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Page 1: IDM Qualifications Rules and Regulations...IDM Professional Certificate in Email Marketing IDM Professional Certificate in Social Media IDM Professional Certificate in Search Marketing

IDM Qualifications Rules and Regulations

© Version updated July 2016 V12 The Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 20

IDM Qualifications

Rules and Regulations

Updated July 2016 V12

IMPORTANT - Please ensure you read the contents of this document in its entirety

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IDM Qualifications Rules and Regulations

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 3

PART ONE – GENERAL ...................................................................................................... 4

1.0 Special Consideration and Special Needs ........................................................................................... 4

2.0 Transferral and Cancellations ............................................................................................................ 6

3.0 Appeals .............................................................................................................................................. 7

4.0 Complaints ........................................................................................................................................ 8

5.0 Malpractice ....................................................................................................................................... 9

6.0 Intellectual Property Rights ............................................................................................................. 10

PART TWO – ASSESSMENT .............................................................................................. 11

7.0 Assignment Preparation and Submission ......................................................................................... 11

8.0 Examination Preparation, Procedures, Rules and Regulations ......................................................... 14

9.0 Online examinations ........................................................................................................................ 17

10.0 How your Grade is calculated .......................................................................................................... 18

11.0 Online Assessment .......................................................................................................................... 20

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INTRODUCTION This document describes the IDM’s rules and regulations for students of the following study programmes:

IDM Postgraduate Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing

IDM Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Marketing

IDM Diploma in B2B Marketing Conversion

IDM Professional Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing

IDM Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing

IDM Professional Certificate in Email Marketing

IDM Professional Certificate in Social Media

IDM Professional Certificate in Search Marketing

IDM Award in Digital Copywriting

IDM Award in Mobile Marketing

IDM Award in Data Management

IDM Award in Direct and Digital Marketing

IDM Award in Direct Mail

IDM Award in GDPR This document covers assignments, examinations, assessment and final grades. The IDM operates in accordance with the latest data protection legislation. Any information you supply will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and will only be seen by the relevant personnel at the IDM. The IDM is committed to providing equal opportunities for all students. We therefore offer a special consideration service for anyone with learning difficulties or requiring additional support for any other reason.

“The IDM adopts and rigorously applies a policy which puts students at the ‘heart’ of the organisation by ensuring

equality, transparency, fairness, consistency and robust assessment processes”.

From time to time it may be necessary to amend these Rules & Regulations as part of the IDM’s continuous improvement programmes. Should this be necessary, you and your Tutor will be informed immediately through the correct channels.

Tracey Poulson Director of Learning, Dip IDM, F IDM

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PART ONE – GENERAL

1.0 Special Consideration and Special Needs

1.1 IDM commitment to equal opportunities a. The IDM is committed to providing equal opportunities for all students. We therefore

offer a special consideration service for anyone with learning difficulties or requiring additional support for any other reason.

b. You may be eligible for special consideration during your studies, assignments and

examinations in many different circumstances including:

Learning difficulty i.e. Dyslexia

Disability

Illness

Compassionate

English is not your first language and you do not work in an English speaking country 1.2 Special consideration process a. Any student who has special requirements for their assignments or examinations must

inform the IDM Qualifications Department immediately or at the earliest possible time in writing:

Email: [email protected]

Post: Director of Learning, The IDM, 1 Park Road, Teddington, TW11 0AR b. Medical or other appropriate supporting documentation should be submitted with your

request. c. The IDM will send an acknowledgement of your ‘Special consideration request’ and on

approval will begin the process of making appropriate arrangements, as required, for studies, assignment submission and sitting examinations, including informing relevant personnel.

d. You will receive notification of the preparations that have been made for you from the

IDM once the arrangements are complete or prior to the time you require them, if earlier.

e. In respect of each “special consideration” candidate the IDM will record the following

information:

candidate name and number

the nature of the special needs

extra time awarded (if any)

details of any extra materials or equipment to be provided either by the candidate or the IDM

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1.3 Special consideration in written examinations if English is not your first language and you do not work in an English speaking country and/or a specific medical condition such as Dyslexia. If you fall into these categories then please contact The IDM. For Online examinations please refer to Section 11.0 and contact the IDM as necessary. For written examinations -

