Assessment
Everything you need to know about completing your assessments, receiving grades, progressing through your programme, and achieving your degree award.
About Assessment
On this page you will find information about the ways you are assessed as part of your programme, and how these summative assessments contribute to progression and attaining your degree award. It is split into three sections:
- Assignments – summative coursework you submit for grading
- Timetabled Assessments – any assessed activity you complete at a set time and date
- Assessment regulations which govern all assessments at the conservatoire
Assignments
Assignments includes any piece of summative coursework you submit to be graded.
For example, uploading an essay to Space, submitting a video via Panopto, or creating a multimedia e-portfolio via a Show post.
Assignment Guidelines
These guidelines will support you when producing assignments for submission.
They include chapters on:
- House style and formatting
- Assignment length: word count and duration
- Acceptable use of AI
- Referencing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic misconduct
- File naming, presentation, and labelling
- Accepted file types for submission
- How to submit your assignment and technical advice
Download a digital copy or collect your hard copy from Room 401, St. Peter’s Square, or The Library.
Submitting Assignments
There are several different submission types used at the conservatoire depending on the nature of your assignment. The assignment brief will tell you what the submission type is, you should produce your work with this in mind.
Once you know your submission type, refer to the instructions linked below for how to submit your assignment.
Submitting Work Late
All submission portals are locked after the submission deadline if work has been submitted. In order to change work after it has been submitted, you must complete the submission deadline unlock form.
You may also have to submit the submission deadline unlock form if you have a granted extension and are submitting after your agreed extended deadline.
Work can be submitted late for up to 7 days from the deadline, you do not need to complete the unlock form if you don’t have an extension.
In all the above cases, your submission will be subject to the appropriate late penalty.
Submission Portal Unlock Form
Completing this request instructs the HE Admin team to unlock your assignment so you can make changes.
Assignment portals can only be unlocked during office hours, so make sure you request this in good time. You will receive an email confirmation once unlocked.
Submission Troubleshooting
Technical Advice For Assignment Submission
Preparing your work for submission, click for more info:
- Before you start, make sure you’re submitting your work to the correct assignment portal.
- Get the file formats right, your assignment brief will specify which file formats you can submit. Although only the specified files are accepted, if you submit the wrong file type or it is corrupted it will be treated as a non-submission (mark of 0). Review the guidance on file formats to prepare your files.
- Ensure that the file extension is present at the end of each file (e.g. ‘.pdf’, ‘.mp3’). This is there by default unless removed by the user. To view file extensions within your operating system, follow this guidance for Windows and this for macOS.
- For Online Submissions, uploading files directly to Space, the individual upload limit for files on Space is 2GB per file.
- Ensure the file name does not contain non-alphanumeric characters (e.g. ()&!?+) or spaces.
- When uploading files to Space, wait until all your files have fully uploaded before pressing the ‘Save Changes’ button. If you do this before they have fully uploaded, you will need to refresh the page and restart the upload.
- We recommend that you always submit well in advance of the deadline time and date to allow for any unforeseen issues, technical or otherwise.
Internet and Wi-Fi Performance
Ensuring you have an adequate connection to complete your submission, click for more info:
You should always upload assignments on conservatoire computers as we can guarantee network speeds and can give full support. If you do not, and there is a problem resulting in a late or no submission, you will receive a penalty.
The performance of internet and Wi-Fi at locations outside the conservatoire can vary significantly due to a huge number of factors, so files may take longer to upload than usual. Please be mindful of this when submitting your assignments, and allow as much time as possible.
Here are some things you can do that may improve the performance of your internet connection:
- Where possible, connect directly to your Wi-Fi router using an Ethernet cable.
- Move the device you are working on into the same room as your Wi-Fi router.
- Close any unused applications and/or internet browser windows/tabs on the device you are working on.
- Limit use of the internet on other devices, or disconnect them from the Wi-Fi network.
- If sharing the Wi-Fi network with other users, ask them to temporarily refrain or limit their internet use whilst you are uploading or submitting your assignment.
Device and Browser Performance
Checking your technology is compatible and fit for purpose, click for more info:
The performance of the device you are working on can vary significantly due to a huge number of factors. Please be mindful of this when working on and submitting your assignments, and allow as much time as possible.
