15 April 2024
By email
: [FYI request #26127 email] Tēnā koe MJ
I refer to your information request dated 17 March 2024 made under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act). You have requested mark and grade distributions for the 2023 ANAT242, ANAT241,
ANAT331, ANAT333, PHAL211, PHAL221, PHAL303, PHSL231, PSYC323 and PSYC319 papers offered by
the University of Otago.
Subject to the following comments, please see attached the information you have requested.
• the data is correct as at 9 April 2024.
• we note that the grade and mark distributions for the 2023 ANAT242 paper have not been
finalised yet as the final grades for some students have not been confirmed. On that basis, we
decline this part of your request pursuant to section 18(g) of the Act, as the information
requested is not held by the University as at today’s date. We would be happy to consider a
new request from you at a later date if you still wish to receive this information.
• on occasions where fewer than five students have failed a paper (i.e. received a grade of Fail
D, Fail E or Failed Terms), we have determined that it is necessary to withhold the marks and
specific grades for these students to protect their privacy and wellbeing. We consider that
withholding this information is necessary to protect against the identity of these students
being determined or inferred, and their personal information (i.e. their marks) could be
disclosed. We therefore withhold this information pursuant to section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
• please note that PSYC319 was not offered in 2023. Therefore we are unable to provide the
mark and grade distribution for this paper for 2023.
• in the attached grade and mark distributions, we note that students who withdrew from the
papers or received an Aegrotat Pass (not a grade or mark) are excluded from the data.
I trust that this information will be helpful.
In the above cases, we consider that good reasons exist for withholding information, and this is not
outweighed by other considerations which would make it desirable, in the public interest, to make the
information available.
If you are not satisfied with our response to your information request, section 28(3) of the Act
provides you with the right to ask an Ombudsman to investigate and review this response. However,
we would welcome the opportunity to discuss any concerns with you first.
Yours sincerely
Jo Pearson
Jo Pearson
Official Information Act Administrator
Office of the Registrar