Assessment requirements

Assessment is the way that we determine whether you have met the learning outcomes of your course or not.

Formative assessment does not count towards your final grade. It is designed to help you with your knowledge and understanding of the course material. It is recommended that you complete any formative assessment within your course, but it is not normally compulsory.

Summative assessment counts toward your final grade and is designed to test your knowledge and understanding of the course material. Summative assessment is compulsory. Assessment requirements vary from course to course. You should check your course or programme information or study instructions carefully. The compulsory work you submit during your course is often referred to as an 'assignment'.

Examination dates and times are not flexible. Refer to Examinations for more information about exam venues, sitting exams overseas and the examination timetable.

Sending in your work

Once you have completed your in-course assessments you will need to return these to the Open Polytechnic for marking. This can be done by a number of methods. Refer to Sending in Your Work.

Te Reo Maori

If you wish you may apply to complete your summative assessments using Te Reo Maori. 

Assessment deadlines

Make every attempt to submit your work to any specified deadlines. However, we realise that because of illness or other sustained interruption to study, you will sometimes be unable to meet a deadline. As soon as this becomes apparent, contact your tutor/lecturer on 0508 650 200 or international +64 4 913 5300 to discuss your options. Do not wait until after the due date has passed.

The following are the conditions for granting assignment extensions.

Extensions of up to 2 weeks:

• You must apply to the Course Leader for approval prior to the due date of the assessment.
• Extensions granted will not exceed the date that marked work and/or summative assessment answers or detailed marking schedules are released to students.

Extensions for more than 2 weeks:

• You must apply to the Academic Adviser for approval, and
• The request must be for exceptional reasons which have affected your ability to study for a significant part of the period during which assessment was to be completed, and
• You must provide documentary evidence of the exceptional circumstance (e.g. a Health
  Professional report).

Assignments received by us after any time extension granted will be returned to you unmarked and you will be awarded zero marks.

Keeping a Copy of Your Work

It is your responsibility to keep a copy of any work sent to us for marking. If for any reason your work does not reach us, we will request a copy. When returned to you, you should keep your marked work for six months after you have completed your course.

Assessment regulations

For more detailed information about the Academic Regulations relating to assessments refer to Regulations and Policies.