The assessment of whether a student has reached the examination requirements in an exam of the essay type normally refers to the qualitative value of the solution, not the quantity. For reasons of assessment, we still often set an upper limit (and sometimes a lower limit) in the number of words/number of pages for the solution. This influence students’ focus to shift from quality to volume.
This often leads to some students adding meaningless additional text to get closer to the upper limit and others not daring to explain enough. If instead we have no upper limits on volume at all, we risk that the insecure students write everything they can come up with on the subject. Neither of these consequences are particularly desirable.
How do you describe the requirements for the text volume without getting stuck with limits for the number of words or pages?
Context and example
Below are a few examples of how to avoid volume limits expressed as “maximum 500 words” or “minimum 300, maximum 500 words” and the like. The examples are authentic and has been successfully used in several courses.
Note that the exam task in all example cases is of a qualitative nature and is based on questions in relation to one or more cases where the student must demonstrate that they can choose and use theory and models from the course to apply in “real-life” situations.
The text below also describes how the quality of the solution will be assessed. This will help the student to decide if the solution is sufficiently comprehensive.
Example 1
“You do not have to spend time writing formally correct source references when you refer to theory and models from the course textbooks, but it should be clear from your reasoning which theories and models you are applying.
We do not expect that a text of only 1-2 pages motivates and describes such a solution well enough. Then you have to be an extraordinary skilled writer. We also do not think it will be better with a long essay of 8-10 pages. Then you have probably not succeeded in prioritizing. Write as much as you want, but take these thoughts as advice.
Make sure all pages are marked with your personal information and page numbered.
About grades
For the grade passed, you are required to present a solution that is coherent and is clearly substantiated with theory and models from the course. For higher grades, a developed reasoning about the solution is required.
The text must include clear reasoning and conclusions. There must be a balance between concrete solutions, reasoning and theoretical underpinning. Your own analysis, clarifying examples and justification of proposed solutions are valued higher than long quotations and direct transcripts from the literature.”
Example 2
Some colleagues in the collegium thought the above text was not formal enough, so then we tried this one:
“We do not expect that a text of only 1-2 pages motivates and describes such a solution well enough. We also do not think that it will be better with a long essay of 10-15 pages. Then you have probably not succeeded in prioritizing very well. Write as much as you want, but take these thoughts as advice.”
Consequence
The texts above (and similar variants) have been used in home exams since 2015 and have worked well. Sometimes students are shocked and lost (they are used to assessing quality as the number of words or pages). But they usually get over it. For other students, the above instructiuons come as a relief.
Written by
Tomas Jansson (UPE, Project management)