Student perspectives

The value of assessment lies in the ability to judge academic progress. For students, this value is not necessarily in the numerical mark awarded to a paper, but the realisation of their strengths and what can be improved. Unfortunately for many the benefits of assessment are lost due to a lack of transparency in marking and the perceived or actual inability to view exam papers.

The advantages of varied forms of assessment are well recognised within the university community, including the opportunity for students to gauge their progress in a unit before the final exam. However, students in many faculties are not given marks for pieces of continuous assessment until after their exam rendering this “benefit” ineffectual. Guild casework and anecdotal evidence show that it is not uncommon for students to complete multiple assignments, and tutorial presentations before receiving any feedback.

Of equal concern is the nature of the feedback when it is finally received. Many units do not give discrete marks for pieces of assessment, instead presenting students with an overall mark at the end of semester. When this is not broken down it is difficult for students to know whether they should appeal a mark, what they performed well in or how scaling has been applied. This system results in uncertainty of skills and the perception of undocumented scaling practices.

This uncertainty is also evident where students feel they don’t have access to a piece of assessment once it has been submitted. Often the timeline proposed by unit co-ordinators for viewing these papers means access is virtually denied, particularly in the case of international students who often return home after semester. These problems are perhaps most evident in mathematical or scientific units which require a knowledge base to be continually developed.

These assessment issues are not new and will be helped in part by the introduction of UWA Outcomes Based Education. Yet, until they are fully addressed students will not develop into those who seek wisdom but simply be those who find knowledge.

Contribution from Ms Natalie Hepburn, Guild President, UWA Student Guild