You are entitled to 30 minutes extra time prior to the start of each examination All extra time allowances are added at the beginning of the usual examination

timetable to ensure that all candidates finish at the same time You will not be permitted to leave the examination until after 30 minutes of the

official examination start time 1.4 Data confidentiality and privacy a. Any information you supply in support of your ‘Special consideration request’ will be

treated with the utmost confidentiality and will only be seen by the ‘Director of Learning’ and where deemed essential the examination invigilator and/or the Exam Board.

b. When you write to the IDM please mark for the attention of ‘Director of Learning’

marking Strictly Private and Confidential to enable the IDM to treat the information with total confidentiality.

1.5 Special consideration for students once examinations have taken place a. Students must provide the Director of Learning with any relevant information on

personal or documented medical circumstances that may have affected your exam performance within two weeks of sitting your examination(s).

ANY CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED AFTER TWO WEEKS

FOLLOWING THE EXAMINATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED b. If the information is confidential, the details will only be disclosed to essential IDM

personnel. c. Failure to disclose relevant information, without due reason, cannot be used

subsequently as grounds for requesting a review of the decision of the Board of Examiners.

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2.0 Transferral and Cancellations

2.1 Cancellations and Transferral of study programme If you wish to cancel/transfer your course you should, as soon as possible, contact the Director of Learning by phone, email or in writing with supporting reasons. A fee will be levied for those students who request a transfer or cancellation of their programme of study. The IDM will advise you of the fees. a. A course transferral may be considered up to a maximum of one year from original

programme start date.

b. If you wish to transfer to another programme then a 20% charge of the course list price you wish to transfer to will be charged (the original course has to be paid in full).

c. If you are on an award programme, you may extend your study for a period of 3 months

for a fee of £50 + VAT. This will be considered up to a maximum of one year from the original programme start date.

2.3 Completion of course Once your course has started and there are specific reasons, notified to the IDM, why you are not able to complete the course within the normal timescales, the IDM may, at its discretion, allow you to take a break in the course provided it is completed within two years of the original start date.

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3.0 Appeals

3.1 Policy statement The IDM recognises that all students have the right of appeal. However, students may not appeal against academic judgement ie feedback and marks on assignments and/or exam papers. 3.2 The appeal process for your final grade a. A candidate wishing to appeal their final grade should do so within two weeks of their

final grade being issued and a detailed letter outlining the reasons for appeal should be sent to the Chair of Exam Board, c/o Director of Learning, The IDM, 1 Park Road, Teddington, TW11 OAR.

APPEALS RECEIVED AFTER TWO WEEKS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

b. The decision of the Chair of Exam Board is final and will be communicated to the

candidate in writing, once the matter has been fully investigated, normally within two weeks of receipt of the appeal.

3.3 Original student’s exam papers In keeping with higher education and other professional bodies, the IDM retains the original student exam answer for a period of one year after the relevant Exam Board meeting, after which it is destroyed in keeping with current Data Protection guidelines. Students are not allowed to have their original nor a copy of their exam answer. The IDM will provide feedback on request as per 3.4. 3.4 Feedback on exam results A student may request written feedback on a failed exam paper provided the request is made in writing within two weeks of the issue of the grades and that the justification for the feedback request is provided. A £15 charge will be made for each paper requiring feedback.

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4.0 Complaints

4.1 Complaints procedure a. Should you have a complaint or concern about the quality of your tuition or any other

issue relating to your IDM studies, your first action should be to contact the Director of Learning in writing.

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5.0 Malpractice

Student malpractice includes, but isn’t restricted exclusively to:

Being in possession of any materials, equipment, notes, books or other papers at any time during examination, other than those issued or authorised

Contacting, communicating, talking to, copying from any other candidate or allowing work to be copied

Helping or receiving help from another candidate

Failing to abide by the instructions or advice of an invigilator

Disruptive behaviour (including the use of offensive language)

Leaving the examination (room) without the express permission of an invigilator and without an escort (does not apply to online exams)

Consulting any unauthorised materials or persons during periods of authorised absence while the examination is in progress

Attempting to make contact or influence the examiner or marker in any way (e.g. by writing or attaching notes to the submitted script)

Impersonation – pretending to be someone else; arranging for another to take one’s place at examination

Collusion – working collaboratively with other candidates

Plagiarism – failure to acknowledge sources properly and/or submission of another person’s work as if it were the candidate’s own

Uploading marked assignments for general view to an online platform. Any work found to be shared or uploaded to any online platform will result in immediate exclusion from your IDM qualification.

