This section will look at different forms of assessment.  It will give you some practical ideas on how to prepare for them, and how to get the most out of them.

Assignments are similar to mini essays where you research a topic and write about it with referencing. SETU run workshops to help you with your academic writing skills each term. Sometimes students may have to deliver a presentation or work on a group project.

Doing a presentation used to make me very anxious at the beginning, but little by little it became easier, and by 4th year I didn’t worry about them anymore.
(Nursing student)

Assessments are the means by which your lecturers can gauge how you are progressing on your course, allow you to receive feedback, and can also provide the grades which will allow to move on to your next stage of study.

In order to make sure that everyone is marked fairly,  a set of criteria to mark against may be used.

• Learning Outcomes outline WHAT you’re meant to know and be able to do by the end of a module.
• Assessment Criteria identify HOW your lecturer measures your work against defined Learning Outcomes.

Many students find assessments stressful, but you should remember that they are an important way for you to receive feedback, which will allow you to develop and improve your work, and to move forward.

It was difficult to hand in assignments on time and to present work in front of people.
(IT student)

Many autistic students told us that one of the main challenges with exams is to organise the time for revision – doing little by little over a longer period.

With coursework the challenges can be similar – understanding the lecture brief and organising your time so that you don’t have to rush things towards the deadline. Getting regular feedback from a tutor in ASC to support you with your work is crucial here.

Planning out your assignment is very important. Mind mapping can help and engaging with your tutor to show you what you need to do and how to plan and research.

All feedback is an active dialogue which relies upon you to respond and not repeat the same mistakes in your future work.

If you are struggling with assessments, you should speak to ESW/ASD worker. They may be able to suggest a reasonable adjustment be made, to enable you to participate in the assessment process. Your ASD worker can advocate for you with your lecturer.

Familiarise yourself with the ‘Learning Outcomes’ and ‘Assessment Criteria’

Tips to help

• Make your work available for tutors in ASC centre ,don’t hide away and isolate yourself.
• If you find it difficult to ask for feedback, think of ways that you might be able to receive it in an indirect way – maybe on email/Zoom.
• Try to accept feedback in a professional manner; don’t take it as a personal insult.

Make sure that you aware of deadlines

• Use a calendar or phone reminder
• Allow enough time to get to hand your work in; your tutor can help you with this
• If your assessed work is to be printed, come to the ASC centre for help
• Likewise, if you are giving a presentation, make sure that the projector works, and your presentation is in the correct format. Again your tutor can help you practice and prepare ahead of time.

Finally, take note of any feedback and use opportunities for discussing any feedback that you receive. Many tutors will offer a tutorial after giving feedback, which will give you the opportunity to discuss any concerns, and ask for advice in moving forward.

1. What help do I need going over my assignment brief?
2. What are the dates for assessment?
3. Where do I need to present my work for assessment?
4. What format should my assessable work take?
5. Who can I discuss my feedback with?

Academic Skills Centre tutors at SETU Waterford