Issues with assessment are fairly common, especially as the pressure mounts toward the end of a degree. Ultimately the basis for all assessment disputes is a belief that the final mark is not fair, or appropriate. Despite it being a very common issue, requesting a review of a grade, or disputing a result generally, is not a simple matter, and there are a number of things you need to understand to make sense of the University’s processes, and go about things in the right way.

Method of course assessment

• The method of assessment of any course depends on the learning outcomes and content of the course. The ratio of contribution and weightage of the assessment in total final marks shall be determined by the Faculty and approved by the Senate, for example 40% continuous assessment, 60% final examination or 50% continuous assessment, 50% final examination.
• ​Courses in the form of practical or project such as Industrial Training, Academic Project or Teaching Practicum may be assessed 100% based on continuous assessment throughout the duration of the training, without examination.
• ​A student shall be informed of the results of the continuous assessment component for each course before the fifteenth lecture week of the Normal Semester or the seventh lecture week of the Special Semester.

Grading scheme

• The official University grades including the marks and their meaning are as follows:

•  The passing grade of all courses is a grade C.
• Apart from the grades as stated in paragraph (a) above, the following may be given to a student for any course attended:

       i. Grade I, a student has not taken the final examination for any course in any semester due to medical                  reasons/compassionate grounds or by reasons beyond the control of the student which is acceptable to            the Committee of Examiners concerned.
      ii. Grade K, given for courses that have been approved for transfer of credit without grade.
     iii. Grade K, given for courses that have been approved for course exemption.
     iv. Grade P, given in the first semester of registration for progressive courses that are conducted  over two            consecutive semesters.
      v. Grade R, given for a course which is audited and fulfills the minimum 80% attendance requirement. No              credit will be given for this grade.
     vi. Grade UR, given for a course which is audited but does not fulfills the minimum 80% attendance                         requirement. No credit will be given for this grade.
    vii. Grade W, given for a course from which a student has withdrawn officially during a particular semester,
   viii. Grade W1, given for all courses where a student has officially withdrawn from a semester.
     ix. Grade W2, given for all courses where a  student has withdrawn officially from the university.

Determining student’s academic performance

• The academic performance of a student in a particular semester is determined by the GPA and CGPA. The GPA is calculated by dividing the total grade points obtained by the total number of credits taken in a particular semester.
• The CGPA is calculated by dividing the total grade points obtained by the total number of credits for all courses taken from the first semester until the current semester.
• An example of GPA and CGPA calculation:

• A student has to obtain a minimum GPA and CGPA of not less than 2.00 for every semester until the completion of his studies.
• Students who obtain a GPA of below 2.00 in any semester shall be given the results Probation for the semester concerned and be placed under an Academic Probationary Period in the subsequent semester when he is registered.​

Dean’s Award

• A student who obtains a GPA of 3.70 and above in any semester and fulfills the following conditions shall be awarded the Dean’s Award:

             i. Has completed a minimum of 15 credits in the semester concerned consisting a minimum of four                        courses, not including courses with credits that are not taken into account in the calculation of                            credit counted
            ii. Has obtained no lower than grade C for all completed courses taken in the semester concerned
           iii. Has not repeated any course in which he has failed and/or improved his courses grades in the                              semester concerned.

• A student who fulfills the conditions of paragraph (a) above but also obtains grade I for any course in the semester concerned will be considered for the Dean’s Award after the grade I concerned is replaced by the actual grade achieved by the student. Under such circumstances, the student qualifies to be awarded the Dean’s Award retrospectively for the semester concerned.
• Notwithstanding the fulfillment of the conditions in paragraph (a) above, a student within an extended period of study shall not be considered for the Dean’s Award.

Failed and terminated from a programme of study

         a) A student can terminated from a programme of study if he:

• Is placed under an Academic Probationary Period and subsequently obtains a GPA of 1.30 or less for two consecutive semesters.
• Obtains a GPA lower than 2.00 for four consecutives semesters.
• Obtains grade F three times or more for the same course.
• Obtains a CGPA of less than 1.00 for two consecutive semesters
• Fails to complete the requirements of his programme of study within the prescribed maximum period.

        b) When a student is terminated from his programme of study, the notice of termination shall be sent to                the student by the Dean of the Faculty which the student registered for his programme of study.
        c) Any student who appealed and is re-admitted after being terminal from his programme of study, shall                have his study terminated if he obtained a GPA of less than 2.00 for the semester in which the student                is readmitted. The student remains subjected to the conditions stated in the paragraph 9a) above. ​

Redemption of Course Grade

The application to redeem grade C- will be announced by each Faculty. Students have to be extra alert with the period because late submission will not be considered. Please log on to http://umsitsguide.um.edu.my/ and following the steps below:
        ​a) Go to Download

       b) Under examination section you will find “Application for Redemption of Grade C-”, click on form symbol to                 download the form

       c) Fill up the form and attach a copy of your examination result.
       d) Submit to the Dean's Office (some Faculty will provide google form for easier submission).

Appeal Against Examination Results

The application for students who are not satisfied with the  results of the examination including the continuous assessment component and the final examination of a course will be announced by each Faculty. Students have to be extra alert with the period because late submission will not be considered. Please log on to http://umsitsguide.um.edu.my/ and following the steps below:
     a) Go to Download

     b) Under examination section you will find “Appeal for Review of Official Examination Results”, click on form                   symbol to download the form

      c) Make a payment total of RM25.00 per course;

• at Bursary Office or 
• through http://epay.um.edu.my/, first you have to log in, under the “LIST OF PAYMENT”, search for “service” and click on “Service - Re-examination Paper”.

       d) Fill up the form and attach a copy of your examination result and original receipt of payment.
       e) Submit to the Dean's Office (some Faculty will provide google form for easier submission).

Written by: Muhammad Ammar bin Mohd Subhe