Introduction

Most Part IIA modules run completely in either the Michaelmas or the Lent term and have 16 lectures and one associated lab experiment or written assignment to be completed in the same term.  However, two of the Group A courses are double modules of 32 lectures that run throughout Michaelmas and Lent terms with two associated lab experiments.  Your best 8 marks for coursework associated with any of your modules from Groups A-G and M can be counted towards your final Part IIA coursework credit total.

Modules in Groups I and S will be assessed by examination (and in some cases coursework as well) but all marks achieved on these modules will contribute to your overall Part IIA examination mark and will not count as part of your Part IIA coursework credit.

Part II coursework is assessed not only on technical content but also on report-writing and exposition skills (see the report writing guide).

Third year coursework is assessed for positive credit, rather than marks being capped at a qualifying level as in Part I.  See the Faculty Board notice on coursework and exam credit for a breakdown of the total marks available for each activity.

In addition to the activities outlined here, students undertake two projects in the Easter term.

Extension Activity (ExA) 

Most ExAs are designed to introduce you to various measurement and test procedures in your chosen professional area, but non technical options also exist, such as the Language ExA. The commitment is 16 hours total, including up to 12 in the laboratory or the field.  The form of the report will vary from area to area.  Timetable arrangements also vary, but in all cases they only run on certain specified dates. 

You should sign up for your ExA first and then fit your regular module labs around it. Sign-up may be on-line or on a signing sheet.

The deadline for booking your ExA (for either Michaelmas or Lent) is Wednesday of week 1 in Michaelmas Term

Module-related coursework

All Part IIA modules in Groups A-G and M have associated with them at least one lab experiment or written assignment. Experiments typically involve 2 hours in the lab, working individually or in pairs, with a 2-3 hour individual write-up (although some modules may have special arrangements). 

Modules in Groups I and S do not have separately assessed coursework – any coursework you do for an I or S module forms an integral part of the examination credit for that module and does not count towards your coursework credit.

You are strongly encouraged to complete coursework for all your modules from Groups A-G and M. If you do complete more than eight eligible pieces of coursework, your best eight marks will be carried forward towards your Part IIA coursework credit total. However, with the exception of double modules (3A1 and 3A3), only one piece of coursework per module may be counted towards the coursework total.

The management modules (in Group E) each have a single piece of coursework instead of a lab experiment. Details of their scope and arrangements for submission will be announced in lectures.

Module coursework reports

Students are required to provide their own lab books and paper for recording and/or plotting data during the lab sessions. It is best practice to plot graphs while you are still at the lab bench so that you can see if you have enough points in the right places to define the required curve – or if you have any readings which look suspect and should be repeated.  We are especially insistent that all original readings are retained and submitted in your report.

The report, which may be word-processed or hand-written (legibly), should take no more than three hours.  Excluding any graphs, each report should be no more than 5 pages as a hand-written document, or no more than 3 pages word-processed.  Exceeding page limits may lead to loss of marks.  All reports (or essays for Group E modules) must be submitted with a coversheet attached (also available from the racks outside the Teaching Office).  Enter the hours spent on the report on the coversheet – this is for feedback purposes only, and will not be considered in marking.

Markers will be looking for a clear record of the practical work you have carried out, together with appropriate discussion. While legibility and clarity are vital, hand-drawn diagrams and graphs and long-hand text and equations are perfectly acceptable.  Readings taken jointly in the laboratory may of course be shared with your lab partner, but reports must be written individually.  See the guidance on cooperation and cheating.

Full technical reports (FTRs)

You must submit a total of two full technical reports, at least one of which must be in the Michaelmas term. These reports are based on an expansion of a module experiment, and each should involve a further 10 hours work.  Some modules may substitute a written exercise or essay for the full technical report.  Lab handouts explicitly state whether they are suitable as the basis of an FTR. 

There are no FTRs associated with modules in Groups E, I, M or S. 

Having checked that a lab is suitable, you should complete the experimental work early in the term and submit the lab report no later than week 6. This gives time for it to be marked and returned to you before you write your FTR. FTRs rarely require you to carry out additional experimental work, but they do usually require a significantly more extensive analysis of the experimental findings, and/or further reading and discussion of the technical literature. The report itself should be typed or word processed to a professional standard – FTRs are assessed for quality of presentation as well as technical content.

The object of the exercise is to enhance your technical communication skills – your ability to explain to others what you have done and to provide appropriate concise discussion.  The main body of the text must be your own work.  The marked module lab report should be included as an appendix to the completed FTR. 

Your FTR should not exceed 10 pages (including title page, diagrams, appendices etc., but excluding the original lab report if included as an appendix) and be written in a sensible font size (minimum 11 pt) with appropriate line spacing.  Blank FTR coversheets should be downloaded or collected from the racks outside the Teaching Office. FTRs must be handed in directly to the group centre for the relevant module, to the designated person or a secure mailbox. Do not leave your report in an open unattended tray, and  do keep a copy. 

