rules and-regulations

IDM Qualifications Rules and Regulations

© Version updated October 2012 The Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing. All rights reserved IDM is a registered trademark. Registered charity no. 1001865 of 17

IDM Qualifications

Rules and Regulations

Commencing Study Year October 2012



CONTENTS

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

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

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

2.0 Deferral/Transferral of Assignments, Examinations or Study Programme ......................................... 6

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

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

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

PART TWO – ASSESSMENT .............................................................................................. 10

6.0 Assignment Preparation and Submission ......................................................................................... 10

7.0 Examinations Procedures ................................................................................................................ 11

8.0 Examination Rules and Regulations ................................................................................................. 12

9.0 How your Final Grade is Calculated ................................................................................................. 15

10.0 Online Assessment .......................................................................................................................... 17



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

IDM Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing

IDM Diploma in Digital Marketing

IDM Diploma in B2B Marketing Conversion

IDM Certificate in Direct and Digital Marketing

IDM Certificate in Digital Marketing

IDM Award in Email Marketing

IDM Award in Social Media

IDM Award in Search Marketing

IDM Award in Data Management

IDM Award in Direct and Digital Marketing This document covers assignments, examinations, assessment and final marks. 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 processes”.

Amanda Rogers Qualifications Director, IDM



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 examinations or assignments must

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

Email: [email protected]

Post: The Qualifications Director, 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 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 disability from which the candidate is suffering

extra time awarded (if any)

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

mailto:[email protected]



1.3 Special consideration in examinations if English is not your first language and you do not work in an English speaking country – if you fall into this category then please contact The IDM

You are entitled to 30 minutes extra time prior to the start of each examination You will not be permitted to leave the examination until after 30 minutes of the

official examination start time All extra time allowances are added at the beginning of the usual examination

timetable to ensure that all candidates finish at the same 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 Qualifications Director and where deemed essential the examination invigilator.

b. When you write to the IDM please mark your envelope for the attention of ‘The

Qualifications Director’ marking Strictly Private and Confidential, Addressee Only, 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 Qualifications Director with any relevant information on

personal or documented medical circumstances that may have affected your performance within two weeks of 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.



2.0 Deferral/Transferral of Assignments, Examinations or Study Programme

A fee will be levied for those students who request deferral or transfer of their assignments, examinations or programme of study. All requests for transfer or deferral made on the basis of extenuating circumstances should be made in writing, with supporting evidence (usually medical) to the Qualifications Director for consideration. 2.1 Transferral of study programme a. A course transferral may be considered up to a maximum of two years from original

programme start date. b. A fee of £300 will be charged.

2.2 Deferral of assignments

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

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

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

c. If you require a deferral, please inform the Qualifications Director in writing as soon as

possible, providing supporting evidence of extenuating circumstances.

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

2.3 Deferral of examinations See Section 7.2. 2.4 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.



3.0 Appeals

3.1 Policy statement The IDM recognises that all students have the right of appeal should they feel that they have been treated unfairly during their course of study. Students may not appeal against academic judgement. 3.2 The appeal process a. A candidate wishing to appeal should complete the IDM appeal form within two weeks

of their result being issued and this should be sent to the Chair of Exam Board, 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. 3.3 Original student’s exam papers In keeping with higher education and other professional bodies, the IDM retains the original student exam answer book for a period of one year after the 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 book. 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.



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 Qualifications Director in writing.

b. Whenever possible, you should follow the Appeal procedure outlined in Section 3.0. 4.2 Guidance on extenuating circumstances a. Pressure of work/holiday is not considered an extenuating circumstance. b. Injury, illness and compassionate grounds are considered extenuating circumstances.

Supporting documentation will be required from the candidate.



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

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

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 the allegation, 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) where malpractice has been proved. In serious cases, the IDM reserves the right to invalidate all marks awarded to the student, or disqualify them from the qualification. In proven extreme cases of malpractice the student may be disqualified from any future IDM qualifications



PART TWO – ASSESSMENT

6.0 Assignment Preparation and Submission

a. Your assignments will be marked by your tutor and maybe moderated by the exam

board. Assignments must be submitted by the set deadline in your key dates. b. Your assignment submission must be clearly marked with your name, securely fastened

and sent to the IDM via secure method. The IDM will provide an 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 is

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:

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

Certificate between 3000 – 4000 words – 5 weeks assignment preparation time

Award – 3000 – 4000 words – 5 weeks assignment preparation time

Appendices to be included in word count and to be taken into account when marking. Budget is not included in the word count

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.

d. Assignments have to be completed and marked within the study programme timetable

to be eligible to enter the examinations for that period. e. Extensions – a student may apply for an extension of an assignment. An extension will

only be granted for extenuating circumstances due to compassionate and health reasons (excludes work related and holidays). Students applying for extensions must complete the appropriate form provided by the IDM. Relevant supporting documentation to be submitted with extension request form. Late submissions may be considered/marked at the discretion of the IDM but marks will be deducted accordingly.



