Miss Zoe Allwood
FOI Manager
Samuel Filipe Azevedo Magalhães
By email
Reference: FOI-2021-732
4 October 2021
Dear Samuel Filipe Azevedo Magalhães,
Your request was received on 7 September 2021 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the Act’).
You asked:
[1] I am requesting the information about moderation for the academic year 20/21 regarding 3rd
year students i.e. a summary of how moderation was done in the physics exams.
[2] Additionally, I would like to know the future assessment plan (2021/22) for those 3rd year
students that are now in a 4th year (i.e. how they will be assessed in terms of coursework and
exams -online or not- and their respective percentages). In the case that the assessment plan
has not been created please contact me when you have the full information.
1. The final moderation of Part II marks in 2020/21 was done by the Part II Examiners in line with the
published University cohort equity policy: “Prior to the meeting of the Exam Board, Examiners should
consider how they will ensure cohort equity, namely that the class distribution for this year’s cohort of
students is broadly in line with that of the last three years before the pandemic (2016/2017, 2017/2018,
2018/2019).” The examiners moderated the grade boundaries accordingly.
2. For the academic year 2021/22, assessment is expected to revert back to norms set out in University
regulations. All physics exams will be invigilated and time-limited. We currently expect all exams to
proceed mostly in person – this is however dependent on the further development of the pandemic.
Students can apply for individual Examination Access Arrangements and Adjusted Modes of
Assessment via application to the EAMC
(https://www.student-registry.admin.cam.ac.uk/examinations-
further-guidance-staff/colleges/examination-arrangements). The major topic exams constitute 1/3 of the
total marks, the part III project another 1/3, the minor topic exams 1/6, and the general physics paper
the final 1/6.
The Old Schools
Trinity Lane
Cambridge, CB2 1TN
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 764142
Email: xxx@xxxxx.xxx.xx.xx
www.cam.ac.uk
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a
complaint or request an internal review of this decision, you should contact us quoting the reference
number above. The University would normally expect to receive your request for an internal review
within 40 working days of the date of this letter and reserves the right not to review a decision where
there has been undue delay in raising a complaint. If you are not content with the outcome of your
review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the
Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by the University. The Information Commissioner may be contacted at: The
Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
(https://ico.org.uk/).
Yours sincerely,
Zoe Allwood
