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Overview

The Search Grade Type menu in Paradigm will allow you to Search, Add, and Edit all the possible grades a student can get after completing an assessment, a competency, a course, or units. This article will provide a detailed workflow on how you can Search, Add, and Edit Grades and Grade Types within Paradigm in the event of a change in the Grading System Paradigm supports the use of concurrent grading systems to give providers flexibility on how academic outcomes are awarded to course enrolments, unit enrolments, and assessments. The grading system within Paradigm is also equipped to handle changes to grading schemas that are necessary to make over time. This knowledge article will provide a detailed workflow on how you can search, add, and edit grade items according to the business requirements of your institution.

Complexity:

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Workflow

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Workflow

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titleAssumptions

Assumptions

  • You have the level of access required Your account is able to access the System tabSYSTEM menu.

  • You have an understanding that making changes within this function can have system wide implicationsto the Paradigm Grading System may significantly impact historical records and the generation of reports including the Academic Transcript.

  • You have an understanding of been authorised by your institution to make changes to the Grading System in your institution..

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titleKey Terms and Concepts

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Key Terms and Concepts

Select the

sections

links below for a detailed explanation

on

of some of the key terms and concepts in relation to this Paradigm feature

.

Fields within the Grade Types

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titleThis section will describe the Grade Types

Grade Types

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Grade Types


Note

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.

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Assessment Grade = default grading system used when marking assessments within Paradigm

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Assessment Grade – Possible grades that can be achieved after completing an assessment Competency Grade = a Competent / Not Yet Competent grading system intended for use by VET providers

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Competency Grade – Possible grades Course Grade = defines the set of progression statuses that can be achieved after completing a competency based studyassigned to a student course enrolment

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Course Grade – Progression Levels for course
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ELICOS = basic grading system intended for Providers offering language studies

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ELICOS Grade –  Grades for ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students)
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Unit Grade = default grading system used within Paradigm for assigning academic outcomes to student unit enrolments


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Grade Item Fields


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Unit Grade – Possible grades that can be achieved after completing a unit of study

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titleThis section will describe the fields within the Grade Types.

Id – A unique ID Code that you choose for your institution, that identifies this specific grade within this grade type.


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Grade Type Id – System-generated code that identifies the grade type, and is common across all grade items of that same grade type id.


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Grade Id – System generated ID Code that identifies – Abbreviated code for the grade item e.g. HD, DN CR


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Grade Type Id – System generated code that identifies the type of gradePoints – The number of points contributed to the Grade Point Average and the calculation of the Weighted Average Mark.


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Grade – Abbreviated code Order – The order or sequence number for the grade e.g. HD, DN CRitem to appear in dropbox.


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Grade Points – The number of points contributed to the Grade Point Average and the calculation of Weighted Average Mark Visibility – This allows you to choose whether the grade item appears in relevant dropdowns, by setting the visibility status to Hidden or Visible.


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Order – The order or sequence number for the grade to appear in the drop box Description – Full name of the grade item e.g. High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, etc.


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Visibility – This will let you set the visibility status to Hidden or Visible.

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Description – Full name of the grade e.g. High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, etc.

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DescriptorDescriptor – [Optional] An alternative description used for a system-generated report.


Note

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.

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Minimum Mark – The minimum percentage grade required to achieve this grade.

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Maximum Mark – The maximum percentage grade required to achieve this grade.


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Result Status – The unit status that is paired with this grade item e.g. when setting a passing grade pass equivalent the status should be "Completed", and when setting a failing grade fail equivalent the status should be "Fail".


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Contributes to Credit Points – Indicates whether this result contributes to a Grade Point AveragePoint Average.


Info

INFO: This field is not required and should be left blank for Higher Education Grading System.

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Outcome Identifier - National – The AVETMISS compliant national code for this grade that identifies this result.

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Allowed to RecalculateIf set to NO, this will not change the final unit outcome.


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Final Mark Result

ExpandtitleThis section will provide an explanation of titleThis sections will provide an explanation on Weighted Average Mark (WAM)

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 fails on the hurdle condition.


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Grade Point Average (GPA)


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.

ExpandtitleThis section will provide an explanation on

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 grading 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.


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Weighted Grade Point Average (Weighted GPA)


This value represents the weighted grade points for all unit enrolments that contain a grade point value. ie The grade points is not blank. The formula for this field is as follows
 sum(Grade Points * Credit Point) / sum(Credit Points)


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Weighted Average Mark (WAM)


Note

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)

Info

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 the 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 Calculate 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

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

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Grades and Enrolment Status

Codes.titleThis section will provide an explanation on Multiple Grade Schema.info

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

Enrolled

No Grade / Select Grade

Completed

  • HD

  • DN

  • CR

  • Pass

  • NGP

  • Concede Pass

  • Withheld

Failed

Fail

Exempt

  • RPL

  • RPE

  • Credit for Prior Learning

Incomplete

Incomplete

Withdrawn

  • WD (Withdrawn)

  • WN (Withdrawn Not Failed)

  • WPC (Withdrawn Pre-Census)

  • WF (Withdrawn Fail)

Audit

Audit

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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 grading schema to be used for it can be selected as part of the set upsetup. 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.

