Exams and assessment
Assessment
Modules taken in this programme are assessed by a combination of continuous assessment during the module, and written examinations at the end of the module.
It is important to remember that ALL your modules, in semester 1 and in semester 2, will contribute to the classification of your degree.
Continuous assessment
The method of continuous asssessment varies depending on the module. For some modules it consists of reports submitted and group presentations made, for others it consists of assessment of performance in each laboratory session. Refer to the documentation for each module for details of the continuous assessment for that module.
For modules with assessed laboratory sessions, each student receives a mark based on attendance and performance for each session. The details of continuous assessment are explained in the School's Laboratory Assessment document. Students should make sure that they understand the laboratory assessment scheme, particularly where it relates to attendance, deadlines, and plagiarism.
Written examinations
In addition to continuous assessment during each module, modules also have a written examination at the end of the module. Modules taken in semester 1 will be examined in January, and modules taken in semester 2 will be examined in May. End-of-semester examinations for all the modules on the DT080 programme are of 2 hours duration, and students must attempt all 3 questions on the paper.
Overall module marks
In calculating the overall mark for a module the marks for continuous assessment and written examination are combined with weightings as listed below. To pass a module a student must reach an overall mark of 40%, and must reach a minimum of 35% in each of the two assessment components for the module. In addition to the modules listed below, students must take the project module, PROJ3180. Assessment for the project module is described on the projects page.
Students may normally proceed to semester 2 regardless of their semester 1 results. Repeat examinations for all modules (semester 1 and semester 2) will be held in August.
| Module | Continuous assessment |
Written examination |
|---|---|---|
| MATH3180, Mathematics 1 | 30% | 70% |
| COMP3180, Microprocessors and Embedded Systems 1 | 30% | 70% |
| SOFT3180, Software Development 1 | 30% | 70% |
| BUS3180, Business Studies | 50% | 50% |
| (Optional module 1) | 30% | 70% |
| Module | Continuous assessment |
Written examination |
|---|---|---|
| MATH3280, Mathematics 2 | 30% | 70% |
| COMP3280, Microprocessors and Embedded Systems 2 | 30% | 70% |
| SOFT3280, Software Development 2 | 30% | 70% |
| (Optional module 2) | 30% | 70% |
Compensation between modules
(This description is not a formal definition of the compensation rules. For a full and formal definition read the Addendum to the General Assessment Regulations).
Under some circumstances compensation may be applied to allow a student to pass even though marks in a module are below the pass level of 40%. There are two main circumstances in which compensation can be applied:
- Between a pair of directly related modules.
- There are 3 pairs of directly related modules in DT080. They are Mathematics 1 and 2, Microprocessors 1 and 2, and Software 1 and 2. Compensation may be applied within any of these pairs to reach a pass as long as both marks are 30% or higher, and the average of the two is 40% or higher.
- Between any two modules.
- Compensation may be applied between any two modules to reach a pass as long as the lower mark is 35% or higher, and the higher mark is greater than 40% by at least twice the deficit of the lower mark.
Classification of award
The final classification of award is calculated by taking the average of a student's overall marks for each of the nine modules plus the project studied in semester 1 and semester 2. The project is taken to be equivalent to 3 modules for this calculation. The classification of award is according to the following table:
| Average mark | Classification |
|---|---|
| 70% - 100% | Distinction |
| 60% - 69% | Upper merit |
| 50% - 59% | Lower merit |
| 40% - 49% | Pass |
Past examination papers
Copies of past examination papers are available here in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format. Each pdf file is approximately 2 MB in size.
IMPORTANT: Before September 2005 the DT080 programme was not in the current modular format, and exam papers from before that date cannot be used as a guide to future exam papers. Exam papers from before September 2005 are included here for information only.
