1. Purpose of Assessment

  There are two purposes of assessment in this programme:

  This facilitation and appraisal process is beneficial to the following items:

   2. Assessment Methods

   3. Subject Assessment

All subject teachers will select appropriate assessment methods, in accordance with the nature of the subject and the above-mentioned assessment purposes, with the aim to assess whether students can achieve a certain subject’s intended learning outcomes as well as the entire programme’s intended learning outcomes as a result of the collaborative achievements of all subjects (see Table 5). A majority of subject assessments includes assignment and examination (see Table 6). These aim to assess whether students can master the fundamental knowledge in all subjects, so as to enter new stage of study. For example in Human Biology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, examination is chosen to assess the mastery and understanding of the learned content by students. Among nursing subjects, (e.g. Fundamentals of Nursing, Health Assessment, Childbearing and Family Health Nursing, Child and Adolescent Health Nursing, Adult Nursing etc.), examination and tests are both important because there are many fundamental nursing concepts in various nursing areas which students have to master. In addition, the depth of learning can be assessed through seminar, symposium presentation, etc. By virtue of various types of assessment, the knowledge, judgment skills and problem solving abilities of students can be examined. To make sure the assessment requirement is known to all students, teachers should clearly list out all subject assessment methods and criteria for students’ reference (see appendix 1 and 2). If there happens to have continuous assessment or both continue assessment and examination in one subject, in principle, students are required to achieve a pass in both the overall results, and the subjects’ examination scores of the subject (also to fulfil special requirements stated in the subject schedule).
Along with the progress of study, assessment methods will get more varied accordingly. To avoid exerting too much pressure on students at a certain time, assessment will be spanned across the entire semester. Therefore, in terms of programme operation, a Subject Assessment Schedule is set in each semester; and joint assessment is recommended to some subjects, so as to reduce the frequency of assessment.

   4. Clinical Study Assessment

   5. Assessment Criteria

Grade	Grade Point	Description	Percentage	Grade Distribution
A+	4.5	Outstanding	≥90	10-20%
A	4.0	Excellent	84~
B+	3.5	Very Good	77~	25-40%
B	3.0	Good	71~
C+	2.5	Satisfactory	66~	25-40%
C	2.0	Average	61~
D+	1.5	Barely Adequate	56~	10-20%
D	1.0	Pass	50~
F	0.0	Inadequate/Fail	＜50	0-10%
Other codes
I	—	Assessment incomplete	—
S	—	Absent from assessment	—
DX	—	Subject to be continued in   the following semester	—
W	—	Withdrawn	—
X	—	Subject exempted	—

Grade	Grade Point	Clinical Study Grade Point
A+	4.5	4.5~5.0
A	4.0	4.0~
B+	3.5	3.7~
B	3.0	3.5~
C+	2.5	3.3~
C	2.0	3.2~
D+	1.5	3.1~
D	1.0	3.0~
F	0.0	<3.0

where n = number of all subjects taken by students hitherto. For subjects which have been retaken, only the grade point and credit obtained in the final attempt will be included in calculation.:

(4) Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) will be calculated only according to the grade and credits of subjects in a certain semester. SGPA can only be used as a reference of the student performance in that semester. Upon graduation the GPA determines the graduation grade result.

(5) Exempted subjects, ungraded subjects, incomplete subjects, and subjects for which credit transfer has been approved without any grade assigned, will not be included in GPA calculation. In addition, subjects from which a student has been allowed to withdraw will not be calculated in GPA.

   6. Promotion Criteria and Graduation Requirement

(1) At the end of each semester, the Examination Committee determines the progress of study of each student in accordance with the assessment result:

(2) A student with any of the following conditions cannot enter the next stage of study:

(3) If a student’s GPA is lower than 2 for two consecutive semesters, and the Examination Committee deems that the student cannot attain a GPA of 2 or above in the following semester, resolution of such student’s withdrawal from the programme may be made.