Theft of another’s work

Deliberate destruction of another’s work

Alteration of any results document including certificates 5.1 Student penalties and sanctions The IDM may, at its discretion, and depending on the seriousness of proven malpractice, impose one or more penalties on the student, who will be informed in writing. The student may be issued with a written warning from the IDM, or lose all marks for an assessment(s). In serious cases of proven malpractice, the IDM reserves the right to invalidate all marks awarded to the student, or disqualify them from the qualification. In extreme cases of proven malpractice the student may be disqualified from any future IDM qualifications.

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6.0 Intellectual Property Rights

a. The Intellectual Property Rights in IDM Courses and Qualifications, Study Materials, Assignments and Exams are owned by and shall remain vested in the IDM.

b. The Intellectual Property Rights in the Student Output both as a Student and as an IDM

Graduate shall be owned by and shall remain vested in the IDM. c. Save as expressly stated in these Terms, you shall not acquire any interest in any of the

Intellectual Property Rights in IDM Courses and Qualifications, Study Materials, Assignments Exams and Student output.

d. By agreeing to these Terms, we procure that IDM grants you access to Course Materials

for your own personal use and for completing the Course of Study. e. You agree that you will not rent, lease, sub-license, loan, copy, modify, adapt, translate,

reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble or create derivative works based on the whole or any part of an IDM Course or use (other than as permitted under these Terms) reproduce, share or deal in the Course of Study or any part thereof in any way.

f. You are permitted to view, copy, and print materials within the IDM Study Materials

subject to your agreement that your use of the information is for informational, personal, and non-commercial purposes only relating to your course of study.

g. IDM Students and Graduates may not under any circumstances upload any of their work

or any IDM study material to social media or sharing websites. This is deemed malpractice as per Section 5.0.

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PART TWO – ASSESSMENT

7.0 Assignment Preparation and Submission

a. Your assignments will be marked by an IDM marker and may be moderated by an

independent moderator. Assignments must be submitted by the set deadline in your key dates.

b. A single pdf version of your assignment must be emailed by midnight of the date of your submission to [email protected]. Accompanied with the pdf must be the assignment cover sheet which will incorporate the following information:

Candidate name

Word count

Tutor’s name

Signature of confirmation that the submission is entirely your own work Please note if the cover sheet is not completed in full your assignment will not be sent for marking. c. Word counts define the scope of the task. Many students could write much more than

required, but a word count introduces the discipline of the application of ideas and concepts in a concise and clear way.

Assignment word count limits:

Postgraduate Diploma between 4000 - 5000 words – 7 weeks assignment preparation time

Professional Diploma between 3000 – 4000 words – 5 weeks assignment preparation time

Certificate between 1500 – 2000 words – 3 weeks assignment preparation time

Appendices must be included in word count and will be taken into account when marking. Budget is not included in the word count. Tables must be presented as tables rather than images unless part of your budget.

References, as applicable, will not be included in word count. (Please refer to your How to Tackle your Assignment Notes)

IDM will check that the assignment submitted DOES NOT exceed word count. The penalty for exceeding word count will result in the student’s work being returned unmarked.

Any work found to be shared or uploaded to any online platform will result in immediate exclusion from your IDM qualification.

d. Both assignments have to be completed and marked within the study programme

timetable to be eligible to enter the examinations for that period.

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e. Extensions – a student may, in certain circumstances, apply for an extension of an

assignment submission date. An extension will only be considered for extenuating circumstances due to compassionate and/or health reasons (excludes work related and holidays). Students applying for an extension must contact the IDM prior to the original assignment deadline with supporting documentation for an extension to be considered. A decision will then be made on whether an extension is granted.

f. An assignment which falls below the relevant pass mark will result in feedback being

provided to the student. Once feedback has been received a resubmission is required within a 3 week timeframe for Professional and Postgraduate Diplomas and a 1 week timeframe for Professional Certificates and Awards. The resubmitted assignment will be remarked but the mark will be capped at the pass mark required for that particular programme.

g. If a resubmitted assignment fails to achieve the required pass mark, you will be required

complete a new assignment,– please see Section 7.1.d below for further information.