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Percentages and Grades

.

Info

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 60.0 and the student achieves a 59.99 the grade will be recorded as the lower grade of a Pass

Implications

Warning

BE ADVISED: Changing any of the grade values will cause historical reports to print according to the new grade values. Consult with your "nominated contact person" or other Paradigm Expert before making any changes. If you are the "nominated contact person" or Paradigm Expert for your institution and need further help, please consult the Silverband Helpdesk for more information.

Info

NOTE: Updating the grading system is not a frequent or regular occurrence, and is usually done when the institution is changing from one grading system to another e.g. from Letters A, B, C, etc. to HD, DN, CR, etc. or when adding a new grading system (e.g. Vocational Learning of Competency Achieved, Competency not Achieved.)

Workflow

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Choose from below on what you want to do with the Grade Types:

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titleSearch for Grade Types and all possible grades under each

Search for Grade Types and all possible grades under each

  • Choose the System menu.

  • Choose Search Grade Type.

  • Click the SEARCH GRADE TYPES button.

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  •  After

    of a Pass


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    Implications

    Note

    BE ADVISED:

    Changing any of the grade values will cause historical reports to print according to the new grade values. Consult with your "Nominated Contact Person" or other Paradigm Expert before making any changes. If you are the "Nominated Contact Person" or Paradigm Expert for your institution and need further help, please consult the Silverband Helpdesk for more information.

    NOTE:

    Updating the grading system is not a frequent or regular occurrence, and is usually done when the institution is changing from one grading system to another e.g. from numerical grades to letter grades, or when adding a new grading system (e.g. Vocational Learning of Competency Achieved, Competency not Achieved).

    Workflow

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    titleA. Search for a Grade Type

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    Search for a Grade Type

    Info

    INFO:

    If you want to search for a Grade Type by Id or a keyword of the Grade System, you can do so by typing in the Grade Type Id field and click the SEARCH GRADE TYPES button after. However, if you want to search for all the Grade Types to display, follow the instructions below.

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    ,
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    Choose the System menu > Search Grade Type > Click the SEARCH GRADE TYPES button.

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    After doing the steps above, a list of all Grade Types will appear as shown below. Select on the Blue hyperlink next to the Grade type to be viewed (e.g. Assessment Grade, Competency Grade, Course Grade, ELICOS Grade, or Unit Grade)

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    After

    choosing

    selecting a Grade Type to view, a screen the same as below will display all the possible grades a student can achieve on that specific Grade Type.

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    Info

    INFO: In the example above, all possible grades a student can get after completing a unit are

    shown

    displayed.

    Add another possible grade

    Expand
    titleAdd another possible grade to a Grade Type
    B. Add a New Grade Item to a Grade Type
    Choose

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    step 1
    b.
    Add a New Grade Item to a Grade Type

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    System > ,
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    Search Grade Type > ,
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    Choose System > Search Grade Type > Click the SEARCH GRADE TYPES button.

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    A list of all Grade Types in the system will appear , as shown below:
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    . Select the Grade Type that you want to add another possible grade item to.

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    After selecting a Grade Type to add another possible grade item, a screen the same as below will display all the possible grades a student can achieve on for that specific Grade Type.
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    Click the ADD GRADE button to add another possible Grade of that chosen Grade Type.

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    INFO: In the example above, a UNIT_GRADE Type is chosen.

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    A form to add another possible grade of your chosen Grade Type will appear.
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    Fill out the “GRADE ITEM DETAILSForm. Refer to the Fields within the Grade Types section above Grade Type Fields” section above under the “Key Terms and Concepts” heading for the description of each fieldsfield.

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    Once all the details have been filled out, click the SAVE GRADE button to add the grade.

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    titleEdit details and conditions in one of the possible grades of a Grade Type
    Edit details and conditions in one of the possible grades of a Grade Type

    newly created possible grade a student can get on that Grade Type.

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    Expand
    titleC. Edit an Existing Grade Item
    Choose

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    step 1
    c.
    Edit an Existing Grade Item

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    System > ,
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    Search Grade Type > ,
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    Choose System > Search Grade Type > Click the SEARCH GRADE TYPES button.

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    A list of all Grade Types in the system will appear, as shown below:
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    . Select the Grade Type that you want to edit.

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    After selecting a Grade Type to edit, a screen the same as below will display all the possible grades a student can achieve on within that specific Grade Type.
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    Select Locate the Grade item that you want to edit and click the PENCIL📝 button icon to edit.

    Info

    NOTE: In the example below, the

    HD

    D grade under the UNIT_GRADE

    type

    Type has been chosen.

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    A form to edit the details and conditions of the chosen possible grade under a Grade Type will appear.
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    Edit/Update the required fieldsUpdate the fields as necessary, while ensuring that any fields that must be unique, are not changed to overwrite an existing record with that value. Refer to the Fields within the Grade Types section above Grade Type Fieldssection above under theKey Terms and Concepts” heading for the description of each fieldsfield.

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    After editing the fields, click the SAVE GRADE button to apply the changes.

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