UOL Honours Degree Classification

Today I’m going to write a post about how UOL classify their honours degree. I just received my results and graduated successfully (thankfully), but I do not understand how my results are calculated. So I thought of writing this post for my own knowledge and to benefit future/current students taking the UOL external programme. Beware, this post will be extremely wordy.

Award of Marks:

This is for students who enrolled before 2012 and are not affected by the new regulations.

First Class Honours                              70 - 100
Upper Second Class Honours               60 - 69
Lower Second Class Honours               50 - 59
Third Class Honours                              40 - 49
Pass                                                      34 - 40

Fail                                                         0 - 33

But do not be too happy, the 34% pass mark will continue only until summer 2016. If you fail to graduate or complete the programme (*touch wood!*), the new regulations will automatically apply to you which means you’ll have to get a 40 marks to pass.

On the other hand, for new students who enroll in 2012 and after, the pass mark will be changed from 34% to 40%.

First Class Honours                               70 - 100
Upper Second Class Honours                 60 - 69
Lower Second Class Honours                 50 - 59
Third Class Honours                              40 - 49
Fail                                                       0 - 39

Therefore, you notice that there is no longer a Pass category in the marking scheme. All students will be required to get 40 marks in order to pass and also to achieve a third class honours. LSE stated that this is to encourage and help students to achieve at least an honours standard in their examinations. Sounds more like an excuse to increase their standards to me.

Degree Classification:

For first class honours: Five first class marks; or four first class marks and an aggregate of at least 590.

For upper second class honours: Five upper second class marks (or above); or four upper second class marks (or above) and an aggregate of at least 515.

For lower second class honours: Five lower second class marks (or above); or four lower second class marks (or above) and an aggregate of at least 440.

For third class honours: Eight third class marks (or above).

For a pass degree: For a candidate who went through a three year course without exemptions, will be given a pass degree if s/he has failed not more than three papers in the final year. (half-unit courses are not considered as “a paper”!)

However, this does not apply to second-year direct entry candidates and they did not specify clearly how many papers a second-year direct entry student can fail in order to get a pass degree. In my opinion, I think it should be not more than two failed papers because being a second-year direct entry student myself, I failed one paper in my finals but was still given a second lower honours degree.

Please take note that a drop of one class in the award classification will result where a candidate has failed two papers.

Calculation of Aggregate Marks:

The classification of each candidate will be based on their nine best mark courses which UOL call it nine classification marks. It comprises,

a) the marks achieved in all eight papers taken in second and third year;

b) The ninth mark will be the average of the best three marks in first year papers. So don’t be too happy/discourage when you score extremely well/poor in your first year because they will only select the best three.

For second-year direct entry candidates, the ninth mark will be the average of all eight papers taken in second and third year.

For half unit courses, as they are not considered as a full paper, UOL will pair up two half-units(taken within the same year) with the highest marks and take the average. For example, if you did extremely well for Introduction to Economics and Maths1 during your 1^st year, like 60 and 70 respectively, the average of the two marks will be 65 marks and it will be one of your best three used in the ninth mark(refer to point b above).

The aggregate for each candidate is the sum of the nine 'classification marks'. In all cases, the 'classification marks' shall be based on the marks obtained by the candidate in her/his latest attempt at each element of assessment for each course. If you failed and re-take a paper, don’t think they’ll take the higher score between the two, they’ll take the latest result. So better score higher during the 2^nd attempt.

Appeals:

If you failed your papers, you can make an appeal to UOL by paying $60(i forgot in Pounds or SGD). I don't encourage you to make appeals unless you failed only by 1 or 2 marks and you are really 看不开 about it. Heard from my lecturer that the examiners WILL NOT RE-MARK your paper and neither will they let you see the paper. What they do is just re-calculate the marks. I think the possibility of them counting the marks wrongly is quite low as there are two examiners marking the papers. If you fail by three marks or more, that only proves that you really don't deserve a pass. Don't be so bull-headed. lols. Ok la, but if you have the money, you can try your luck.

Alright, finally done with this post! Its been a long time since I write such information-filled stuff ever since I graduated from poly. If, unfortunately, after reading this post you are like,

 Lols. You can click the links below, I got all my information there.

http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calendar/academicRegulations/BA-BScDegrees.htm

http://externalstudy.wordpress.com/2011/11/21/40-pass-mark/

I hope this is useful for my beloved UOL schoolmates. All the best for your studies in UOL!

Motivations for exams!

There are still 25 days left to my final exams and year in university. I am very worried but yet not doing anything about it. I cannot go on like this and I have this urgent need to write this post so as to motivate myself and come back at any point of time when I starts to procrastinate. There are a few factors which I think might somehow motivate me a little.

 “Procrastination is the thief of time.”

1. Family (Love ones)

 picture taken 2 years ago.

This is my dad and I love him alot. Ever since my mum passed away, we only have each other to depend on. Every time when I see his back view walking to his bedroom, it just reminds me how old he has become. He have been slogging for his entire life taking care of my ill grandparents, mum and I. Other lucky parents who are in his age are enjoying life, traveling around the world and getting allowance from their kids. But for my dad, he still have to work extra hard to support my daily expenses in school. Though we are not rich, but I know he tried to give me as much as he could.