7.1 Deferral of assignments

If you require a deferral, please inform the Director of Learning in writing as soon as possible, providing supporting evidence of extenuating circumstances. The following rules apply:

a. Deferral of assignment(s) due to compassionate and/or health reasons (excludes work

related and holidays) – no charge provided relevant supporting documentation is supplied.

b. Deferral of assignment(s) for any other reason but still within the study programme timetable – £50 per assignment.

c. Deferred assignments must be submitted up to a maximum of two years from original programme start date.

d. Marks for deferred assignments will be capped at a pass for the calculation of the final grade. The only exception is if the reason for the deferral is due to compassionate and/or health reasons and in these cases the actual assignment mark will carry forward for the calculation of the final grade – supporting evidence will need to be supplied in this circumstance.

7.2 Group project a. If a group fails the project because of unsatisfactory overall performance the

circumstances will be investigated by the IDM and the outcome will be determined by the Board of Examiners.

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b. If an individual fails to attend meetings of the group or fails to make any reasonable

contribution, in the absence of good reasons (ill health and/or compassionate) then the circumstances will be investigated by the IDM and the outcome will be determined by the Board of Examiners

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8.0 Examination Preparation, Procedures, Rules and Regulations

THESE NOTES SHOULD BE READ WITH CARE BY ALL EXAMINATION CANDIDATES

8.1 Examination frequency and timing Exam dates are set and can be found in your key dates/study calendar document. 8.2 Deferral of examinations a. Students may defer their examinations up to a maximum of two times. Should you need

to defer this then you must give at least 2 weeks notice in writing to the Director of Learning. The following deferral charges apply:

Deferral of examinations due to compassionate and health reasons (excludes

work related and holidays) – no charge as long as supporting documentation supplied.

Ineligibility to sit examinations due to non-submission of assignment(s) – £100

for Diploma and £50 for Certificate

Deferral of examinations due to other reasons – £100 for Diploma and £50 for Certificate and Award

8.3 Before the examination a. It is your responsibility to attend the correct examination on the scheduled dates. b. Examinations are two/three hour’s duration including reading time depending on the

course of study. c. It is to your advantage to arrive outside the examination room at least 15 minutes

before the official start time. d. Non-programmable pocket calculators are permitted – under no circumstances are

programmable calculators or calculators on mobile phones allowed to be used in the examination room.

e. Answers must be completed in blue or black ink or biro. Pencil is not permitted. 8.4 Entry to examinations a. You must put briefcases, bags, coats, etc., in the designated area of the examination

room as directed by the invigilators. Any digital devices must be switched off and left in bags. Neither the IDM nor the examination centre will be responsible for any loss or damage of personal articles.

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b. You must not bring any programmable calculators, mobile phones, laptops, tablets or other electronic equipment, unauthorised written or printed materials into the examination room.

c. As several exams take place at the same time, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure

they are sitting the correct paper. The Chief Invigilator will make several announcements and the title of your exam will be clearly printed on the front of the question paper. Please ensure you are sitting the correct examination.

8.5 During the examination a. On the first day of your examinations you will be asked to complete both an address

sheet and attendance slip. THE ADDRESS SHEET IS THE ONLY DOCUMENT ON WHICH YOUR NAME SHOULD APPEAR and this must be completed exactly as required. All forms will be collected during the first 30 minutes of the examination. Any answer booklets found with a candidate’s name on will NOT be marked. Your candidate number must be written on all examination material you submit for marking.

b. Candidates must not write any notes to the Examiners on any part of their answer

booklet.

c. All the invigilators are there to help you; ask them if you are not sure about any rule or aspect of examination conduct. However no form of advice or guidance may be sought from the invigilating staff on the meaning or interpretation of any part of the examination paper.

