Assessment glossary

Below are some common terms used when discussing assessments.

General terms

This means that staff and students understand and demonstrate the values of 'honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility' (TEQSA 2021), and apply these values in their work at the University.
Assessments are submitted throughout your degree to both help you learn, and to assess your learning. During your course you will submit different types of assessments (e.g. essays, presentations, annotated bibliographies, exams).
Insights provided on assessments by markers, on where you can improve, and what you did well. Feedback may be provided in-text, where you scored on the rubric, as an overall statement on your work, in class, as well as in posts on Moodle.
Hurdles are compulsory requirements that students must meet to pass a unit. There are two types of hurdles:
- Competency Hurdles - a task that may or may not contribute to the grade of the unit that a student needs to pass to demonstrate professional competency.
- Threshold hurdles - a minimum grade that must be achieved to pass. In most cases this is 50%, but may be different if external accreditation and/or regulatory requirements must be met.
Content you will learn, and skills you will develop, during the unit. These are what you will be assessed on and are usually identified in the unit handbook or assessment instructions.
Elements or characteristics of the task that you will be assessed on. These can often be found in the assessment instructions and rubric.
In an open book assessment, you may have access to materials, notes and resources while completing the assessment. In a closed book assessment, you are not permitted to have any materials, notes or resources. Look at the task requirements so you can best prepare for these assessments.
A framework that outlines the marking criteria for the assessment, and what components the markers will be looking for.
When you submit your assessments through Moodle, the software platform Turnitin is used to determine how similar it is to other submitted assessments, websites and published works.

Forms of assessment

Artefact

A tangible product or item created by the student to demonstrate understanding or mastery of concepts or skills. Artefacts can include models, lesson plans, prototypes, artworks, or digital creations, typically applied learning in practical or creative fields.

Example activities

Assessment activity	Description
CAD	Computer-Aided Design tasks that involve using CAD software to create precise 2D or 3D models for engineering, architecture, or design applications, demonstrating technical skills and spatial awareness.
Care plan	A structured document outlining patient care goals, interventions, and evaluations, showcasing the student's clinical knowledge, patient assessment skills, and ability to create individualised care strategies.
Chemical model	A representation, either physical or digital, illustrating molecular structures or chemical processes to demonstrate an understanding of chemical composition, bonding, and reactions.
Composition	The creation or arrangement of a piece of music. A composition task may be a response to particular stimuli, a demonstration of a particular style or genre, a composition for a particular occasion, pieces for combinations of instruments and/or voices, or compositions generated by contemporary technologies.
Computer code or software	A programming task where students develop code or software to solve problems, create tools, or simulate processes, showcasing programming skills, logical thinking, and problem-solving.
Digital content	Multimedia projects, like images, videos, or animations, created using digital tools to communicate ideas, information, or stories, reflecting technical and creative skills.
Documentary	A video production documenting real-world events or issues, requiring students to research, organise content, and present an informative and engaging narrative.
Drawing	A visual art task involving sketches, technical drawings, or illustrations to represent concepts or ideas, testing students' technical skill and visual communication.
File submission	An assessment where students submit completed work, such as documents or digital files, demonstrating organisational skills and adherence to guidelines.
Infographic	A visual representation combining data and graphics to convey information clearly and concisely, emphasising design skills and data literacy.
Learning plan	A structured plan that outlines educational goals, learning activities, and assessments, showing an understanding of curriculum design and instructional strategies.
Multimedia journal	An interactive journal combining text, images, videos, or other media to reflect on personal or academic experiences, enhancing reflective and creative expression.
Musical score	A written composition of music, demonstrating knowledge of musical notation, structure, and creative expression.
Musical work	A recorded performance or composition that showcases a student’s musical skill, creativity, and interpretation of musical concepts.
Podcast	An audio recording where students discuss, narrate, or analyse topics, honing their communication, storytelling, and audio editing skills.
Poster	A synthesis of the outcomes of research or learning into a self-explanatory visual presentation.
Slide deck	A sequence of slides created to support a presentation, focusing on clear, concise information display and visual impact.
Video essay	A video-based critical analysis on a topic, demonstrating research, visual storytelling, and persuasive argumentation.
Visual journal	A journal using sketches, images, or mixed media to reflect on concepts or experiences, emphasising personal reflection and visual expression.
Video Journalism	A video report on a current issue or event, emphasising investigative skills, journalistic integrity, and effective storytelling.
Website	A digital portfolio or informational site created to present ideas or projects, showcasing web design, technical skills, and user experience awareness.

