Examination Evaluation

Evaluation and Examinations constitute an inseparable part of academic programmes conducted by any university. It is essential that the performance of law undergraduates be evaluated as objectively as possible and their level of achievement conveyed to them. In the LL.B programme, the system of evaluation takes two forms: Continuous Assessment and a Year-End Examination.

Continuous assessment is carried out through the academic year. This may take different forms from year to year. At present, undergraduates are assessed twice during the academic year. Generally, they will be required to complete two pre-set assignments given during the course of the year. Classroom tests, open book exams, or presentations, report writing, group work, etc. form part of the various assignments that undergraduates may have to carry out. These will be conducted by the lecturer in charge of the particular subject or by a panel of lecturers. The continuous assessment component carries 30 per cent of the overall total marks for each subject.

For every subject, there is a Year-End Examination for each year of the LL.B programme, which carries seventy percent (70%) of the overall marks for that subject.

Undergraduates must sit for the written Year–End Examination at the first occasion in each year that they become eligible to take the Examination, and must successfully complete each year of the Examinations. A failure to do so will deprive them of any opportunity of getting an honours pass at the end of the final Examination.

A maximum of three attempts is available to an undergraduate to complete an Examination. In exceptional cases, one further attempt – called a ‘grace chance’ – for a very valid reason may be granted to an undergraduate by the Senate of the university. An undergraduate who keeps away from sitting the Examination shall also be deemed to have lost an attempt at sitting the Examination except where his/her absence at the Examinations is excused by the Senate. To pass a subject, an undergraduate must obtain at least 50% of the total marks for that subject.

The grading system adopted to compute the results is as follows:

To pass an Examination an undergraduate must pass in all the subjects of the Examination. An undergraduate who passes in not less than half the number of subjects of an Examination can go up to the next year of the degree programme; however, he or she must sit those subjects in which he or she failed along with the subjects of the following year’s Examination. An undergraduate will not be permitted to combine more than nine subjects at the Examinations conducted for a particular year. An undergraduate who fails in more than half the number of subjects of an Examination fails the entire Examination; he or she must remain in the same year and re-take the entire Examination. Students are eligible to get the degree with one D, but not with an E grade.