8 July 2022
By email:
[FYI request #19622 email]
Dear Lewis
I refer to your information request dated 9 June 2022 made under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act). You have requested grade breakdowns of Computer Science (COSC) papers over the past
three years.
Subject to the below comments, please find attached the information you have requested.
• For privacy and student wellbeing reasons, the University’s standard practice is not to report
on marks which relate to fewer than 5 students. Where the numbers are very low there is a
risk that the identity of these students could be determined/inferred, and that their personal
information (i.e. their grades) could be revealed. Where therefore withhold this information
pursuant to section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
o Therefore, where the grade is Fail D, Fail E, Fail, Failed Compulsory Assessment or
Aegrotat, if there are fewer than 5 students per year across all years, we have
grouped those students together. Where the grade is Fail D, Fail E, Fail, Failed
Compulsory Assessment or Aegrotat, if there are fewer than 5 students across only
some years, we have indicated this using “<5” (“fewer than 5”).
• We note that COSC201, COSC202, COSC203 and COSC204 are all new papers that have been
offered for the first time in 2022. Therefore, there are no grade breakdowns for these
papers for the last three years. We also note that COSC348 has not been offered since 2015,
therefore there are no grade breakdowns for this paper for the last three years.
• The attached spreadsheet contains a paper where either a pass or fail result is given (not a
grade). This paper is COSC326.
• Students who withdrew from COSC papers are excluded from the data.
• Please note that a 5 mark increase was applied to all final grades for papers completed in
Semester 1 2020.
I trust you will find this information helpful.
I note your right to seek a review of these decisions via a complaint to an Ombudsman. However, we
would welcome the opportunity to discuss any concerns with you first.
Yours sincerely
Kelsey Kennard
Official Information and Compliance Coordinator
Office of the Registrar