Here are some things that you can do that may improve the performance of your device and browser:
- Update your device and browser to the latest available software (remember that software updates take some time to complete). Please back up your important data before updating your device.
- You could use the OneDrive cloud storage you have access to through your conservatoire account to back up your work.
- Close any unused applications and/or browser windows and tabs.
- If your device is running slowly or malfunctioning, try restarting it.
- We recommend that you use Google Chrome (Mac/Windows) or Mozilla Firefox (Mac/Windows) on a desktop or laptop computer when completing assignments.
Timetabled Assessments
Timetabled assessments are summative performances, examinations, presentations, or any other assessed activity you complete at a given date and time.
For example, a recital of live music, performing in a dramatic production, a timed exam paper, or a group presentation.
Your Timetabled Assessments
Assessment timetables are published before the start of the assessment period. Access the timetables and find your scheduled time slot(s).
Assessment times are non-negotiable unless you have approved additional consideration and your exam date has been deferred.
In the event you are unable to attend your assessment, due to illness or unplanned exceptional circumstances, report your unplanned absence; clearly noting you are going to be absent from the timetabled assessment(s). It is advised you inform the Module Coordinator and Exams Team too.
Timed assessments, like recitals or presentations, are subject to length penalties.
Find Your Exam & Assessment Times
Log in with your conservatoire Microsoft 365 account.
Assessment Periods
These weeks are generally when timetabled first-attempt assessments occur; however, you may have some assessments outside these dates. Always check your personal assessment times and assignment due dates.
January 2026
Monday 5th January – Friday 23rd January 2026
May/June 2026
Tuesday 5th May – Friday 12th June 2026
August/September 2026
These weeks are for taught postgraduate trimester 3 assessments:
Monday 17th August – Friday 4th September 2026
Timetabled Assessment FAQs & Guidance
“A member of my ensemble/group, who isn’t being assessed, is not free at the time of my assessment because of their own timetabled assessment.”
It is your responsibility to ensure that all your ensemble/group members are free at the time of your assessment, or else source a replacement ensemble/group member. You may swap your assessment time with another student in this scenario only. The procedure for swapping assessment times is:
- Alert the Exams Team of the situation by email – on occasion there may be timetable gaps that you can move to.
- If there are no timetable gaps that your assessment can be moved to, you must endeavour to find a student within your year of study, on your pathway and studying your instrument for the module in question that is able to swap with you.
- Arrange for yourself and the student you are swapping times with to email the Exams Team with confirmation that you are both happy to swap times, and the details of when you are swapping from, and when you are swapping to.
Be careful to not inadvertently create clashes for other ensemble/group members. Only swaps made through the Exams Team, and updated on the published timetable, will be authorised.
You must arrange swaps in good time, as soon as you get your allotted time check that all your ensemble/group members are free and if there is an issue start making arrangements straight away. The Exams Team will not make any timetable changes due to swaps once it is within 15 working days of the start of the assessment period.
“I have a timetable clash with my own assessment and another assessment I am performing in, but not being assessed for.”
It is the responsibility of the student whose ensemble/group you are performing for to either find a suitable replacement for you or arrange to swap their assessment time with another student.
See above for the procedure for swapping assessment slots – and ensure you are kept informed if the assessment time does get moved.
“A member of my ensemble/group (not being assessed) is not free at the time of my assessment because of external commitments.”
If the individual is a student of Leeds Conservatoire, they should be available throughout the assessment period – if they are not willing to be available for your assessment, it is your responsibility to source another ensemble/group member.
If the individual is not a student of Leeds Conservatoire, it was at your own risk that you asked them to perform in your ensemble/group. If they cannot be free at the time of your assessment, we cannot move your slot for this reason, and therefore it is your responsibility to source another ensemble/group member.
“A member of my ensemble/group is ill and is unlikely to be able to perform/attend the assessment.”
It is advised you alert both your Academic Manager, Module Co-ordinator, and the Exams team in this event, how you are advised will depend on how near the assessment this has occurred and the specific situation.
