Quality Handbook
AQH-F14 Policy on Penalties for Exceeding the
Prescribed Word Limit for an Assignment
Version 1.0 March 2016
QAA HER RECOMMENDATION
Consistent approach to penalties for exceeding word limit
Policy on penalties for exceeding the prescribed limit for an assignment
It is not a requirement that a word limit be set but where a limit is set the following penalty for
exceeding the limit must be enforced. Where a word-limit is set for a piece of assessed work,
the work will be marked in full and the following penalty will be applied:
Exceeds limit by up to 10%
Exceeds limit by 10.1-20%
Exceeds limit by 20.1-30%
Exceeds limit by 30.1-40%
Exceeds limit by 40.1-50%
Exceeds limit by more than 50%
Word limit
No penalty – tolerance band (see below)
-5 percentage points
-10 percentage points
-15 percentage points
-20 percentage points
Mark of zero
The relevant limit will be stated in the module outline and the module guide/handbook. The
handbook must also make clear whether features such as footnotes, contents pages,
appendices, bibliographies etc are included or excluded from the work limit.
The word count must be stated by the student on the work. This will be used as the basis for
calculating the penalty but if there is concern that the word count is inaccurate it will be
checked. Falsifying a word count will be classed as academic misconduct under paragraph
3.6 of the Academic Misconduct Regulations.
A ‘tolerance band’ of 10% is permitted in written work to account for differences in the way in
which different pieces of software count words. Students should therefore not treat this as an
‘extension’ to the word limit when writing their assignment.
Guidance for module leaders
Module outlines should normally give an indication of the volume of the assessment
specified whether as a guideline (which may be a range) or a fixed limit. Where there is
neither a limit nor guidance, programme teams may be asked to provide a rationale for this
decision when the module is approved.
AQH-F14 Policy on Penalties for Exceeding the Prescribed Word Limit for an Assignment
Handbooks and module assignment briefs must make the position clear to students:
 Where there is a limit, state clearly what the limit is (eg ‘the word limit is 2000
words’), remind students that there is a penalty for exceeding the limit, and link to the
policy (AQH-F15)
 Where guidance is provided but a limit is not set, then all the work must be marked
without penalty and the wording of the assessment brief must be clear (eg: ‘you are
advised to write between 800-1200 words but there is no formal word limit’).
 Where there is neither a word limit nor any guidance as to the length of the
assignment this should be stated to avoid confusion.
 Where there is a limit or guidance, state what is included / excluded (eg the contents
page, footnotes, bibliography, appendices).
Programme teams should consider how to implement this – for example whether to enforce
a limit from the start of the programme or provide guidance in Stage 1 with set limits after
that.
Implementation
This policy will be implemented from September 2016.
The policy will apply to:
 students starting their new academic Stage in and after August 2016 – ie it will apply
to new students arriving in September 2016 and to students progressing from one
Stage to another at that point;
 August 2016 entrants to London campus and students progressing from one Stage to
another at that point;
 modules delivered on and off campus;
 undergraduates and taught postgraduates;
 part-time students who belong to an August or September cohort from September
2016 even if they are not progressing from one Stage to another at that point.
It will not apply to:
 students (particularly those in ‘multiple entry’ cohorts) who are mid-Stage in
September 2016 (eg January or May entry) until the cohort progresses to the next
Stage (ie January 2017, May 2017);
 Masters students who are due to complete in the autumn of 2016 and whose
assignments have already been set in train before September 2016;
 any referral or deferral assignments set before September 2016.
The guidance to students (AQH-F15) should be included in handbooks for 2016/17 and all
students should be made aware of it at induction. This replaces any local arrangements
previously in existence. The policy is being implemented to ensure consistency in the use of
penalties, in response to a recommendation of the QAA Higher Education Review 2015.
AQH-F14 Policy on Penalties for Exceeding the Prescribed Word Limit for an Assignment