7.0 Examinations Procedures

THESE NOTES SHOULD BE READ WITH CARE BY ALL EXAMINATION CANDIDATES.

7.1 Examination frequency and timing There will be two examination sittings each year in June and December for all qualifications. 7.2 Deferral of examinations a. Students may defer their examinations up to a maximum of two times (within 2 years

from the start of the original course of study). b. A charge of £50 will be levied for each resit paper. c. A student who attends the examination but does not submit an examination paper will

be deemed a fail and therefore will be charged to resit at the next sitting. d. The deferral charges are as follows: please see statement under Section 2.0.

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) – £200

Deferral of examinations due to other reason – £100

7.3 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.

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



8.0 Examination Rules and Regulations

8.1 Before the examination a. It is your responsibility to attend the correct examination on the scheduled dates. b. Examinations last three hours including reading time. 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. 8.2 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.

b. You must not bring any programmable calculators or 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.

8.3 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 candidates 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.

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



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, 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. 8.4 After the examinations a. At the end of the examination CHECK you have correctly 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.

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 How your Final Grade is Calculated

Marking structure

Pass – 45%

Credit – 60%

Distinction – 70% a. Final mark to result from following equation:

Diploma – Assignment average mark + Exam 1 + Exam 2 + Exam 3 / 4

At least two examination papers to be at Credit or Distinction level to enable those final award levels to be honoured – see example below:

Assignment Average Mark

Ex 1 Ex 2 Ex 3 Overall grade = all 4 marks / 4

75% 58% 58% 75% 66.5% = Pass as two papers are under 60%

62% 50% 70% 70% 63% = Credit as two papers are 60% or more

64% 64% 75% 78% 70.25% = Distinction as two papers are 70% or more

Diploma – with group presentation Assignment 1 + Assignment 2 + Group Mark / 3 = X. X + Exam 1 + Exam 2 + Exam 3 / 4

At least two examination papers to be at Credit or Distinction level to enable those final award levels to be honoured – see example below:

Ass 1 Ass 2 Group Total Ex 1 Ex 2 Ex 3 Overall grade = Total + Exams / 4

75% 55% 47% 59% 58% 58% 75% 62.5% = Pass as two papers are under 60%

62% 55% 60% 59% 50% 70% 70% 63% = Credit as two papers are 60% or more

64% 70% 64% 66% 64% 75% 78% 70.75% = Distinction as two papers are 70% or more

Certificate – Assignment average mark + Exam 1 + Exam 2 / 3

At least two elements to be at Credit or Distinction level to enable those final award levels to be honoured – see example below:

Assignment Average Ex 1 Ex 2 Overall grade = all 3 marks / 3

58% 59% 78% 65% = Pass as two elements are under 60%

60% 58% 65% 61% = Credit as two elements are 60% or more

75% 60% 75% 70% = Distinction as two elements are 70% or more

Award – Assignment + Exam / 2



b. For group work please see Section 7.3. c. Any assignment average or examination paper below 45% will result in a resit and will

forfeit the ability to gain a Credit or Distinction. Resit in an assignment will require the student to achieve an overall average of 45% when replacing the lower of their previous scores.

d. If a resit student passes – the final mark will be capped at a Pass. e. If a resit(s) is failed on its 2nd attempt, the course will be deemed to be failed. Exemptions - all disciplines a. Certificate to Diploma – exemption from first assignment, 10% discount. b. Diploma to Certificate – exemption from first assignment, 10% discount. c. Diploma to Diploma – exemption from first assignment, 10% discount. d. Certificate/Diploma to Award – no exemptions, 10% discount. e. Award to Certificate/Diploma – no exemptions, 5% discount.



10.0 Online Assessment

The IDM now offers online assessment for one or more of its short qualification (online learning) programmes (e.g. The IDM Award in Data Management and The IDM Award in Direct and Digital Marketing). 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 following should be noted by 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 multi-choice questions that must be answered within a specified time period.

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 ‘Malpractice’.

Plagiarism (such as assessments undertaken by someone else on your behalf and in your name) will incur the maximum penalty.

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