Should you require assistance of an invigilator raise your hand to attract his/her attention.

d. Silence must be maintained at all times during the examination session, including entry

to, and exit from, the examination room. Candidates causing a disturbance may be required to leave the examination room.

e. You must ensure that the examination paper provided is the examination for which you have been entered.

f. The Chief Invigilator will make an announcement before starting the examination. You

should LISTEN TO ANY ANNOUNCEMENT the Chief Invigilator makes – it may be an important instruction relating to the examination paper.

g. You should read and follow the detailed instructions given on the front of the answer

book. h. The Chief Invigilator will give you time warnings towards the end of the examination and

tell you when to stop writing. At this time you must cease writing at once and close your answer booklet.

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i. Candidates may not permanently leave the room until the examination has been in progress for 30 minutes. Any candidate leaving the room after this time must hand the question paper, answer booklet and any supplementary sheets to the Invigilator.

j. An unmarked pocket English Dictionary is permitted for all candidates. When a

candidate’s first language is not English then an unmarked translation dictionary is allowed i.e. French to English/English to French, in addition to the pocket English Dictionary. Please note that invigilators will make random checks on dictionaries brought into the examination room.

k. Students must not attach any correspondence to their answer book – any breach to this

rule will result in their examination being considered null and void. l. Candidates are not allowed to leave the examination during the last 30 minutes of the

examination. YOU MAY NOT:

Leave your seat without permission to do so Communicate with anyone other than the invigilator/s Borrow instruments or other materials from another candidate Help or receive help from another candidate Cause a disturbance in the examination room

Examinations for Students outside the UK As an overseas student you would not be expected to travel to the UK for your exams. They can be held within your company/country as long as the relevant processes are put in place and overseen by someone such as your HR/Line manager. The Director of Learning will contact you closer to the date of the exams to make the appropriate arrangements. Late Arrivals Candidates are advised to check the exact start time and location of the examination venue and the time it takes to get there, and allow additional time for parking, adverse weather conditions, finding the correct room etc. No student will be allowed in the examination room 15 minutes after the start of the examination unless special permission has been granted by an Invigilator. 8.6 After the examinations a. At the end of the examination CHECK you have correctly and fully completed the front

of the answer book, that your candidate number appears at the top of all other papers used and that these papers are safely tagged together.

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b. Once the examination has stopped, remain seated and silent until all papers have been collected by the invigilators and you have been given permission to leave.

c. When you leave please take with you your personal belongings and items you may have

used during the examination.

9.0 Online examinations

IDM Award candidates For IDM Awards, online assessments are to be taken in your own time once you have studied the course material. Your result is disclosed immediately. The pass mark is 60% and if you score less than this you may retake, up to a maximum of 3 attempts. We recommend you do not retake the assessment immediately; revisit sections that you feel you need to study again. Please see the assessment area on your virtual campus for further information. IDM Professional Certificate candidates For IDM Professional Certificates, exams/assessments are scheduled at a specific date and time (usually GMT, wherever you are based). You will be told this information at the start of your course and will receive pertinent details closer to the exam/assessment including your login and how to access the exam/assessment. Your result is not usually available immediately because your final grade needs to be calculated incorporating your assignment mark. Please see the assessment area on the virtual campus for further information. Advice for online exams/assessments It is recommended you find a quiet area where you will not be disturbed, with a reliable internet connection. If using a laptop or tablet, ensure it is connected to the mains. It is against the IDM Rules and Regulations to consult any person or resource (offline or online) to help answer the questions during the assessment. However you may use a non- programmable calculator but mobile phones are not allowed to be used. Once you start the assessment, you will see a timer showing time remaining. You will not be able to pause the assessment. After the allocated time, the paper will close and your answers will be submitted automatically. If you wish to submit your paper before the end, you may do so. Please note if you are due to take a second paper you will not be able to start this earlier than the published start time.

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10.0 How your Grade is calculated

Overall mark → Grade thresholds

>45% = Pass for Postgraduate and Professional Diploma.

>60% = Credit for Postgraduate and Professional Diploma.

>70% = Distinction for Postgraduate and Professional Diploma.

