Universities and colleges should consider students’ spelling,
punctuation and grammar when marking exams and assessments, the
Office for Students (OfS) argues in a report published today.
The report – Assessment practices in English higher education
providers: Spelling, punctuation and grammar – considers
approaches to assessment at a small number of universities. Some
of these universities have policies which mean that proficiency
in written English is often not assessed.
In deciding their approach to assessment, the universities
involved in the review often pointed to a desire to achieve or
promote inclusivity. The report sets out the OfS’s view that
students should be assessed on spelling, punctuation and grammar
in order to maintain quality and protect standards.
Susan Lapworth, Director of Regulation at the Office for
Students, said:
‘Students should be able to communicate their ideas effectively.
This means their written work must be of a high standard, with
correct spelling, punctuation and grammar. It is not possible to
analyse and explore complex theories and arguments without being
able to write well, and universities should recognise this as
they assess their students.
‘Some universities and colleges ask academics to ignore poor
spelling, punctuation and grammar to make assessment more
inclusive. The idea that they should expect less from certain
groups of students is patronising. It threatens to undermine
standards as well as public confidence in the value of a degree.
It risks placing new graduates at a disadvantage in the labour
market, and could leave employers spending time and money
training graduates in basic written English. Universities and
colleges can – and should – ensure that they are supporting
students with additional needs, including making reasonable
adjustments for disabled students, while also maintaining
academic rigour.
‘The common features we have seen in assessment policies suggest
that poor spelling, punctuation and grammar may be accepted
across the sector. In publishing this report today, we are being
clear with universities and colleges that we want to see change.
Effective assessment should take into account all aspects of a
student’s work, and this includes their ability to express
themselves effectively and correctly in written English.
‘We recognise that making changes to assessment policies can take
time, and we will revisit these issues in a year. From October
2022, we would expect to take action where we find assessment
practices that lack rigour, including in the ways identified in
the report.’
, Minister for Higher and
Further Education, said
‘Rigour and standards matter at all stages of education, and the
fundamentals of good spelling, punctuation and grammar are as
important today as they ever were.
‘The government is determined to drive up standards at
universities so that every student can benefit from a quality
education which leads to good outcomes, and it is right that the
Office for Students is putting universities which disregard poor
written English on notice.’
Ends
Notes
1. The Office for Students is the independent regulator for
higher education in England. Our aim is to ensure that every
student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience
of higher education that enriches their lives and careers.
2. A copy of the report, which is embargoed until 00.01 on
Thursday 7 October, is attached.