   7. Re-assessment

(1) If a student fails in the examination or obtain a fail in the overall result of any subject, the entire subject will be considered as failed. Generally, re-assessemnt can be granted to those who fails one subject by the  Examination Committee. If a student fails in any elective subject, re-assessment is not permitted. (2) If a re-assessment is to be granted, the re-assessment method should also be stated in the Examination Committee. According to individual situation, the student will be required to re-take a written examination, oral examination /or re-do an assignment. (3) In general, only for those, in that semester concerned, failed no more than 2 subjects, or SGPA not lower than 2, the Examination Committee will consider the reason of failure and the nature of that subject. The Committee would then decide whether or not to let the student undergoes a re-assessment, and determine the re-assessment method (e.g. written examination, oral examination, assignment, etc.); or to decide that such student should retake that subject. (4) Re-assessment at each semester should be completed before the beginning of the following semester. Re-assessment of subject will only be given once. (5) If a student failed any assessment of a subject, the total marks of the reassessment will be calculated in proportion to 50 points. If the student failed the total results of the subject, the highest grade of the subject can be obtained through the re-assessment is D. (6) Upon consideration of individual student’s special situation by the Examination Committee, such student can be exempted certain pre-requisite subjects and enter into next stage of study. (7) Provided that a student is absent from examination or under incomplete assessment because of sickness or any other special reason, and that reason of absence has been accepted by the Programme Leader, then such student is entitled to another chance of examination or assessment. And such assessment will be deemed Re-Assessment as First-Assessment, thus the highest grade obtained will not be barred.

   8. Repeat/Retaking of Subject

(1) A student can still progress into the next stage even when he/she fails in or has not completed a certain subject, under the following conditions:

	i.	That subject is not specified to be completed in a certain year of study; or
	ii.	That subject is not a pre-requisite of subjects in the next stage of study; or
	iii.	With permission of the Examination Committee upon consideration of an individual case. (See “7.Re-assessment”)

(2) Provided that a student fails in 2 subjects or more in that semester, or SGPA lower than 2, in general, he/she will not be permitted for re-assessment. The student will be required to retake the failed subject, repeat that semester, repeat that year or even withdraw from the programme (see “6. Promotion Criteria and Graduation Requirement and “7. Re-assessment”). Individual cases will be decided by the Examination Committee. (3) The Examination Committee will decide whether the student should repeat the whole semester or just retake certain subjects. The student, with repeat/retake of subjects, should accomplish the subject syllabus as stipulated in the Programme Definitive Document, while the teaching mode, e.g. class attendance, extra-curricular self study, assignment fulfillment and the necessary assessment, can be managed in accordance with the current situation. (4) If a student fails the supplementary Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA) for the second time, in general, he/she will be not granted re-assessment. However, the Examination Committee will take into consideration the overall performance of the failed student and decide whether to request the student (a) to take part in the next stage of OSCA after having sat in the classes of certain specific subjects, or (b) to withdraw from the programme. (5) Generally, students cannot retake a subject / number of retakes in a term cannot be more than once. (6) Owing to the placement arrangement of Clinical Study Ⅴ, the Examination Committee can take special measures to those students who fail in the Clinical Study V. The Clinical Supervision Group will report and propose on the individual students’ situation to the Examination Committee, whether or not those failed in the Clinical Study Ⅴ are required to retake part or the whole of the subject. The final say goes to the Examination Committee. Upon retaking the whole or part of the subjects and finally satisfying all requirements, such students can then be awarded the bachelor degree. This retaking or re-assessment will not affect the highest subject grade the student obtains in Clinical Study V and the award rating of the Bachelor degree.

   9. Supplementary Clinical Study

(1) In the continuing clinical assessment process, instructors have the responsibility to supervise students continuously, and raise suggestion to each student on areas he/she needs to make improvement. In the course of assessment, if some existing problems of the student will lead to clinical assessment failure, such student may be informed of a chance of a supplementary Clinical Study. (2) In general, supplementary Clinical Study should be discussed and decided in the Examination Committee. Nevertheless, before the Examination Committee Meeting, if (a) the clinical assessment of the student is close to the critical line of pass, and (b) the supervising teacher also regards the supplementary Clinical Study an enhancement to the student’s clinical study performance to attain a pass standard, then upon the decision together by the Clinical Instructor (College), Subject Teacher and the Programme Leader, such student can be permitted for a supplementary Clinical Study and no need to wait for a pending decision of the Examination Committee. (3) In the supplementary Clinical Study, if the student cannot achieve the objectives, he/she will be graded Fail in this Clinical Study. Management of such student will be subject to discussion in the Examination Committee meeting. (4) In the event that the clinical assessment of a certain student is too poor, the relevant Clinical Instructor, Subject Teacher and the Programme Leader collaboratively decide not to offer the chance of supplementary Clinical Study before the Examination Committee Meeting; and/or the student still fail in the supplementary Clinical Study, then the Examination Committee should resolve whether or not the above-mentioned student (a) could be provided with the second chance of supplementary Clinical Study; (b) be required to retake that Clinical Study Subject; or (c) shall withdraw from the degree programme.

