Assessment at Cambridge

Ordinance for Assessment Formats

In June 2023 the University's General Board agreed to introduce a new Ordinance for Assessment Formats, to take effect in October 2025. The new Ordinance is intended to enable Faculties and Departments the flexibility to examine taught courses using a variety of established formats. These formats are listed at the link above, along with a set of expectations. Dissertations and vivas / oral examinations will remain listed in individual course regulations and changes will require approval through the usual channels.

More detailed guidance on good assessment practice, including guidance tailored to the five formats laid out in the new Ordinance, is available below.

Good Practice Guidance

Assessment plays a central role in shaping students' experiences at university, influencing how they engage with and perceive their education. It offers students the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and understanding they have developed throughout their studies. This guidance provides an overview of key considerations for designing assessments, particularly with a mind towards a holistic programme-level strategy. It also explores the relationship between formative and summative assessments and how best to support students through these.

The Assessment Good Practice Guide offers specific advice on the five assessment formats contained within the Ordinance for Assessment Formats, which aims to enable students to effectively demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding. Finally, the guide also includes a curated selection of case studies that explore the assessment formats, their implementation at Cambridge, and the range of support available to both students and staff.

• Good Practice Guidance [PDF]
• Good Practice Guidance [web]

Assessment Glossary

An A-Z of common and important terms relating to assessment, which aims to provide a point of reference for colleagues when thinking about assessment or reflecting on course design and delivery practices.

See also this exploration of commonly interchanged terms at Cambridge.