The following assessment activities will be used to test attainment of the learning objectives proposed:
I Assessment type A comprises
1. Continuous assessment activities:mTests, projects or presentations carried out during the term on:
a) Reading comprehension
b) Listening comprehension
c) Use of English
d) Writing
e) Speaking
2. Final written exam, which consists of:
a) Reading comprehension
b) Listening comprehension
c) Use of English
d) Writing
3. Final oral exam (interview)
The lecturers in charge of the module will determine the format and calendar of the continuous assessment activities, depending on the specific circumstances of each faculty. This will also apply to the schedule for the final oral interviews, as these have special time-space requirements. Each lecturer will make this information available for the students as soon as possible, through the usual means.
II Assessment type B: Global assessment
1. Final written exam, with the same sections as in assessment type A and to be held on the same official date (set by each of the faculties involved; see corresponding websites).
2. Final oral exam (interview): Each lecturer will inform about the date and schedule in due course through the usual means.
Assessment criteria
All activities and tests will be assessed according to the following aspects:
- Oral production and interaction: fluency and phonetic accuracy; lexical, grammatical and pragmatic appropriacy; clarity in conveying a message through adequate communicative strategies (without resorting to the student’s mother tongue).
- Writing: message relevance and connection of students' ideas with the topic proposed; organization, clarity and coherence; grammatical, lexical and spelling accuracy; style and register adequacy.
- Listening comprehension: understanding of global ideas and details of recorded texts; ability to draw correct inferences about a speaker’s attitude.
- Reading comprehension: grasping the main ideas and finding specific information in a text; understanding academic and professional terminology; using contextual clues to deduce the meanings of unfamiliar vocabulary or expressions; critical capability to analyse a text so as to make a value judgment.
- Metalinguistic competence and awareness: understanding the basic concepts of English grammar; demonstrating knowledge of the relationship between these concepts and their associated communicative functions.
- All the assessment activities will be similar to those carried out in class during the term, notwithstanding the exceptions determined by each faculty lecturer, who will set the grading criteria to follow for each of the exam papers. The relevant information will be conveyed to the students through the usual means at the beginning of the term.
Grading criteria, weightings and requirements for passing
Students must achieve at least 60% of the total mark to pass this module. They must also attain at least 60% in each of the five parts (a-d, plus the interview). Failure to meet any of these requirements means that students have not passed the module. If at least 60% has been achieved in the first sitting for any of the five parts (a-d or interview), the 'pass' marks will be kept for the June resit. Students can resit only the failed parts or can do all of them again in the second sitting, if they so wish (check each faculty's website). This resit examination, consisting of the same parts and weightings, will be organized and assessed in the same way as the first sitting. In the event that a student has achieved 60% of the total final mark for the module but has failed one or more of the five parts in the first sitting, the final grade that will feature in the official degree transcript will be: 4.5 (FAIL).
As indicated in the weightings below, the final mark of assessment type A students will include all the continuous assessment activities and the final exam. Whilst students are not required to pass each and every one of the activities and tests making up the continuous assessment of each of the five parts (a-e), at least 60% must be obtained in the total weighting for each continuous assessment part. Should a student obtain a 'Pass' in one of the continuous assessment parts (e.g. listening comprehension), but a 'Fail' in the same part of the final exam, then that part will be considered as failed, and so, will have to be resit in June. On the other hand, should a student fail one of the continuous assessment parts, but pass the same part in the final exam (with at least 60%), only the latter 'Pass' mark will be considered for the module's final grade. In that event, the weighting applied to that part in particular will be that used with Assessment type B students (thereby excluding the percentage/weighting corresponding to the continuous assessment of that part).
1. Continuous assessment activities (40%):
a) Reading comprehension (10%)
b) Listening comprehension (10%)
c) Use of English (5%)
d) Writing (10%)
e) Speaking (5%)
2. Final written exam (40%):
a) Reading comprehension (10%)
b) Listening comprehension (10%)
c) Use of English (10%)
d) Writing (10%)
3. Final oral exam (interview) (20%)
It must be noted that, notwithstanding the assessment criteria outlined above, failure to comply or conform with the topics or tasks pertaining to each skill may result in a mark of 0 (FAIL) for that part in particular. Students are advised to consult the official Assessment Regulations for the University of Zaragoza.
Global assessment (Assessment type B students) and second sitting
1. Final written exam (official dates set by each faculty) (80%):
a) Reading comprehension (20%)
b) Listening comprehension (20%)
c) Use of English (20%)
d) Writing (20%)
3. Final oral exam (interview) (dates and schedule set by each lecturer) (20%)
The weightings applied to the second sitting (June) coincide exactly with those used with Assessment type B students.