Since he tried to make me worry-free so that I won't have to worry about monthly expenses, I think I should do my part by giving him a result slip with flying colours. No matter what, I hope I can make him proud and graduate successfully this year so that he will be able to quit his job and enjoy his life.


2. Family and friends (Annoying ones)

Maybe you are wondering what do i mean by annoying ones. I believe everyone of you sure have one or more relatives and friends who always like to kaypo your results and compare it with their children's one. If you don't face this problem, then lucky you! There are always relatives and friends who love to ask about my results. When I did badly, they'll like, "ohh like that ah, nvm la. work harder again." and change topic. Not even sincere in consoling. Then gossip behind my back about my bad results. But when I did very well, they are like, "wah not bad. you very lucky!". Ya, I'm lucky when I do well, not because I'm smart. *roll eyes*  

Perhaps sometimes they are really concern about me or trying to find some topics to chat with me but it really doesn't make someone feels good especially when they did badly for their exams. Its like putting salt on someone's wound.  

Also, alot of people especially local university students, MOST of them will think that private university students should be able to pass effortlessly and are stress-less. But fuck them, I don't know about other private unis, its definitely not the case for UOL(university of London). Yes, I'm studying a private uni and only uol students can feel me. I really hate people's tone and dirty looks when they know you get bad results. I wanna walk around with wind filled with glory rather than farts that stink wherever I go.

3. No Regrets

As I've mentioned, this will be my final year which is also very likely to be the last important exam of my life, I hope I will give my best shot. I've always regretted why didn't I do better for my PSLE and better gpa for poly. But no use crying over spilled milk, so I should make use of this final exam and make sure history doesn't repeats itself.

At the end of the day, I will gladly accept my failure if I've done my best. This is the last chance, do it while I am still able to make changes. There should be a beautiful closure to my university life instead of a nightmare. I want to leave the school with my head high up!

 “The most painful thing to experience is not defeat but regret”

 “You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result.”

4. After Exams

25 more days to final exams. After the exams, I can do whatever I want. All I have to do is to make full use of the entire 1 month plus on my studies. JUST 1 MONTH in exchange for a better results and future. Its a good bargain. The key of thinking the things you can do after exams will encourage you to be motivated and endure through the exams.

For me, my main motivation is the taiwan trip that I've planned after the exams. 

I can foresee myself shopping and eating along the streets at taiwan. I wanna shop till drop.But before this, there is serious work to do. Study hard and do well for this exam and a relaxing trip will be awaiting for me. I wouldn't want to worry and feel depress about my exams even when I'm at taiwan! Just 1 month of torture and I'll be in paradise!!

“Do It Once, Do It Right. Get It Over With!”

 “I’m not telling you it is going to be easy — I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it”

5. What you want in life. 
There are quite a few things which I want in life currently.

a) A stable job

I will be competing with not only uol graduates but also graduates from other universities. With NTU and NTU graduates, my private uni degree will surely lose out. Therefore the only way is to try to achieve a better class of honors in order to compete and to be highly demanded by companies. When you have a good grades, companies will try to grab you like a bunch of hungry ghost, but when you have poor grades, they'll shun you as if you are a ghost.

There isn't a specific job that I want to take but I aspire to be a career woman. A confident woman wearing stylish office attire to work and having a cup of starbucks everyday.

 

But I think there is a higher possibility that I'll end up looking like this.

 

 

b) Further Studies

If possible, I wanna try to get a masters degree. I know that in another 5 years down the road, a degree will be very common just like a diploma therefore I think it is important to further my studies to stay competitive. This cannot be achieved unless I secure myself a good degree with a good class of honors. Based on my research, most school prefer students with at least a 2nd lower class. However, if i managed to find a rich husband, this goal will not be necessary. lols.

c) Plastic Surgery

I've always unhappy with my looks and of course, by going for plastic surgery, I hope to be a more beautiful and perfect woman. We only live once and if you can get the chance to be more beautiful, why not? I wouldn't want to sit down there and complain why am I not pretty, I would prefer to do something about it. I am so ready for this that if I have the money right now at this moment, I'll immediately fly over to korea and get my face done. I shall leave this topic another day. But what I wanna say is, if I want to get plastic surgery, I need money which the source comes from my job and only a good degree will give me a higher chance to get a better job. So everything is interlinked, if I can get good results, I am one step nearer to korea.

d)  Get a sexy convertible car

I know this requires alot of money in order to get this chick and plus the COE will be fucking expensive. But no harm putting these pictures for excitement and pleasure for the eye right? hahax. WHY ARE THEY SO SEXY???!!!!

Imagine driving these types of cars around, even if you are not extremely pretty, people will still find you a hot chick to be in these cars. But I guess I'll be very poor after going for plastic surgery therefore I shall hook up some rich guys and make them drive me around with these cars. lols! ok, I'm just kidding. 

Maybe an average sedan car is good enough, shall not be too greedy. But they are seriously too sexy for me to contain my desire. 

“Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven’t planted.”

In conclusion, all these cannot be achieved without a good degree. They are all interlinked. Good degree->higher chance of getting a good job->higher pay->rich women->go plastic surgery->buy a sexy car.

 “The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.” 

Therefore, if I screw up this final exam, I think my rest of my life will not optimistic and I may end up this.

 

So, STUDY HARD, this 1 month is not going to be easy but its definitely going to be worth it. ENDURE!

 “Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.”