Getting it right: Assessing undergraduates at a university

Is there such a thing as an optimum assessment scheme? What criteria might be used to plan and judge such a scheme? These questions are discussed in general terms and also in relation to the experience gained at the University of Sussex. It is suggested that three key factors influence the pattern of assessment — prupose, equity and efficiency. These factors constantly interact with each other and an assessment scheme which is ‘right’ is one that is able to maintain a reasonable balance between all three.