The Michaelmas term FTR must be submitted by 4pm on Friday 4 December, and will be marked over the Christmas vacation and available for collection at the start of the Lent term.  The Lent term FTR must be submitted by 4pm on Friday 11 March and will be marked over the Easter vacation.  Collection is from the group centre where you handed it in.

Guidance on report writing

See the report writing guide for generic guidance.  The lab handouts will outline the technical aspects of the problem you should address when writing your lab report or FTR, and may provide guidance on the required content and structure of the report: specific instructions given in the lab handouts always take precedence.

Signing up for labs

Most labs have a booking system but a few have a restricted rota or experiments that are available only for a limited period.  Any special arrangements for module practical work will usually be described during the first module lecture.  Sign-up may be on-line or sheets located in group centres. Some modules offer a choice of lab, but you may only sign up for one lab associated with the module. You may sign up only for labs associated with modules you are taking. Please remember to remove your name from lab signing sheets if you change your module choice.

Study the booking sheets for all your modules before signing up.  Sign up for your ExA and get any fixed commitments sorted before signing up for the remaining experiments.  For most labs in Groups A, C, D and G you will usually work in pairs (formed for each experiment), but for labs within Groups B, F and M you will usually work singly.

NB: the first lab period is on Friday 9 October, so sign up for at least one experiment before then.  Lab handouts will be available and the booking sheets posted by 9am on Wednesday 7 October.

Marking

Completed reports must be submitted for marking within 2 weeks of carrying out the experiment (i.e. 15 term days inclusive of the day of the experiment), or by the Friday of week 1 at the start of the following term, if there are fewer than 15 days remaining in term.

The default latest time for handing in coursework on the deadline date is 4pm (unless you are specifically told otherwise in the coursework instructions for a given activity).

Marked reports should be returned within 15 term days (inclusive) of a hand-in date (or by the Friday of week 1 at the start of the following term, if there are fewer than 15 days remaining in term). Arrangements for marking may slightly vary from lab to lab. In most cases, reports are collected in, marked and returned with a feedback sheet. Group feedback sessions might also be offered in order to cover most common issues with the reports and provide students with an opportunity to discuss specific aspects of their report.

Plan ahead: any experiment that you are considering writing up as a FTR should be done early enough in the term for the marked lab report to be returned well before the FTR deadline at the end of term.

Mark scheme

Also see the Faculty Board notice on coursework and exam credit.

Extension Activity (1 per student)

• 16 hours activity with no more than 12 hours in the lab or field.  [20 marks] 
• Individual ExAs may break this mark total down into smaller units corresponding to different aspects of the chosen activity. Students who participate diligently in all stages of the exercise will gain the full 20 marks.

Module experiments or coursework (at least 8 per student)

• Up to 40 marks available from best 8 experiments or coursework  [5 marks each]
• Marks on the scale 0–5; the marking scheme is given on the coversheet.

Penalties

• Lateness: 1 mark lost for each week or part week during full term that a report is late. 
• No report, no marks.
• Failure to sign up for or attend a feedback session, where these are part of the lab arrangements: 1 mark penalty.

Full technical reports (2 per student, at least one of which must be in Michaelmas)   [10 marks each]

• Marks on the scale 0–10.  The marking scheme is given on the coversheet.  Emphasis is placed on good presentation.

FTR deadlines

• Michaelmas term: 4pm, Friday 4 December
• Lent term: 4pm, Friday 11 March. 

Penalties

• Penalty for lateness: 2 marks lost for each week or part week (term or vacation) that a report is late. 
• No report, no marks.

Records of coursework marks

Some lab leaders display marks alongside the lab booking sheets, but it is important that you retain all your marked coursework, in case of later query, and for scrutiny by the external examiners.  During the Easter term, a consolidated list of coursework credit marks will be displayed in the foyer of the Baker Building and there will be an opportunity to rectify any clerical errors that have arisen.  Students will be emailed to check the list, and any queries must be made by Wednesday 25 May at the latest, by email to the relevant lab coordinator: Dr D Liang

Submission of coursework to external examiners

For examination purposes, all your Part IIA module coursework has to be available for inspection by the External Examiners.  You must therefore ensure that you:

1. collect all your work from wherever you handed it in to;
2. hand in all your lab reports, essays and full technical reports (plus any coursework taken as part of a Part IIB module) to Lecture Room 11 between 10 am and noon on one of the following days: Thursday 2, Friday 3 or Monday 6 June. 

If you will have a problem attending on the above dates or times, please contact the Teaching Office.

A submission form must be downloaded and signed, stating that all work submitted is your own.  This should be placed on top of your bundle of coursework, which should then be tied securely with string or elastic bands. 

The Chairman of IIA Examiners will be advised of any student whose coursework is not received.