NCUK: Awarding 2020 Results
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Around the world, NCUK students are celebrating the end of their academic year as their results are released and they get ready to take up their places at leading universities. As in previous years, 90% of the NCUK class of 2020 are expected to confirm their first-choice place at university.
It is a reminder that normality does still exist, and that the work that we do for our students, and for our Partners, is critical and can transform lives and deliver opportunities that many young people would otherwise not have had.
Professor John Brewer, NCUK CEO.
NCUK has over 30 years of experience in awarding high quality outcomes for students across diverse global delivery locations. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NCUK has worked with our stakeholders to develop a robust awarding model that is fair to all students, transparent and quality assured.
To meet these objectives, the awarding model for summer 2020 has considered three evidence sources regarding individual student achievement in reaching final grade decisions the first set of which were released to students and universities on 21 July 2020.
1. Qualitative primary evidence
The primary evidence of student work to demonstrate the learning outcomes we assess is taken from their coursework, as part of our normal awarding system, and new time-controlled assessments (TCAs). In accordance with our normal awarding process, moderation of student work and Study Centre marking is conducted by subject specialists to ensure that each student is assessed to the published NCUK standards in our syllabus and supporting information for Study Centres.
As NCUK were unable to hold summer 2020 examinations as planned, TCAs were introduced to ensure students could evidence achievement of all module learning outcomes. Because TCAs are new, the 2020 awarding model includes a comprehensive, module-level review of their validity, which uses supplementary evidence such as first semester coursework, Study Centre and moderator feedback.
This validity review is critical to ensuring that an appropriate weighting is applied to TCA marks so that they contribute fairly and accurately to the awarding of final results. Along with this review, we have worked with our University Partners to ensure a smooth transition and acceptance of student results.
2. Quantitative supplementary evidence
To support NCUK in ensuring that final results are accurate and substantiated and that students with special circumstances are not disadvantaged, supplementary quantitative statistical evidence and analysis contribute to the summer 2020 awarding model. These include:
- Study Centre predicted grades;
- Detailed and robust historical trend analysis of grade distributions, average marks, and predictive modelling;
- Student formative assessment outcomes;
- Information on engagement and attendance from Study Centres
3. Study Centre engagement
It is one of NCUK’s core values to keep the students’ interest at the forefront of all our activity and to ensure we always act with the utmost integrity. Within the final stage of the summer 2020 awarding model, Study Centres can request a review of any results where they consider a student’s grade is not an accurate reflection of achievement against learning outcomes. The Study Centres have been able to provide evidence to support any proposal with regards to an alternate grade. All proposals were independently reviewed in light of the evidence presented.
Exam Board
In accordance with NCUK’s normal awarding process, all provisional student results are confirmed by an Exam Board. This is meeting conducted by NCUK and attended by NCUK Chief Moderators. At the Exam Board, the profile of each individual student is reviewed in depth at both module and qualification level and as part of the 2020 awarding model, final decisions regarding Study Centre review requests are considered in detail and made by the Board.
As results are released, students can now discuss their grades and university options with the Counsellors and teaching staff at their Study Centre. NCUK has a process in place to review all enquiries. Guidance can be found below for NCUK students who have any questions about their results and how they were calculated. All enquiries will be managed in the first place by our Study Centres.
NCUK would like to take this opportunity to thank the thousands of students, parents, teaching, and auxiliary staff at our Study Centres and our University Partners for their resilience during times of uncertainty. As a result of their hard work, NCUK is once again able to facilitate the progression to university for all those students seeking to take up their places. We have no doubt that this cohort will follow in the footsteps of tens of thousands of NCUK Students before them and go on to achieve even higher outcomes at university and beyond.
For more information on NCUK, please contact us.
Information for students
If you are a student and have questions about your results and how they were calculated, please contact your Study Centre in the first instance.
If you suspect that a result may not be accurate, you should discuss this with your Study Centre. Your Study Centre will help you to decide whether to submit an ‘Enquiry about Results’ request (please refer to your Student Handbook for further information). It is very important that you understand that with this request, your module(s) mark(s) and grade could go down, up, or remain the same.
Students (and parents) should note that:
- NCUK can only accept ‘Enquiries about Results’ requests submitted by your Study Centre.
- Your Study Centre will submit any Enquiries by the following deadlines: 4 August 2020 if you took your TCAs in May 2020; 11 September 2020 if you took your TCAs in July 2020
- NCUK charges a fee to process Enquiries about Results. Your Study Centre will advise you of the charge and how to pay it.