Examinations
Information about how your classification is worked out - UNDERGRADUATES
Most undergraduate courses at the LSE are assessed through a three hour unseen exam at the end of the year, and LSE does not operate re-sits (except in Law). For Undergraduates, to proceed into the next year, you need to score 34% or more (40% in Law) in three of the four subjects that you took that year.
- The First Year: Your best three marks, of the four exams that you took, are averaged. This counts as one ninth of your final mark. The first year does not count for Law
- The Second and Third Years: Each of your four courses count towards your final degree classification.
- To get a first you need five first class marks or above, or four first class marks and an aggregate of at least 590.
- To get a 2:1, you need five 2:1 marks or above, or four 2:1 marks and an aggregate of at least 515
- To get a 2:2, you need five 2:2 marks or above, or four 2:2 marks and an aggregate of at least 440.
- To get a third, you need five 3rd class marks or above.
- You must also be able to show that you have attempted all 12 of your exams - i.e. you can not simply not revise for one subject and then discount it as a oen of your accepted fails, or as your worst mark in the third year.
- If you fail one fail, it will not affect your classification, unless it ultimately brings your aggregate down. If you fail you two examinations, you will drop a classfication. if you fail more than 2, you will not be eligible for a honours degree, so will be awarded a pass degree via penalties.
Information about how your classification is worked out - TAUGHT MASTERS
LSE also does not operate a system of re-sits for masters students, though the Union is running a campaign this year to try and push this through. For masters students, there are 5 grades awarded for your examinations, Distinction ( marks of 705 and over), Merit ( marks of 60-69%), Pass ( marks of 50-59%) Fail ( Marks of X - 49%) and Bad Fails ( Marks of 0 -X). The Mark X varies across departments so can be as low as 19 or as high as 44. Check with your department to find out what level they have set it at.
- To get a Distinction, you need marks of distinction grade in courses to the value of 3.5 units or more, or marks of disticntion in courses to the value of 3.0 and a mark of a merit in a 0.5 course, or the final option is distinctions in courses to the value of 2.5 units and merit marks in courses to the value of 1.0 unit.
- The Exam Board has some discretion around this i.e. if you get distinctions in 2.5 units and a merit in a 0.5 unit, they can choose to give you either a merit or a distinction.
- To get a maerit, you need marks of distinction in courses to the value of 2.0 units, but no marks of merit in any course, or marks of a merit grade or higher in courses to the value of 2.5 units or more.
- Again the Exam Board has discretion, so if you have distinctions in courses to the value of 1.5 units, and a mark of a merit in a 0.5 course, you could get a pass or a merit.
- To get a pass grade, you need marks of at least a pass grade in all courses.
Problems during your exams
If you are likely to miss an examination for any reason, including illness you must contact the Advice Centre Team Managers , for further advice. Tel: 020 7955 6860 or 020 7955 6167. An answer-phone will take messages outside of normal School hours and messages are picked up by 9:30am the following morning.
If you are ill immediately before or on the day of an examination you must contact either the LSE Health Service or your own doctor. If you are unsure about what to do or what evidence to provide, please call the Advice team manager on 020 7955 6860 or 020 7955 6167.
If you believe that you are entitled to any such arrangements and have not yet taken steps to put these in place, please e-mail: Disability-Dyslexia@lse.ac.uk as soon as possible to make an appointment. The Disability and Dyslexia Office can also let you know about other reasonable adjustments that can be made by the School for your benefit.
Please note: you do not need to contact the Disability and Dyslexia Office, if:
you have already applied for special exam arrangements as part of your Individual Student Support Agreement (ISSA); or you were granted continuing special examination arrangements in a previous session.
Exam survival guide
Exam term can be a very stressful time, to make sure that you do yourself justice we suggest you follow our handy checklist.
- Check your timetable. Last year around 25 students missed an exam. The most common mistake is to mix up morning and afternoon papers.
- Make sure you sleep, eat and exercise properly in the run up to your exams. Making yourself ill won't improve your performance.
- Double check which exam you are sitting - another common but easily avoidable mistake.
- Remember to take your LSE card and a copy of your Personal Exam Schedule to each exam.
- Students are required to make a serious attempt at all papers - which means much more than simply writing your name.
- There are lots of urban myths about how the exam regulations work. Don't believe them. Read the regulations yourself and check any rules you don't understand with Student Services. Many students are caught out when they are misinformed by friends.
- Arrive promptly for all exams. You won't be compensated for time lost if late, nor will you be allowed to sit after 30 minutes. Transport problems are not a valid excuse.
- If you are ill on the day of an exam contact Student Services Centre
immediately and check the instructions for exam candidates onLSEforYou . You will need a doctors' note. - If a fire alarm goes off during your exam remain silent and follow the instructions you are given. You will be expected to come back in and finish the paper.
- If you are feeling stressed by exams you can contact Nightline , a listening service run by students for students, on 020 7631 0101.
If you are worried that stress is having a negative impact on your revision we suggest you contact the Student Services Centre or LSE Health Centre for more advice.
