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Key Terms and ConceptsSelect the links below for a detailed explanation on some of the key terms and concepts in relation to this Paradigm feature.
Grade Types
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BE ADVISED: The choice of grade schema at a unit enrolment or assessment level can be defined against each unique base course record. If the grade schema is not defined then the system will default to using Assessment Grade and Unit Grade. |
The default configuration of Paradigm includes a set of generic grade types that reflect common grading systems used by Australian based education providers. Assessment Grade = default grading system used when marking assessments within Paradigm Competency Grade = a Competent / Not Yet Competent grading system intended for use by VET providers Course Grade = defines the set of progression statuses that can be assigned to a student course enrolment ELICOS = basic grading system intended for Providers offering language studies Unit Grade = default grading system used within Paradigm for assigning academic outcomes to student unit enrolments
back to top Grade Item Fields
Grade Id – A unique ID Code that you choose for your institution, that identifies this specific grade within this grade type.
Grade Type Id – System generated code that identifies the type of grade, and is common across all grade items of that same grade type id.
Grade – Abbreviated code for the grade item e.g. HD, DN CR
Grade Points – The number of points contributed to the Grade Point Average and the calculation of Weighted Average Mark.
Order – The order or sequence number for the grade item to appear in the drop box.
Visibility – Allows you to choose whether the grade item appears in relevant dropdowns, by setting the visibility status to Hidden or Visible.
Description – Full name of the grade item e.g. High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, etc.
Descriptor – [Optional] An alternative description used for system generated report.
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BE ADVISED: Setting the Minimum and Maximum Mark should not overlap with other grade items within the same grade type id, otherwise Paradigm won’t know which grade to choose to make the conditions true. |
Minimum Mark – The minimum percentage grade required to achieve this grade. Maximum Mark – The maximum percentage grade required to achieve this grade.
Result Status – The unit status that is paired with this grade item e.g. when setting a pass equivalent the status should be "Completed", and when setting a fail equivalent the status should be "Fail".
Contributes to Credit Points – Indicates whether this result contributes to a Grade Point Average.
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INFO: This field is not required and should be left blank for Higher Education Grading System. |
Outcome Identifier - National – The AVETMISS compliant national code for this grade that identifies this result.
Allowed to Recalculate – If set to NO, this will not change the final unit outcome.
Final Mark Result – This field is only to be used at the Assessment Level. If a student obtains enough marks or less to pass a unit but still fail on the hurdle condition.
back to top Grade Point Average (GPA)
Grade Point Average (GPA) is a summary statistic that represents a student’s average performance in their studies over a stated period of time, such as one semester or over the entire course. GPAs are numbers that are often calculated to two decimal places. They are used as indicators of average grade (numerically) to provide a less ambiguous and more concrete measure of student performance than a lettered grade. GPA is also used for sorting groups of students into rank order for awards and merits. GPA requires the allocation of grade points to each unit enrolment outcome. Specifically, this involves allocating a grade point value (e.g. 5) to a specific letter score (e.g. credit). Australian providers differ on the exact grade point scale to use, but the process is always the same. We implemented GPA in a way that reflects industry practice. You may define your own GPA scale by adding the relevant information to the grade schema defined in the user interface, Go to SYSTEM > Search Grade Type > search for UNIT_GRADE >, and then Edit Grade Points against each Grade Type.
back to top Weighted Average Mark (WAM)
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BE ADVISED: The Weighted Average Mark (WAM) calculation requires the following fields to be populated within Paradigm: Grade description (student unit enrolment) Final Grade Percentage (student unit enrolment) Credit points (student unit enrolment and/or base unit) Grade Point (grade schema)
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NOTE: Weighted Average Mark calculates based on the rule that a unit enrolment has been assigned a published grade that has a Grade Point value attached on the associated grade schema. You can check that by going to System > Search Grade Type > Search for UNIT_GRADE, check whether Grade Points have been set against each grade. Weighted Average Mark (WAM) is calculated based on a student’s actual marks (e.g. 58, 65 and so on) and the year level and weighting level defined at each base unit. If no weighting level is defined at the base unit then the system will assume a weighting of one. Here is the detailed calculation method the system follows: Multiply the unit mark (Final Grade Percentage) by unit credit point value (Credit Points) and then by the weighting level Sum the resulting values (Weighted Marks) Multiply the unit credit point value (Credit Points) by the weighting level Sum the resulting values (Weighted Credit Points) Divide the sum of the Weighted Marks by the sum of the Weighted Credit Points Calculate to three decimal places.
You can find the Calculated WAM button on the student’s course enrolment page. Unit | Credit Points | GPA | Weighting Level | Mark | Grade | Included In WAM | Weighted Marks | Weighted Credit Points |
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WAM101 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 22 | F | Yes | 12 X 1 X 22 = 264 | 12 x 1 = 12 | WAM102 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 78 | D | Yes | 12 x 1 X 78 = 936 | 12 x 1 = 12 | WAM103 | 12 | | 1 | 90 | HD | NO | NA | NA | WAM104 | 12 | 2 | 1 | | E | NO | NA | NA | WAM105 | 12 | 3 | | 68 | C | YES | 12 x 1 x 68 = 816 | 12 x 1 = 12 | WAM106 | | 5 | 2 | 99 | HD | NO | NA | NA | WAM107 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 91 | HD | YES | 12 x 2 x 91 = 2184 | 12 x 2 = 24 | WAM108 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 80 | D | YES | 8 x 2 x 80 = 1280 | 8 x 2 = 16 | Totals | 5480 | 76 |
Using the above the table the WAM is calculated as follows: 5480 / 76 = 72.10
back to top Grades and Enrolment Status Code
NOTE: Certain grades need to be paired with enrolment status codes. e.g. a Fail grades needs to be paired with a Failed Status code so that the student is able to re-take the unit again in a subsequent study period and report the failed HEIMS status code for the unit. Enrolment Status Code | Grade |
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Enrolled | No Grade / Select Grade | Completed | HD DN CR Pass NGP Concede Pass Withheld
| Failed | Fail | Exempt | | Incomplete | Incomplete | Withdrawn | | Audit | Audit |
back to top Multiple Grade Schema
Multiple grades schema can be used in Paradigm at the same time for different Courses. For example a VET level course uses Competency Achieved / Competency not Achieved as opposed to a Higher Education Course that uses the HD, DN, CR, P, F system. When a Course of Study is established, the grade schema to be used for it can be selected as part of the set up. This is achieved by setting the Unit Grade type and the Assessment Grade type options within the Course record. When this option has not been set or selected (the field is left blank) the system will default to using the unit_grade for the grading system.
back to top Percentages and Grades
NOTE: When final grades are either entered or imported from LMS (e.g. Blackboard or Moodle) the system won't round grades up or down. For example if a CR requires a minimum grade of 60.0 and the student achieves a 59.99 the grade will be recorded as the lower grade of a Pass.
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