CIPR

There are four possible overall grade results. These grades are derived from the following marking bands (stated as % marks), as set out below.

Unit 1.1: Critical Reasoning Tests

Each of the two questions answered will be given a percentage mark. The two results will then be added together to produce the overall grade result and issued as one of the four grades listed above.

In order to prevent the possibility of a student achieving an overall pass through a high quality performance in one question but with either no attempt whatever, or negligible attempt on the other question, it is a requirement that markers must see evidence that candidates have made a substantial attempt to answer both questions. In other words, a candidate will be deemed to fail the whole CRT if he/she has failed to attempt one question, or made no serious attempt upon it, irrespective of performance in the second question.

Please note that the CIPR sets new CRTs each time these assessments are offered, this being twice a year. Students failing or not submitting for this unit will need to attempt the next CRT assignment.

Unit 1.2: Planning assignment

An overall percentage mark is assigned and issued as one of the four grades listed above.

Two different case studies are prepared for each year: one is made available for students whose courses commence in September-November, and the second is made available for students whose courses commence January-March.

Students not submitting or deferring for unit 1.2 will need to attempt the next Planning Assignment.

Unit 1.3: Critique

One overall percentage mark is assigned and issued as one of the four grades listed above. Candidates who fail this assessment exercise may, when submitting for the next assessment, use the same topic that was the subject of their first attempt. Any such successful resubmission, using the same topic, will be 'capped' to a Pass grade. Any candidate failing at the second attempt will, however, be required to agree on a new topic for any subsequent attempt.

Assignments for students who have previously failed

Students are entitled to reattempt any failed assignment exercise on TWO occasions only. After that, they shall be deemed to have failed that unit and hence the overall award. They will, however, be eligible for an award recording success in other units that have been passed.

Grading the overall qualification

Candidates achieving passes in all three units, and thereby achieving the overall award, will be eligible for that overall award to be granted with the appropriate grade. This overall grade will be established by applying the following formula:

·A pass will score 1 point

· A merit will score 2 points

· A distinction will score 3 points.

The total score will be divided by 3 to obtain an average, and the overall grade shall be that nearest the average. e.g. 2 merits and a distinction will be 2 + 2 + 3 = 7. Average is 2.3 = overall Merit (ie a number under .5 will be nearer to the number below, while a number over .5 will be nearer to the number above).