Demonstration

A task where students demonstrate their ability to perform a specific skill or apply knowledge in a practical/real-world context. Demonstrations assess practical competency and proficiency, often included through the interaction between student and other students, or with educators.

Example activities

Assessment activity	Description
Clinical skills	Practical assessments where students demonstrate specific clinical techniques, highlighting competency in patient care and medical procedures.
Discussion	A group activity where students engage in dialogue to analyse and debate topics, developing communication, reasoning, and collaborative skills.
Experiment	A hands-on task where students make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or test a known fact, demonstrating understanding of scientific methodology and analytical skills.
Fieldwork skills	Practical assessments where students apply disciplinary-specific fieldwork techniques, highlighting competency in gathering and analysing data and evidence.
Interactive Oral Assessment (IOA)	A two-way conversation between educator and student, or group of students, using a prompt (including, but not limited to, a professional scenario, case study, problem or artefact) to stimulate discussion, facilitating the exploration of a student’s deep and higher-order understanding of a topic or process.
Interview	An assessment where students conduct or participate in an interview, emphasising communication, active listening, and information-gathering skills.
In-Workshop	A practical activity performed during a workshop session, focusing on skill application, participation, and immediate feedback.
Laboratory task	A hands-on task completed in a lab environment, requiring application of scientific techniques, precision, and analytical thinking.
Lesson delivery	Students plan and conduct a teaching session, demonstrating instructional skills and classroom management.
OSCE	An Objective Structured Clinical Examination, where students perform clinical tasks in a timed, controlled environment, testing medical and diagnostic skills.
Role-play	A simulated activity where students adopt roles to practise responses in real-world scenarios, fostering empathy, critical thinking, and adaptability.
Simulation	A controlled, immersive activity replicating real-life situations, assessing decision-making, technical skills, and scenario-based problem-solving.
Teaching episode	A short, focused teaching session where students present a topic, demonstrating subject knowledge, engagement techniques, and communication skills.

Examination

Assessment activity	Description
Final Exam	A comprehensive assessment at the end of a course, evaluating students’ cumulative understanding and mastery of the subject.
Oral Exam	A verbal assessment where students answer questions or present on a topic, showcasing their communication skills and depth of knowledge.
Take-home Exam	An assessment completed outside the classroom within a set timeframe, focusing on deeper analysis, research, and extended responses.
Viva voce	A verbal explanation or presentation of a concept or problem to an examiner.

Exercise

Assessment activity	Description
Analytical exercise	A short structured commentary or analysis on an assigned passage, source, image, etc. Examples include (but are not limited to) primary source analysis, critical reading exercise, and philosophy gobbet.
Forum post	Short written pieces of text about a particular topic or issue. These pieces are hosted on a discussion-based online forum, and readers (the instructor, other students) can usually respond to each post.
In-Class Participation Activity	An interactive activity completed during class, promoting engagement, collaboration, and application of learned concepts in real-time.
Practical Worksheet	A worksheet with exercises related to practical applications of theories or concepts, assessing hands-on knowledge and problem-solving abilities.
Problem Set	A series of exercises or questions focused on problem-solving, commonly used in maths and science to assess analytical and calculation skills.
Translation task	In language units, students may be asked to translate a written passage from one language into another. Translation tasks may be accompanied by an exegesis, commentary or reflection.

Performance

Assessment activity	Description
Mime	A performance without words, relying on gestures and expressions to convey a message, assessing creativity, expression, and body language skills.
Musical and Theatrical Performances	A live or recorded performances that showcase students’ artistic skills, creativity, and understanding of musical or dramatic techniques.
Opening Statement	A formal introductory speech, typically in debates or legal simulations, where students outline their arguments or case, demonstrating clarity and persuasion.

Portfolio

Assessment activity	Description
Art Folio	A collection of artworks curated by the student to showcase their creative development, skills, and personal style in visual arts.
eCollection	A digital portfolio that curates multimedia content, showcasing students’ creativity, technical skills, and ability to organise and present digital work.
Learning Portfolio	A collection of artefacts showcasing academic or professional learning progress and reflection over a period of time.
Photographic Portfolio	A curated selection of photos by a student, displaying technical skill, creativity, and thematic focus in photography.
Practice Portfolio	A compilation of evidence showing students’ practical skills and development in a specific field, demonstrating hands-on experience and reflection.
Project Portfolio	A collection of work related to an individual or group project. It may include project planning or review materials, process documentation and/or outputs.
Website	A digital portfolio or informational site created to present ideas or projects, showcasing web design, technical skills, and user experience awareness.

