjects in this handbook. If there is any variation to these modes of assessment, students will receive copies of the relevant handouts during the first week of the teaching period.

In many subjects an examination of three hours duration is held at the conclusion of the course. However, it is common for class tests and shorter examinations to be held either in substitution for or in addition to such an examination. In assessing academic performance in a subject, performance in class, oral work, class tests and other written work may be taken into account as well as results in the final examination. Students who fail in any subject may be limited in the number of subjects that they are permitted to pursue at one time or, if their performance is generally unsatisfactory, they may be refused permission to re-enrol in the Faculty of Law. Regulation 6.6 of the Examinations regulations provides that a student shall not be failed in a subject except on the recommendation of at least two examiners.

A student is eligible for no more than one supplementary examination in the compulsory law subjects of the LLB degree and, if a candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Jurisprudence, for no more than one supplementary examination in the non-law subjects of that degree.

A student is also eligible, upon written application to the dean within the prescribed time, for a supplementary examination in a law subject where that subject is the last subject required for the LLB degree and he or she has marks equivalent to 40 per cent of the total assessment in that subject.

A student who has been prevented by illness or other serious cause from presenting for all or part of the annual examination, or whose work during the academic year or performance in the annual examination has been gravely affected by illness or other serious cause, may apply for permission to sit a special examination in the subject concerned. Such application, accompanied by appropriate evidence, must be lodged with the the faculty registrar not later than forty-eight hours after the candidate's last examination scheduled on the university's relevant published examinations timetable, provided that the faculty registrar, where satisfied that the student was unable to make application by the required date, has a discretion to accept a late application.

Supplementary and special examinations

Copies of a booklet detailing eligibility for supplementary and special examinations are available from the general office and from the student administration general office. The contents of this booklet called Monash University Faculty of Law: Information for students about special examinations, supplementary examinations and exclusion procedures are reproduced in full in this handbook in the chapter called `Faculty of Law regulations'. In exceptional cases, applications may be made in writing to the university examinations manager for permission to sit examinations outside the appointed venue.

Access to examination scripts

Students who want to see their exam scripts after the results have been published should consult with the lecturer in the first instance. The lecturer will normally allow the student to to read the exam script and discuss it with them. If the student wishes to obtain a copy of the exam script this can be arranged by applicaion through the general office within forty-eight hours of lodging the application form with the general office. A fee of $5.00 for each examination script is charged.

Policy for feedback on class tests, research papers and essays

1 It is acknowledged that there are sound educational reasons for providing feedback to students on class tests, research papers and essays.

2 The form of the feedback is at the discretion of the individual teacher having regard to the nature and content of the assessment task and the demands of the particular subject area.

3 It is desirable that teachers make known to students in advance the relevant criteria which will be applied to that assessment. That notice may be in writing.

4 Class tests

* 4.1 In all situations, teachers should provide students with:

* a summary of the issues (in writing where possible and appropriate), and

* guidance as to the structure of the answer, and

* an indication of how the relevant criteria of assessment were applied.

4.2 Teachers may distribute sample or model answers at their discretion.

5 Research papers, asignments and essays

Research papers, assignments and essays should be returned to students with a written appraisal which should include comment as to:

* the individual quality of the work including legal reasoning, and

* the adequacy of the research, and

* the structure and presentation of the work.

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