Its Official...Universities mark TOO hard

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Irish Times article by Emmet Oliver & Sean Flynn

National University of Ireland may introduce new marking system

A new marking system for thousands of university students is likely to be introduced after new figures showed that Irish students are marked far harder than their British counterparts.

A confidential report from the National University of Ireland (NUI) says there is concern that Irish students have far less chance of being given a top degree compared to students in Britain.

The report says there is a worry that Irish graduates will be put at a disadvantage compared to British students, because people - including prospective employers - might think Irish students are not as accomplished as students in Britain.

The NUI Senate has recently circulated a comprehensive list of degree scores for the Republic's main universities and their equivalents in Britain.

The list shows that Irish colleges are less generous when it comes to marking work. The trend has caused dismay in Trinity College where a group of students are demanding an enquiry. The figures are likely to cause widespread unease among students who often have to compete against British students for jobs.

The figures show that while over 80 per cent of students get a 1st class or 2:1 degree at Oxford and Cambridge, less than 50 per cent of students at UCD or NUI Galway are awarded such a degree. Other less well known British colleges such as Wolverhampton, Bournemouth and Huddersfield were also ahead of most of the Irish colleges.

The new marking scheme is expected to be introduced for the academic year 2002/2003. It replaces the existing marking bands and will make it easier to get a top degree.

The NUI document says these changes would be "beneficial", although they should be kept under review.

Examiners have traditionally been told to award a mark at or only slightly above 70 per cent, when awarding a first class honours qualification. However under the new system they will be able to award up to 100 per cent. Whereas now a student needs to get 62 per cent or more for a 2:1, under the new marking scheme a 2:1 grade begins at 60 per cent.

The trend in marks has been noted by many of the NUI's external examiners who are often from Britain. They have had input into the new system.

The NUI document also draws attention in the difference in marks among Irish institutions themselves. For example, while UCC gave over 50 per cent of its students a 1st or 2:1, less than half the UCD, DCU and NUI Maynooth students were awarded such high qualifications.

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Amnesiac_ie

This really is fantastic news...
I think the current situation re marking in Irish Universities is crazy... maybe now I'll have a chance of graduating with a 1H

potlatch

Sure, Irish colleges generally only mark out of 70% as the absolute threshold. "There's always room for improvement" they say.

Robbo

Comparison with Oxbridge was a bit silly as there really is not point in going there if you don't want a 1.1 or a 2.1.