Presentation

Assessment activity	Description
Debate	A formal presentation arguing for or against a particular topic, usually in the form of a question.
Multimedia Presentation	A presentation incorporating text, images, video, or audio to convey information, demonstrating digital literacy and communication skills.
Oral Presentation	A spoken presentation on a given topic, assessing students’ ability to organise information and convey ideas clearly and effectively.
Pitch	A clear, concise and convincing summary of a potential project (usually including objectives, a plan, and significance to stakeholders) delivered to stakeholders in order to gain buy-in. A pitch may be presented orally in person or video-recorded video and is typically part of a group project and/or scaffolded assessment.
Shark Tank	A pitch-based assessment where students present ideas to a panel, simulating an entrepreneurial environment and focusing on persuasion, innovation, and defence of ideas.

Project

A combination of tasks across different categories making up one assessment (e.g. quizzes, written, artefacts, demonstration, peer evaluation). Often it can be a multi-phase assessment where students complete a substantial task or multiple tasks over a period of time.

Example activities

Assessment activity	Description
Applied Practice Project (to differentiate from Design Project and Research project)	A task in which students combine application of disciplinary knowledge with ethical, reflective, and evaluative practice to address a real-world or simulated professional context. Project tasks may include (but are not limited to) design, implementation, and iterative refinement of a process, service, workflow, or intervention. The task may draw on academic research, professional standards, and/or industry reports, and will be supported by justification of processes and implementation of principles through demonstrations, reports, and/or presentations. Task outcomes are directed towards peer, client, public, or stakeholder needs as defined in the assessment.
Critical investigation	An in-depth examination of a particular issue or question, requiring students to analyse, interpret, and evaluate evidence to present informed conclusions or insights.
Curriculum Project	A task focused on developing educational content, where students design and outline learning objectives, activities, assessments, and instructional strategies for specific educational contexts.
Design Project	A creative assessment that involves developing a solution or product prototype, integrating theory and practical design skills, often tailored to meet real-world needs or specifications.
Integrated Unit of Work	A cohesive plan of lessons or activities across subjects, centred on a unifying theme or project, designed to provide a holistic learning experience.
Research project	A study that investigates a research problem or question by collecting, analysing, interpreting and communicating quantitative and qualitative data.

Quiz / Test

Assessment activity	Description
In-Class Test	A timed assessment administered during class sessions, usually covering recent material and aimed at evaluating students' knowledge, understanding, or application of content.
Lecture Test	A formal test based on material presented during lectures, designed to assess comprehension and retention of key concepts discussed in a course.
Online quiz	Non-invigilated scheduled timed assessments completed using online platforms such as Moodle.

Work integrated

Assessment activity	Description
Career development task	Examples of career development tasks include (but are not limited to) a resume, job application, career development plan, or LinkedIn profile. This type of assessment is used to develop your employability skills in readiness for entry to and progress in the workplace.
Co-Op	A cooperative education program where students alternate between academic study and full-time employment related to their field, gaining practical experience and workplace skills.
IIP (Industry Immersion Program)	A structured placement that immerses students in a professional environment, allowing them to apply academic knowledge while gaining firsthand industry experience.
Placement	Students work in a real (or simulated) work environment and may also report back on their experience.
Professional Experience	Practical experience in a professional context, where students apply theoretical knowledge and develop competencies required in their chosen field.
White Card	A qualification earned through safety training, required for working on construction sites, demonstrating knowledge of health, safety, and risk protocols.
WIL (Work-Integrated Learning)	Learning activities designed to integrate academic learning with practical work experiences, helping students gain skills relevant to their career path.

Written

A form of assessment that requires students to produce text-based responses. Written assessments are often used to evaluate comprehension, critical thinking, and the ability to construct arguments or convey information clearly.

