Essay marked against different rubric to what students were given

[wonderstuff123]

Just that really, got my essay back on Tuesday, mark was a lot lower than normal, and I noticed the percentages that guide us on the rubric were different for 6/7 criteria. E.g. on our rubric, the information about the condition (I'm doing a Health and Life Science's degree) accounted for 5% of the essay. On the markers, it accounted for 20%. I got a grade for this section that stated the condition was "basically understood." Well, yes, because I wrote 150 words which was 5%, so of course it would have only been basically understood!
Another comment was I should have written more about 1 theory - again, on the students it was 10% of the essay, on the markers is was 20%.

I've been told by an academic advisor at the uni this is grounds for appeal, so I've emailed the form off today.

Is there anyone on here that works for a uni/has experience of this kind of thing who might be able to offer advice?

I'm an external examiner for a health & life sciences degree. I think you would be entirely justified in appealing. I'd advise you to bring it up with your department first, as they would be able to sort it out much more quickly than the university, but if they fob you off you might need to appeal. What proportion of the module mark does the essay account for?

Hi,the department was informed a few days ago and they tried to brush it off but then went back and said they would get the external examiner to look at the rubrics and a sample of the marking. I did email the module lead yesterday and tell her I was formally appealing.

Its only myself and another girl who have appealed as the rest of the cohort are worried about "rocking the boat" so to speak. Its a bit different to me as I had an almost identical situation in the first year and the second year,let it go and things have just got worse and worse. So I needed to take a stand and say this wasnt acceptable.

It counts for 60% of the module

Surely it's not the amount of words that make up the % . So you could basically use 10 words and show basic understanding or 1500.

Surely it's not the amount of words that make up the % . So you could basically use 10 words and show basic understanding or 1500.

Correct. If the rubric the essay was marked against is different to the one you were given, then you obviously have cause to complain. However, the 0% the grade doesn’t equate to the % of words in the assignment.

Absolutely grounds for an Academic Appeal. The investigation should happen internally against the institutions regulations. it is not for the external examiner to make a decision. Imif the learning outcomes are accurate an appropriate outcome would be that cohort makes are adjusted (% based on the differential in the reburies; I would also consider formative assessment grade if they existed) Ajuated marks should be presented along with bother rubrics to the External.

So if the appeal is upheld (and I'm not fully convinced it will be,the uni and course has been a nightmare since day 1 and I'm currently in the process of transferring or leaving after this year),what will happen? Would you expect it to get remarked on the original rubric? And would it be the original lecturer who marked it,or someone different?

@wonderstuff123 I can’t give a clear answer as every institution is different but I woukd expect an adjustment of marks based on a margin really ached by the course Team considering the difference between the rubrics.
It’s worth remembering you can only challenge process (wrong rubric/wring assessment guidance), you can’t challenge ab academic judgement so focus on that.
Haw others complained?

Matters like this are usually resolved before external examiners come in to the picture.