How difficult is it to get above 70%?

studentphil

Diminutive wrote: »

If it were easy, then everyone would have firsts and a first class wouldn't be a first class any more!

true, but if it is all so clear and open what is expected then there is no reason to hide it in magical forms, but there should just be a clear check list for firsts and then everyone knows what to do.

Oldernotwiser

chezza262 wrote: »

with regard to help in achieving good marks surely if we are paying for our degree we should be encouraged and given advice on how to achieve the best marks as opposed to setting an assignment and saying get on with it?

God, this consumerist mentality is appalling! This is education we're talking about, not washing powder! It's about learning, not about marks, or hadn't that occurred to you?

chezza262

I agree it is about learning but at the end of the day the only reason I actually decided to take my degree was because those nice high-paying interesting jobs wouldnt employ me without one!

I was actually successful for one job and when offering me the position they informed me that the salary initially offered was intended for a graduate and, if i took the job, mine would have to be lower! It didnt matter that I could do the job with my eyes closed!

It all comes down to the fact that we are paying for a service and it seems that some students get a better deal than other (but i'm not bitter! )

Oldernotwiser

Education is not a service!

chezza262

Then why do we now need head teachers with management and business experience?

If education were not a service then I wouldnt be paying for it surely? My whole point is purely that sometimes I feel that the support to get the decent marks is sometimes lacking, but obviously this is dependent on each individuals experience.

Anyway off to bed now....more learning to do tomorrow....:D

freebie_junkie

at my uni theres a very strong empashis on becoming a professional writer/artist etc. so anythign that achieves 70+ is production/publication/gallery standard. i only got 60's until this year when i got my first 2 70's last semester, i think that signals my growth as a writer.

Rosie75

studentphil wrote: »

true, but if it is all so clear and open what is expected then there is no reason to hide it in magical forms, but there should just be a clear check list for firsts and then everyone knows what to do.

There is no recipe for originality, otherwise we would all be geniuses!
But seriously, do you not have access to your department's marking criteria (usually to be found in the student handbook)? Or an essay bank?
Some of the posts on this thread (not yours, Phil) seem to suggest that paying for a degree entitles you to a mark in the 70s. But you are also, presumably, paying for a degree awarded by a university that sets appropriate and recognisable standards, otherwise that piece of paper would be meaningless. The usual consumer rules don't apply, I'm afraid. Not everyone can get a first, especially now the govt's target is to get 50% of the population into university.

Rosie75

chezza262 wrote: »

I just find it quite confusing that after handing in about 10 assignments so far this year I have had marks that vary from 55% to 74%. I have written them all the same way - there seems to be inconsistency for the most part between lecturers, but surely they should all be marking to the same criteria?

with regard to help in achieving good marks surely if we are paying for our degree we should be encouraged and given advice on how to achieve the best marks as opposed to setting an assignment and saying get on with it?

Have you asked for advice? Tutors usually have office hours when you can approach them for help. How much non-assessed work do you do? You should be getting feedback for this. If not, ask for it. I gather that (due to govt pressure to increase student numbers) some departments are cutting down in this area and skimping on tutorials, etc. With the marks you mention, assuming these are for assessed work, they will have been second marked and then looked at by an external examiner - the discrepancy will therefore lie with the work rather than the lecturers.
It's hard for academics to tell students exactly what constitutes a first, because those criteria are qualitative rather than quantitative. A first class essay (in an Arts subject, at least) should show extensive research, astute and extended analysis, and an original argument. Students generally fall short of this because of a number of reasons, but the main ones are (a) too little time spent at the research stage, (b) insufficient attention to planning and structure / failing to pursue a strong and coherent argument (c) a tendency to rehearse existing arguments and scholarship, and not developing or challenging its ideas, and (d) poor choice of topic, or asking the wrong (eg. obvious, unchallenging) kinds of research questions in relation to the topic.

retepetsir

It also depends on the subject you are studying, in some its nearly impossible to achieve over 70%.

studentphil

Rosie75 wrote: »

There is no recipe for originality, otherwise we would all be geniuses!
But seriously, do you not have access to your department's marking criteria (usually to be found in the student handbook)? Or an essay bank?
Some of the posts on this thread (not yours, Phil) seem to suggest that paying for a degree entitles you to a mark in the 70s. But you are also, presumably, paying for a degree awarded by a university that sets appropriate and recognisable standards, otherwise that piece of paper would be meaningless. The usual consumer rules don't apply, I'm afraid. Not everyone can get a first, especially now the govt's target is to get 50% of the population into university.

A meaningless grid with a few words on that is not very helpful is all you get in way of help.

There seems such a pressure to get a 1st nowadays that to get less is almost like end of the world to some people.