We advise that where your ensemble/group member is able to perform, that they do so, especially if it is you being assessed and not them. If they are too ill to perform at all, a judgement will be made as to whether the assessment should still go ahead, or whether you should be able to source an alternative member in time for your assessment (applicable to exams where you source your own ensemble).
In some instances, tutors may be able to help provide alternative ensemble/group members (for example Group Study), if there is sufficient notice and this is deemed appropriate.
In most situations assessments will go ahead, however if it is deemed by the Academic Manager or Module Co-ordinator that your assessment cannot go ahead without the absent individual(s), a new date will be arranged.
For Specialist Study or other exams where you source your own ensemble/group and only you are being assessed, it is unlikely that your assessment will be deferred.
Please note that where the absent ensemble/group member is not a student at Leeds Conservatoire, the above procedures are not relevant.
To prevent potential issues within your own selected band/group it is good practice to have deputising members of performance ensembles where you feel you need them, in case of the above occurrence.
Invigilated Exams Via Zoom
Follow these instructions if you have an online timetabled assessment via Zoom.
Prepare for the Zoom assessment
Students should ensure well in advance that they will have an appropriate set-up to undertake their exam. If you will need to use conservatoire facilities, eg a study space or a computer, please email the exams team as soon as possible, before the date of your exam.
Entering the Zoom assessment
Exam Zoom links will be accessible on the module page 10 minutes in advance of the assessment and are listed in date order. Notify the exams team at the earliest oppourtunity if an exam link appears to be missing.
During the Zoom assessment
- Students must join the exam using the Zoom links situated on the module page.
- Usual rules for non-attendance and late entry to exams apply.
- Exams will be completed via Space which need to be ‘submitted’ upon completion. Your exam invigilator will explain this process.
- Students must keep their cameras on throughout the entirety of the exam.
- If a student completes an exam without joining Zoom, the exam will be void and will receive a mark of 0, ie it will be treated as non-attendance/non-submission.
- If a student completes an exam without their camera on, the exam will be void and will receive a mark of 0, ie it will be treated as non-attendance/non-submission.
- Students can leave the exam as soon as they have submitted their exam but will not be allowed to re-enter.
Technical difficulties
Please contact exams@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk as soon as possible should you encounter any technical difficulties during your Zoom assessment. These may include:
- Internet / WiFi failure
- Video failure
- Audio failure
- Exam submission failure
Assessment Policies, Rules & Regulations
Explore the links below to access specific information about your assessments.
Some information is available on a dedicate page, please find these on the assessment page menu.
Assessment Criteria
It is important that you understand exactly how you are being assessed and the standard of work they are expected to achieve.
Work will always be assessed against published assessment criteria and to enable you to meet the learning outcomes of the module. Relevant assessment criteria are included on assignment briefs, and your feedback will be aligned to the applicable criteria.
Academic Misconduct
The conservatoire and its validating body, the University of Hull, take very seriously any forms of academic misconduct.
If you are found guilty, the penalties can range from a warning or a mark being reduced to zero, all the way to being withdrawn from your course.
Allegations of such conduct are investigated and (if proven) penalised using the University of Hull’s Regulations governing Academic Misconduct.
Artificial Intelligence
It is not acceptable to use AI tools to generate your assignment from start to finish. The unacknowledged or not permitted use of AI tools is considered contract cheating.
In addition, words and ideas generated by some AI tools make use of people’s ideas without referencing them, which is considered a form of plagiarism.
If teaching staff suspect that you are trying to misrepresent AI-generated output as your own work, then you may find yourself under investigation for academic misconduct.
See also
External Examiners
External examiners are normally experienced academics from other UK or European institutions.
They play a key role in the assessment process for undergraduate and postgraduate awards. They provide institutions with impartial and expert advice on the assessment and marking process and on the standards of students’ achievement. They help to ensure that awards made at one institution are comparable with awards made on similar courses in other UK institutions.
External examiners look at assignment briefs, samples of student work (including portfolios and performances), and marks and feedback.
They also attend Boards of Examiners’ meetings which is where marks are confirmed and decisions about progression, reassessments/retakes and awards are made.
They submit a report at the end of each year which is discussed both at Leeds Conservatoire and at the University of Hull – our validating body.