LSE has introduced an assessment support package for the Summer Term 2021 assessment period, which includes the extension of more supportive polices for Summer Term assessments. As part of this, you don’t need to provide evidence to defer an assessment and instead they will be granted on request, without need for evidence. The option to defer assessment(s) provides greater flexibility for you to adjust the timing of assessments depending on your personal circumstances. If you defer your assessment, you will not be capped (unless you are deferring a resit attempt).
Postgraduate degree classifications are no longer capped at an overall Pass if you do need to resit, and you will only be capped at course level for the purpose of degree classification. This change to the postgraduate classification schemes will mean that a student who resits is still able to achieve an overall grade of Merit or Distinction if they are able to achieve high enough marks in other courses.
Undergraduate degree classifications are also only capped at course level, so it is possible for a student to achieve any classification if they achieve high enough marks in other courses.
Removing the course-level cap at resit could unfairly disadvantage those students who successfully complete their assessment at the first attempt. We know some students are taking assessments in difficult situations, which is why more flexible and supportive polices, including extensions, deferrals and Exceptional Circumstances have been put in place for students whose circumstances mean they need additional support.
It is also important to note that resits in 2019/20 were capped, so removing this cap for 2020/21 would not be equitable for students who resat assessments in the last academic year, under similarly challenging circumstances.
In addition, removing the course-level cap would unfairly advantage some students. Those who fail would have access to an uncapped resit, but those who score a relatively low mark but don't fail would not be able to improve their mark at resit.