>60% = Pass for Certificate and Award programmes only (Only Pass or Fail) a. Final mark to grade calculations:

Postgraduate Diploma Assignment weighted combined mark + Exam 1 + Exam 2 + Exam 3 / 4

Each assignment and each exam must be >45% Assignment mark weighting A1 – 40% of achieved mark and A2 – 60% of achieved

mark See examples below:

Assignment Combined

Weighted Mark

Exam 1

Exam 2

Exam 3

Overall grade = all 4 marks / 4

66% 53% 60% 51% 58% = Pass

62% 50% 70% 70% 63% = Credit

70% 64% 75% 78% 72% = Distinction

Postgraduate Diploma with group presentation Assignment weighted combined mark + Group Mark / 2 = Weighted Average Weighted Average + Exam 1 + Exam 2 + Exam 3 / 4

Each assignment and each exam and the group project must be >45% Assignment mark weighting A1 – 40% of achieved mark and A2 – 60% of achieved

mark See examples below:

Ass 1 x

40%

Ass 2 x

60%

Group Weighted Average

Exam 1

Exam 2

Exam 3

Overall grade = Weighted Average + each Exam / 4

65% 55% 47% 53% 58% 58% 62% 58% = Pass

55% 65% 60% 61% 60% 62% 63% 62% = Credit

64% 70% 64% 66% 78% 75% 69% 72% = Distinction

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Professional Diploma Assignment weighted combined mark + Exam 1 + Exam 2 / 3

Each assignment and each exam must be >45% Assignment mark weighting A1 – 40% of achieved mark and A2 – 60% of achieved

mark See examples below:

Assignment Weighted

Combined Mark

Exam 1 Exam 2 Overall grade = all 3 marks / 3

55% 61% 58% 58% = Pass

64% 59% 65% 63% = Credit

75% 69% 75% 73% = Distinction

Professional Certificate Assignment + Exam 1 + Exam2 / 3

Your assignment must be >60% Each exam paper must be >60% See examples below:

Assignment Mark

Exam 1

Exam 2

Overall grade = assignment mark + each exam / 3

65% 70% 60% 65% = Pass

65% 85% 40% Fail as Exam 2 < 60% -> Resit

Award – Exam

Each element must be >60% to pass, there being only two grades available: Pass or Fail.

b. Any assignment or examination paper below 45% for Diploma and 60% for Certificate and Award will result in a resubmission or resit. Resits will require the student to achieve a pass of >45% for Diplomas and >60% for Certificate and Awards.

c. If an assignment resubmission or examination resit student passes – the final mark will be capped at a Pass.

d. A charge of £75 will be levied for each exam resit paper. 10.1 Exemptions

a. Professional Diploma to Postgraduate Diploma – exemption from first assignment

b. Postgraduate Diploma to Professional Diploma – exemption from first assignment

c. Diploma to Diploma – exemption from first assignment

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11.0 Online Assessment

The IDM offers online assessment for The IDM Award in Data Management, The IDM Award in Direct and Digital Marketing, The Award in Direct Mail and The Award in Data Protection Regulation. Naturally, the preceding general rules and regulations of assessment require common sense interpretation in the context of online assessment. Not all the rules and regulations apply literally to online assessments. Notwithstanding the above, the following should be noted by online students:

The process, conditions and marking of each online assessment will be explained in the assessment module. In general:

o Online assessment comprises a set of multiple-choice questions that must be answered within a specified time period.

o A student may have up to 3 attempts only over a 3 month period to take and pass their online exam. Anyone who fails after their 3rd attempt will be diverted back to Director of Learning for further discussion.

o Given the nature and process of IDM online examinations and the opportunity to have up to 3 attempts to take and pass an online exam, additional time for special conditions as detailed in Section 1.2 will not apply.

o Once a pass is achieved a student cannot retake the online exam as the grade achieved is final.

o The final mark is a percentage score based on the proportion of right answers adjusted according to weighting attributed to particular questions. In line with the priority of the learning outcomes, some questions might be worth more than others.

o A minimum percentage is required to attain a Pass, there being only two grades available: Pass or Fail.

Penalties and sanctions for malpractice will be as described above under Section 5.0 ‘Malpractice’.

If you have any queries regarding online exams and assessment please contact IDM Qualifications.