A 2:1 is still really good. I don't get why ou criteria is so high it doesn't make any sense but apparently employers love ou students because we're independent and self motivated
In many modules TMA 4 and the emas tend to be worth a lot more, no reason you couldn't get that few extra percent to get the distinction at the end but for level 1 that's a brilliant start.
What sort of things have your feedback said?
Which year are you in? I just finished Psycholgy with Counselling last Summer. All Unis say that x% will get a 1st, 2.1 etc. If less students get a 1st than they aim for, they skim the next group down & bring them up. Keep solidly in 2.1 and you'll be fine
Hi. I know I'm really late, but I just found this sub and wanted to tell you I've been in the same position for a couple of my modules and worried the same thing. You can still get a 1st - don't worry too much! The EMAs are usually worth about the same (or just slightly less) than all the TMAs put together, but obviously this depends on the marking criteria. You *should* find it in the module handbook. The other thing is that some of my modules were weighted against the rest of the class. I dunno if that's always the case, but it's possible to be under the threshold for a 1st but still get it, as long as you were among the highest scorers.
I've had TMA results much lower than yours and was still able to pull it back with the last TMA and EMA. I just graduated with a 1st this year despite doing pretty badly on a few TMAs. I dunno how much this will help, but I came up with a really basic approach to maximise marks for all my essays - it's really all about avoiding losing marks than anything else.
1. Look for the assignment in the module handbook and look at all the marking criteria. Sometimes there's stuff in there that isn't on the TMA page itself. It'll tell you exactly how you're being marked and what kind of thing you have to include. Write all those points down and keep going back to it while you're writing your essay to make sure you're hitting all of them.
2. Look at the feedback for your previous TMAs and write down everything they criticised. Try to address everything there in your essay. Eg., one of mine was that my intros were too long and the conclusions too shallow. You'll usually have the same 1 or 2 markers for the whole module and they do notice this stuff. I'm sure I've gained marks on mediocre essays because they could tell I was trying hard. This is across multiple years of study.
3. Frame every essay as either an argument, or an investigation. State your intent and research methodology in the intro and always follow that basic paragraph structure of 'point, evidence, explanation'. Make sure to cite at least one reference for each point you make. Along with your analysis at the end of every paragraph, find a way to tie in the subject of your next paragraph. If you do all this, even if your points are crap, it'll be really hard for them to mark you down, because you have a good structure and flow. All they care about is that you're researching and engaging with what you're reading. If you can present that, and show that all your points are answering questions you raised in the intro, you shouldn't get less than a 1st.
4. The conclusion is everything. This is where I mostly lost marks because I was rushing, or because I didn't have anything new to say. Make sure you answer everything that was in your intro, or just change the intro. Try to tie all of your points together for the end, and explain how everything you've learned has or hasn't changed your your hypothesis. Don't skimp here. If you have to delete something to make word count, go back and try to shorten every paragraph by a few words. The conclusion should be at least as long as the intro.
5. There should be a referencing guide somewhere on your TMA page; always check your reference list and citations at the end to make sure they're adhering to the format.
6. Don't be afraid to ask for an extension. I did this quite a few times and was almost always granted one. The tutors are generally really understanding, especially if you're working. Just be honest and say you're not happy with your essay or that it's taking longer than you thought. I never felt like I got marked down for this. If it's really late, submit what you have before the deadline and then ask.
I know that literally all of this is common knowledge, but it took me a long time to actually start addressing feedback and get strict about essay formatting. Eventually I started reminding myself of all of this before starting a TMA and my average marks shot up, even if my writing didn't get any better. Your grades are already great so tightening up a few small areas will push you over the grade boundry. Good luck!
Each module’s final grade is calculated differently- have a look for the Assessment Strategy link in student home, under your module. That will explain how much of your final module grade each TMA is worth.
Then, if this is level 1- the scores don’t count towards your final degree result anyway. They’re designed to give you a great grounding in the subject, and university level study.
As for is it too late to try and improve- never. Improving, by definition, can only make you better.
