Candidates are considered final fail when they cannot progress or be awarded and have run out of attempts in relevant assessment or have never attempted a component of assessment.
Exhausted absences
If a candidate has ‘absented’ (i.e. they have a mark of 0 AB) for every attempt at a component of assessment and they have run out of attempts in that assessment, they are a final fail as they can never be eligible for an award. The component can now never be attempted and candidates have to attempt every assessment in order to be eligible for an award.
Example:
AC103 2022/23 Spring Exam (100%) – 0 AB – Attempt 1 used
AC103 2022/23 IRDAP Exam (100%) – 0 AB – Attempt 2 used
AC103 2023/24 Spring Exam (100%) – Deferred (NA) – Attempt 3 deferred
AC103 2023/24 IRDAP Exam (100%) – 0 AB – Attempt 3 used
This undergraduate is entitled to three attempts at this course as it is a first year course. All three attempts have been used up so the candidate is a final fail because they can never attempt the course.
For undergraduate students, previous fail marks can be reinstated for the purpose of award.
Example:
AC103 2022/23 Spring Exam (100%) – 0 AB – Attempt 1 used
AC103 2022/23 IRDAP Exam (100%) – 32 F – Attempt 2 used
AC103 2023/24 Spring Exam (100%) – Deferred (NA) – Attempt 3 deferred
AC103 2023/24 IRDAP Exam (100%) – 0 AB – Attempt 3 used
Here, the same student could be eligible for award with the re-instated 32 F mark counting as an attempt made at the component of assessment.
For postgraduate students, the most recent attempt is counted. Therefore, if a candidate absents their final attempt at a component, they are deemed final fail as they are not eligible for award with an absence.
Unable to progress
If a candidate exhausts attempts and in unable to progress, this would also make the candidate final fail. This is because the student is not able to meet progression requirements as they have no attempts remaining.
Bad fails (postgraduate only)
Any postgraduate student who receives a Bad Fail mark must resit the component of assessment if they have attempts remaining.
When a postgraduate student receives a Bad Fail mark in their final attempt, they cannot be awarded the degree and are therefore final fail. The most recent attempt always supersedes any previous attempts or marks.
Students who have received Bad Fail marks in both attempts are also final fail as they cannot be awarded and cannot resit the component.
Need help?
- If you are unsure whether a candidate’s progression or award is incorrect, please annotate the Mark Frame to query the outcome. You should post in the Teams channel and tag the channel to notify the records team.