I got 59%, is it possible for a merit?

[happygolucky42]

Just as the title says How to go about inquiring as to put it up to a merit rather than a pass. This is a top ten U.K. university. What experience do people have of this?

If this is university then try Higher Education.
Also when you say pass/merit what course is this, as degrees are usually 1st 2:1, 22 and 3rd aren't they?

Is this for a coursework assessment? Exam? Final qualification (if so what)?

How was the mark arrived at?

Is this the final mark for the course? If so it will already have been though a process (external examiner etc) and it's very hard to get it changed at this stage unless you think an error has been made.

If it's 59% then that's the grade. You can't get it put up. I missed out on a 1st by 0.5% on my dissertation. It went to panel but it was the correct grade so I got a 2:1.

I got something like 69.3% overall for my postgrad and when they awarded the qualification they classified it as a distinction despite 70% being the threshold (without me asking).

I guess you could maybe request a re-mark?
Don't want to sound mean but 59% is barely above half marks, it's not really what I'd think of as a merit.

@Dabralor have you done any higher education qualifications? If you have then you'll know that 60%+ is usually 2.1 or merit, second one down from the top ranking 1st/distinction which requires 70%+. She's 1% off merit whatever your opinion!

This is for an MSc, I should say.

@happygolucky42 it's worth asking them, as others say even if the only option is to get it remarked. As I say they did it automatically for me at postgrad so it's not unheard of, presumably universities have a policy for such circumstances, I'd go to your personal tutor in the first instance.

When you are borderline, whether you can be promoted to a higher classification usually depends on the number of credits you have at the higher (in this case,merit) level. This is assessed routinely at exam board (as per PP, you don’t ask for it). If your grade and classification have been ratified, there is no scope for promotion, frustrating as it is.

Wanting a higher grade = not grounds for a remark. You would need to appeal and show that marking criteria were applied incorrectly.

This.

Surprised that such a low % would be anywhere near consideration for a merit, tbh.

I’ll get my coat …..

How familiar are you with postgraduate programmes and UK HE marking bands?

60 is minimum for merit. I got 59%. This is U.K. system.

I am an examiner for a masters programme. PPs are right to say that the institution will have rules about whether or not borderline marks can be promoted to the next classification, and these should be published somewhere on your institution's website. If you've got 59%, they will normally apply criteria based on how many credits you have in the higher band. If you've completed your studies, but the degree hasn't yet been ratified and awarded at a final examination board, there's still a chance you will get a merit. You can work it out if you already have all of your grades by applying your institution's criteria.

StrangePaintName · Today 10:45

MrsSkylerWhite · Today 10:42

Surprised that such a low % would be anywhere near consideration for a merit, tbh.

I’ll get my coat …..
**
How familiar are you with postgraduate programmes and UK HE marking bands”

Not at all, just 2 undergraduates here. 59% seems low to warrant a merit?

That's the system. When I worked for a university as the teaching administrator for a couple of postgraduate programmes, 50% was the pass mark, so anything marked 50-59 was a Pass, 60-69 was a Merit and 70+ was Distinction. It's a very narrow band and many of our markers rarely gave any marks over 70 - 75 at a push. It was a red letter day for any student who got a mark of 80 or 90.

Well that surprises me. Low bar.

Usually in a Masters over 60% is a merit, over 70 a distinction.

In real life though, nobody could care about what class you get in a Masters degree.

Agree also that there are different expectations from students in different countries. I was on my Masters with several students from North America who report regularly getting marks in the 90s for essays in a humanities subject at undergrad. When I did my undergrad, anything over 70 and you were leaping around the room in absolute delight.

So it was a bit of a shock to them when we started handing in work for our MSc and the marks were generally in the 55-68 bracket.

@DrMalinki Thank you for your reply. This is in line with my thoughts. 4 of my units are in the 60s and the rest are high 50s. I just didn't do so well on my dissertation due to an underlying condition.

Not necessarily. It depends on the marking criteria. We had a handy sheet to hand out to markers describing what each band looked like, which helped them to decide on a mark.

Dsd got 59.8% she got a 2:2. Boundaries are pretty firm, they have to be somewhere.

In mine I got 70 plus for all modules apart from one where I got 58. My pass still pisses me off today!