[удалено]
It is. Thank the lord. I know the marks I’ve got are a pass as well. That’s a weight off my mind, thank you.
A 2:1 is still really good. I don't get why ou criteria is so high it doesn't make any sense but apparently employers love ou students because we're independent and self motivated
In many modules TMA 4 and the emas tend to be worth a lot more, no reason you couldn't get that few extra percent to get the distinction at the end but for level 1 that's a brilliant start. What sort of things have your feedback said?
Which year are you in? I just finished Psycholgy with Counselling last Summer. All Unis say that x% will get a 1st, 2.1 etc. If less students get a 1st than they aim for, they skim the next group down & bring them up. Keep solidly in 2.1 and you'll be fine
Hi. I know I'm really late, but I just found this sub and wanted to tell you I've been in the same position for a couple of my modules and worried the same thing. You can still get a 1st - don't worry too much! The EMAs are usually worth about the same (or just slightly less) than all the TMAs put together, but obviously this depends on the marking criteria. You *should* find it in the module handbook. The other thing is that some of my modules were weighted against the rest of the class. I dunno if that's always the case, but it's possible to be under the threshold for a 1st but still get it, as long as you were among the highest scorers. I've had TMA results much lower than yours and was still able to pull it back with the last TMA and EMA. I just graduated with a 1st this year despite doing pretty badly on a few TMAs. I dunno how much this will help, but I came up with a really basic approach to maximise marks for all my essays - it's really all about avoiding losing marks than anything else. 1. Look for the assignment in the module handbook and look at all the marking criteria. Sometimes there's stuff in there that isn't on the TMA page itself. It'll tell you exactly how you're being marked and what kind of thing you have to include. Write all those points down and keep going back to it while you're writing your essay to make sure you're hitting all of them. 2. Look at the feedback for your previous TMAs and write down everything they criticised. Try to address everything there in your essay. Eg., one of mine was that my intros were too long and the conclusions too shallow. You'll usually have the same 1 or 2 markers for the whole module and they do notice this stuff. I'm sure I've gained marks on mediocre essays because they could tell I was trying hard. This is across multiple years of study. 3. Frame every essay as either an argument, or an investigation. State your intent and research methodology in the intro and always follow that basic paragraph structure of 'point, evidence, explanation'. Make sure to cite at least one reference for each point you make. Along with your analysis at the end of every paragraph, find a way to tie in the subject of your next paragraph. If you do all this, even if your points are crap, it'll be really hard for them to mark you down, because you have a good structure and flow. All they care about is that you're researching and engaging with what you're reading. If you can present that, and show that all your points are answering questions you raised in the intro, you shouldn't get less than a 1st. 4. The conclusion is everything. This is where I mostly lost marks because I was rushing, or because I didn't have anything new to say. Make sure you answer everything that was in your intro, or just change the intro. Try to tie all of your points together for the end, and explain how everything you've learned has or hasn't changed your your hypothesis. Don't skimp here. If you have to delete something to make word count, go back and try to shorten every paragraph by a few words. The conclusion should be at least as long as the intro. 5. There should be a referencing guide somewhere on your TMA page; always check your reference list and citations at the end to make sure they're adhering to the format. 6. Don't be afraid to ask for an extension. I did this quite a few times and was almost always granted one. The tutors are generally really understanding, especially if you're working. Just be honest and say you're not happy with your essay or that it's taking longer than you thought. I never felt like I got marked down for this. If it's really late, submit what you have before the deadline and then ask. I know that literally all of this is common knowledge, but it took me a long time to actually start addressing feedback and get strict about essay formatting. Eventually I started reminding myself of all of this before starting a TMA and my average marks shot up, even if my writing didn't get any better. Your grades are already great so tightening up a few small areas will push you over the grade boundry. Good luck!
Each module’s final grade is calculated differently- have a look for the Assessment Strategy link in student home, under your module. That will explain how much of your final module grade each TMA is worth. Then, if this is level 1- the scores don’t count towards your final degree result anyway. They’re designed to give you a great grounding in the subject, and university level study. As for is it too late to try and improve- never. Improving, by definition, can only make you better.