   10. Special Condition

(1) Absence from assessment: If a student is absent from assessment of a certain subject because of sickness or any other special reason, and that reason of absence is accepted by the Programme Leader, then the Programme Leader will decide with the Subject Teacher whether or not such student is required to proceed with the assessment; and if yes, in what way such assessment shall be conducted. (see “7. Re-assessment”) (2) Under special circumstances, if a student is granted to be re-assessed as first assessment, the assessment criteria should not be changed even if the mode or procedure of assessment might be different.

   11. Exemption of Subject and Transfer of Credit

(1) Exemption of Subject: If a student is granted exemption of a certain subject, such subject credits will not be computed into the accumulated credits of the programme. Hence that student should get other subject selection in order to attain the necessary credits of eligibility for degree award. (2) Transfer of Credit: In transfer of credit, a student may get the credits obtained in a recognized programme in previous study transferred and computed into the cumulative credits of this programme. And the obtained grade in the recognized programme in previous study may be carried along with the credits together. If the grade is intended to be carried along, credits acquired should normally be granted by other programme(s) of Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau or other collaborative institutes. (3) In general, no more than 1/3 of the credits required for this programme can be transferred from other universities. (4) Credits transferred from other KWNC programmes shall not exceed 1/3 of the credits required for this programme. (5) Only those credits obtained within the recent 8 years will be deemed valid for application of transfer. (6) All cases involving exemption of study and credit transfer have to be handled by the Academic Committee at which the final decision will be made according to different situations.

   12. Announcement of Result

At the end of each semester, all subject results of students in the programme will be announced in the College Intranet for students’ information; upon completion of each academic year, the College will inform each student, in written form, the results of all subjects (in Grade). Meanwhile, a student will also be informed whether or not permitted to enter the next stage of study/graduate. Prior to the Examination Committee Meeting, all subject results are deemed provisional and the Examination Committee has the power to adjust the results. Only the results formally announced after the Examination Committee Meeting are deemed valid.

   13. Right of Appeal

(1) Any appeal submitted by student because of assessment result will be considered according to the stipulated procedures by the College. (2)First Appeal: Student should submit the application of appeal in written form to the Executive Officer of Education Department within 5 working days upon the official announcement of the results. The Executive Officer of Education Department will organize a group of staff to handle the appeal while deciding whether or not the Subject Teacher will be the group member, according to the nature of appeal, before making a written response to the student upon receiving such application of appeal within 5 working days. (3)Second Appeal: Provided that the student needs to submit a second appeal, he/she shall write the letter of appeal to the President of the College within 5 working days upon receipt of the first written response. The College President may convene an Examination Committee meeting for further investigation into the case, and may also seek consultation and discussion from External Examiners. Upon receiving the second appeal, a written reply must be made in response to the related appeal within 15 working days. And this reply will be the final say, no further appeal is allowed.

   14. Purpose of Assessment

(1) A student is eligible for the award of a Bachelor’s Degree if he/she has satisfied the following requirements:

	i.	Having accumulated 137 credits (including 118 credits of Core Subjects and 19 credits or more of Elective Subjects) within the maximum duration of study and acquired all pass in pre-requisites (except the subject exemption granted); and
	ii.	GPA 2.0 or above; and
	iii.	Acquired all pass in clinical assessment; and
	iv.	Fulfilled the graduation requirements stated in the Student Handbook.

(2)The Examination Committee Meeting has negotiated and resolved that the graduation classification levels of graduates are : Excellent (GPA≥3.5), Good (GPA 3.0~3.49), Pass (GPA 2.0~2.99). (3)A student name list pending for graduation is subject to the appraisal of the Examination Committee, and will be submitted to the Accreditation Monitoring Group in the Academic Committee for review. Then recommendation for signing of the Certificate of Academic Degree will be submitted to the President and Board of Directors of the College through the Group.