Test And Procedures
A. Tests and Exams:
At SABIS® University every course is broken down into sessions with clear, meaningful, deliverable, and measurable objectives, which consist of new concepts, skills, or abilities to be acquired by the students during that session. SABIS® University places great emphasis on measuring what has been taught, therefore the extent to which learning has occurred is verified through regular assessments. The result of these assessments allows for focused and timely re-teaching of what has not been learned.
In order to implement this philosophy at SABIS® University, different types of assessments will be administered depending on the requirements of each course. The type of assesment as well as its weighting towards the final course grade is clearly described in the course syllabus.
Some of the tests that might be included in a course syllabus are:
Proficiency Exams
If a student has a minimum CGPA of 3.5 and the student has the knowledge of
the subject matter covered in a course then the student can request to sit for a
proficiency exam in the said course. Such exam will be scheduled by the
administration and administered to the student. If the student scores 90% or above
then the student will be exempted from the course and the credit of the course will
be counted towards the student’s GPA.
The proficiency exam is a “Fail Once” test; that is, if the student fails one
proficiency tests, s/he will lose his/her right to take another proficiency exam for
other courses.
Note. Proficiency exams are subject to a fee of $150.00 each.
Weekly Tests
Weekly tests are designed to test all the concepts taught by the course
instructor according to the prescribed pacing. Depending on the results, quick
remedial action will be taken and some of the concepts tested will be re-taught,
before any new material is presented.
Periodic Tests
Periodic tests scheduled during a semester will be invigilated and written in the
assigned classroom or exam hall. The exam papers will be graded by the course
instructor and checked by the heads of the departments concerned before being
returned to the students.
Mid-term and Final Exams
These Exams will be based on the material covered as per the course syllabus.
In order to be admitted to a Final exam in any course offered by SABIS®
University, a student must meet the attendance requirement. Final exams
are held at the end of each semester and summer sessions, except for
Teaching Practice and other announced practical course requirements for
which grades will be accumulated throughout the semester.
B. Exam Rules:
- Students have the right not to take more than three final exams per day. In case a student has more than three final exams during the same day, the matter is referred to the Registrar’s Office by the deadline indicated on the exam schedule for resolution.
- In case of final exam conflicts among courses, students must inform the Registrar’s Office by the deadline indicated on the exam schedule.
- Final exam papers will be retained by the university for one semester.
- Any incomplete work in the course will result in the student receiving an “I” grade. Incomplete work must be made up at a time planned with department, but not later than the fourth week after the end of the semester, regardless of whether the student is enrolled at the university or not. Otherwise, the “I” grade will be changed to an “F” grade . It is the responsibility of the student to contact the department chair to make arrangements for the completion of the incomplete work. Students who receive an “I” grade in a Senior-study course, Internship course, or Final-year project have to remove the Incomplete grade not later than one full semester after the end of the semester in which the “I” was received. In no case may such work be made up after a lapse of one year from the end of the semester or module in which the “I” was received; failure to remove an incomplete grade will result in receiving an “F” on the course.
- The distribution of course grades is defined in the published course syllabi. Final exams are held at the end of every semester and cannot exceed 40% of the final course grade. At least two tests and/or graded should account for the remaining percentage of the grade.
- In case a student misses a final exam, a grade of “I” will be given for the course. The student has to present a valid excuse for absence within one week of the final exam date of the course. A make-up exam will be given and the ‘I’ grade will be replaced by the new grade reflecting the grade of the final exam (see section C below).
- If the excuse is presented after the lapse of a week, the student has to petition
the College Council to be allowed to sit for a final make-up exam and to have
the final grade adjusted accordingly.
A student who misses a final exam can sit for a make-up exam. The make-up grade will be considered as the exam grade. If the student has a valid excuse for missing the final exam, the final course grade will be computed as per section C.a. Otherwise, section C.b. applies. - In case a student misses an exam, other than the final exam, and has a valid excuse, SU will schedule a makeup exam. If, for any reason, a make-up exam. If, for any reason, a make-up exam cannot be arranged during the semester, the missed exam will be assigned the same grade value as that earned in the final exam. That is, if the student earned 80% on the final exam, then the same grade (80%) will be credited for the missed exam.
- A student who fails the final exam of a course has the chance to sit for a make-up exam. If the student sits for a make-up exam after failing the final exam, the higher of the two grades is considered as the exam grade. The final course grade will be computed as per section C. b.
- Some of the above rules may not apply to design, studio, project, seminar, and research type courses. In such cases, students must petition the Academic Council.
C. Course Grade Computation for Failing/Missing Final Exam
The final course grade will be computed as follows:
- a. A student with a valid excuse (validity is determined by the Academic Council) will have the final course grade calculated as a passing course grade “50” + a minimum of 75% of the remaining points (final course grade – 50).
- b. The same rule applies to a student who is repeating a final or has no valid excuse for missing the exam; however, only 50% of the remaining points will be added (see example below).
Example:
Computing final course grade:
Course syllabus states the following grading weights:
Accumulative course work (Homework, exams, midterm, etc.): 60%
Final Exam: 40%
At the end of the semester, the student grades for a course are:
Accumulative course work: 30 out of 60
Final exam: 19 out of 40
Final course grade: 49 out of 100
In this case, the student failed the course but can sit for a make-up final exam.
Student sits for the make-up exam and scores: 24 out of 40
The student’s grades after taking the make-up final exam become:
Accumulative course work: 30 out of 60
Final exam grades become the higher of the two grades: 24 out of 40
Final course grade becomes: 54 out of 100
However, because the student repeated the final exam, the final course grade is subject to the formula calculations in section C.b:
Therefore, the final course grade = 50 + (54-50) x 50% = 50 + 2 = 52
Note. The student must repeat the course if the final grade, after make-up, is still below passing grade.