Course Unit Calculations

• Three levels
• Three levels: full course-units only
• Three levels: half course-units only
• Three levels: full and half course-units only

Three levels

Every degree programme that has courses at Levels 1, 2 and 3 has three weights associated with it. These are called w 1, w 2 and w 3. They denote the relative importance given to each course at Levels 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The weights are recommended by the relevant sub-board but approved by the College Board of Examiners. The weights must always satisfy 0<w 1 < w 2 < w 3; normally they must also satisfy 2w 1 < w 2 and w 3 <6w 1.

Each such degree programme also has a number z associated with it. This is the number of courses that will be weighted most highly. Normally z is equal to the minimum number of course-units at Level 3 that a student on the given degree programme may take, but z may be lower than this. Thus z is equal to one of ½, 1, 1 ½, 2, 2 ½, 3, 3 ½, 4. The value of z is recommended by the relevant examination board but approved by the College Board of Examiners.

Three levels; full course-units only

If the degree programme has three levels and all courses are full course-units, then M is calculated by the formula


Where:

Example of Rule
Suppose that

Example of Candidate
Suppose that a candidate's marks are:

Then:

Three levels; half course-units only

If the degree programme has three levels and all courses are half course-units, then M is calculated by the formula

where:

Note that w 1, w 2, w 3, y, z and D are the same for the whole degree programme; only X, Y and Z change with each candidate.

Example of Rule
Suppose that w 1 = 1, w 2 = 3, w 3 = 5 and z = 2½. Then y = 9, D = 6 + 27 + 25 = 58 and



Example of Candidate
Suppose that a candidate's marks are:

Then:

Three levels; full and half course-units

If the degree programme has three levels, and some courses are full course-units and some are half course-units, then either of the following procedures may be used. They should give the same answer.

(a) Count each full course-unit as two half course-units at the same Level and with the same mark.
Then use formula for three levels; half course units only.
(b) Decide which are the best courses equivalent to 3 full course-units at Level 1, and the best courses equivalent to z full course-units at Level 3, and the best courses equivalent to 7 - z full course units among the remaining courses at Levels 2 and 3. Make allowance for the fact that it is possible for only half of a full course-unit to contribute to a total. Then divide all marks on half course-units by 2. Then use formula for three levels; full course units only.

Example of Rule using (b)
Suppose that w 1 = 1 and w 2 = 3, w 3 = 5 and z = 3. Then y = 4, D = 3 + 12 + 15 = 30 and



Example of Candidate
Suppose that a candidate's marks are:

Then:

If you have any queries about the way in which your final result is calculated, please contact your Departmental Examinations Officer.