School of Computing

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

 

Assessment Criteria

The following criteria are used in the marking of projects. Refer to the writing guidelines for further advice on what you should include in your report to address these criteria.
  • Understand the Problem (20 marks)
  • Produce a Solution (40 marks)
    • Preparation of Solution (20 marks)
    • Delivery of Solution (20 marks)
  • Evaluate the Solution (20 marks)
  • Write up the Work (15 marks)
  • Reflect upon the Project Experience (5 marks)

These criteria are defined as follows:

Understanding the Problem
In awarding these marks the assessor and supervisor will expect to see a clear statement of the problem, evidence of a systematic approach to identifying relevant literature together with a review of background reading which draws on appropriate sources. Reports should set out the approach to be taken in attempting to solve the problem and choices should be justified by reference to the background reading. In short, the report should set out what, why and how the project will be tackled.

Produce a Solution

Preparation of Solution
This heading addresses two sets of issues: project methodology and project schedule. The methodology to be followed should be described and justified using appropriate and relevant source material. The stages in the methodology should be identified and deliverables for each stage specified. Project reports should demonstrate that the methodology was followed and the relevant interim and final deliverables produced. The project report should give details of the initial project schedule, including the specification of milestones which will lead to the solution to the problem. The report should also outline any necessary revision to the plan. Some revision of the plan may be necessary, for instance relating to a shift in the nature of the project or where findings influence the subsequent research undertaken. Precise details (such as Gantt charts) can be included in the appendices but the report should define the tasks to be undertaken, and their scheduling, in order to meet the original project objectives. This is not supposed to be a diary of events, but a demonstration that the project has been managed effectively in order to solve the problem. Assessment of the efficiency of the plan could be discussed in Appendix A.

Delivery of Solution

UG FYPMSc
Marks availableDelivery of Solution Marks availableDelivery of Solution
0No solution produced 0No solution produced
0 - 8Minimum requirements not delivered 0 - 10Minimum requirements not delivered
= 8Minimum requirements delivered = 10Minimum requirements delivered
8 - 20Minimum requirements exceeded 10 - 20Minimum requirements exceeded
Evaluation
Project reports are expected to specify a set of criteria for evaluating the solution. The criteria should be reasonable in the context of the project and they should be justified. The criteria should be applied and the outcome of the evaluation stated clearly. Better projects will be characterised by the appropriateness of the criteria, the extent to which they are justified in the report and the extent to which the evaluation offered by the student withstands scrutiny.

Write Up
This heading includes aspects of presentation, such as spelling, grammar, referencing, etc. It is expected that good projects will be written in a style and language appropriate to the subject area, that is, they should address the computing audience. Meeting submission deadlines is fundamental to the award of a pass mark for this heading.

Appendix A
This heading asks the student to reflect on the project experience (rather than solution of the problem) and to draw some lessons which might help them in future project work. This may be presented as advice to a future student tackling a similar problem.
Broad guidelines are:

Marks availableAppendix A
1Exists but there is minimal evidence of an attempt to reflect on lessons learnt
2 (pass)Includes at least one example of a lesson learnt
3Includes at least one example of a lesson learnt which is presented appropriately
5Mature reflection offers useful guidance to future students attempting projects in the topic area or using similar methods