Example activities

Assessment activity	Description
Abstract	A concise summary of a research paper, presenting its purpose, methodology, results, and conclusions, helping readers quickly grasp the study's main points.
Annotated bibliography	A list of the relevant literature on a given topic, with comments underneath each about its relevance to the topic, or an evaluation of the source.
Article	A written work published in a journal or magazine that presents research findings, theories, or opinions on a specific topic.
Case study	Students analyse a case or scenario to identify problems and offer solutions, linking theory and practice.
Conference Proposal	A summary of proposed research or a topic to be presented at a conference, outlining objectives, relevance, and key points to gain approval from event organisers.
Critical analysis	A detailed examination and evaluation of another person's ideas or work that highlights the positive and negative qualities. It is subjective writing as it expresses one's interpretation and analysis of the work by breaking down and studying its parts. Critical analysis is usually presented as a written essay or paper, but may also be presented as an oral report.
Critical review	Evaluates an academic text or other source, and makes an assessment of the source based on the given criteria.
Design project plan (to differentiate from Research planning document)	A resource to support or document specific design aspects of a digital artefact, multimedia or creative project. Examples include (but are not limited to) project briefs, concept proposals, design documents, storyboards/scripts, wireframes, style guides, asset and licensing plans, production schedules, technical specifications, and risk/feasibility plans.
Essay	A form of academic writing that allows students to develop arguments and ideas in a logical, coherent way.
Exegesis	A critical explanation of a creative artefact, a body of work, a translation or a performance, justifying your creative or practical choices and techniques, and linking your work to theoretical concepts.
Feasibility study	An assessment of the practicality of a proposed project or idea, evaluating factors like cost, resources, and potential challenges to determine its viability.
Journal	A collection of a student’s thoughts, ideas, reflections, etc on their own learning, often using prompt questions to guide each entry.
Laboratory report	A structured document detailing the methods, results, and analysis of a scientific experiment, aimed at demonstrating comprehension of experimental processes and outcomes.
Literature review	A summary, synthesis and critical evaluation of the literature relevant to a specific research question or aim. The literature review will identify patterns, consensus, inconsistencies, discrepancies, problems or gaps based on the body of literature.
Observation	Data collected from observations (practice, people, etc) is presented as a report or other written method.
Policy brief	An advocacy tool which is typically used to influence change on a broad scale. The policy brief is used to engage and persuade a target audience, usually non-specialist, that your proposed solution to a contemporary issue is practical, credible and necessary to create positive change.
Reflective writing	Short written pieces where students can critically reflect on their own learning. They may be given prompts to guide their reflection.
Report	An investigation and analysis of information that will aid decision making and problem solving for a specific audience, presented in a specific format. A report is therefore more problem and action oriented than a traditional essay, and it may comprise sections and headings with each section having a specific purpose. Research is based on academic and non-academic sources.
Research planning document	A resource to support or document specific aspects of a research project. Examples include (but are not limited to) ethics applications, data management plans, risk assessments, budget / resource allocation plans, intellectual property agreements, or participant consent forms.
Research proposal	A proposal for a research project. Research proposals should include a summary of the intended research, proposed methodology, timeline and potential impact and significance of the proposed research.
Strategic plan	A structured planning document in which students analyse a particular issue, context or stakeholder environment and develop a strategic solution to achieve defined goals. Examples include (but are not limited to) communications strategies, campaign plans, stakeholder engagement plans, advocacy plans, change or crisis communication plans, and business or management plans.
Thesis	A large-scale written dissertation in which you extensively research a specific question, using the data collected to justify an argument or position. A successful thesis will typically contain original research and contribute new knowledge to the discipline or field.

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Extensions and special arrangements

Changes made to assessment tasks due to disability or medical conditions. You need to be registered with Disability Support Services to be eligible for these.
Two day extensions to the due date of an assessment task. No reason is required. You need to apply by 11:55pm on the day the assessment is due.
Changes made to the exam location and time to ensure that you are able to complete your exam. These need to be applied for prior to the exam.
Longer extensions, granted for exceptional circumstances that were beyond your control.

Final assessments

A final assessment, that has been rescheduled for a later date. Deferred assessments take place during the deferred assessment period, unless otherwise communicated. To be eligible for a deferred assessment, you need to apply.
The scheduled period of time when deferred assessments will take place.
Invigilated, timed assessments, that take place during the final assessment period, after SWOTVAC. Exams can be held in person, and online. You can use WES to determine when your exams will be, once the timetable is released.
Timed assessments that take place, following SWOTVAC, during the final assessment period. These may include exams, or other take home tasks.
A timetable period, within which final assessments are scheduled.
Held during the final assessment period, these assessments are completed at home and usually submitted via Moodle. These may include test-based assessments, or written tasks.
Time-sensitive assessments that can take place during the semester, and in the final assessment period. Timed assessments include quizzes and exams, as well as tasks that are related to the progression of the unit (e.g. weekly reflections). Your unit will identify which assessments are timed assessments, and you cannot receive extensions for these tasks.
An assessment offered to students who score between 45 and 49 on a unit, to provide another opportunity for students to pass the unit (maximum score 50(P)).
The study period before the final assessment period. It stands for ‘Study Without Teaching Vacation.’

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Assessment glossary

General terms

Forms of assessment

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Extensions and special arrangements

Final assessments

Taking it further

Understanding Assessments

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