What Do OU TMA Scores Mean? Pass Grades and Bands Explained

Your TMA comes back with a number on it, perhaps 58, 71 or 86, and a page of comments. But what does that number actually tell you? Is 58 good? Will a weak TMA01 drag down your module result? The answers come from the OU’s TMA and iCMA policy and its module results policy, and once you understand them, your scores become much easier to read and act on.

How are OU TMAs scored?

Each TMA is marked out of 100. Your tutor uses the module’s marking guidance to award the score and adds comments on your script plus summary feedback. That score is then multiplied by the TMA’s weighting to work out how much it contributes to your continuous assessment.

For most undergraduate modules, the pass mark is 40. Some postgraduate modules also use 40, while others use 50. Your module’s assessment strategy on StudentHome tells you which applies to you.

What do OU TMA grade bands mean for undergraduate modules?

The TMA and iCMA policy sets out the following scale for undergraduate work with a pass mark of 40:

Score	Grade	What it means
85–100	A	Pass 1, the top band
70–84	B	Pass 2
55–69	C	Pass 3
40–54	D	Pass 4
30–39	E	Bare fail
15–29	F	Fail
0–14	G	Bad fail

So a TMA score of 58 is a pass in the Pass 3 band, 71 sits in the Pass 2 band and 86 is in the top band. A score of 40 is enough to pass the TMA, but on its own it does not tell you whether you will pass the module. That depends on how all your scores combine.

Postgraduate scales use labels such as Distinction, Merit and Pass, and where the pass mark is 50, the boundaries move up accordingly.

How do my TMA scores add up to my module result?

The OU uses a few terms you will see on StudentHome and in feedback:

• OCAS (overall continuous assessment score): the weighted average of your TMAs and any iCMAs.
• OES (overall examinable score): the weighted average of your exam or end-of-module assessment (EMA).
• Thresholds: minimum requirements, such as a minimum score on a particular task or a required number of submissions.

Some modules have one component, where all assessed tasks combine into a single overall score. Others have two components, where OCAS and OES are assessed separately. On two-component modules, reaching the pass mark in both OCAS and OES guarantees a pass. If your two scores fall into different grade bands, the lower band decides your grade.

Can you show a worked example of OU TMA weightings?

Here is a fictional two-component module with three TMAs. The weightings are made up to show the method; your own module’s weightings will be in its assessment strategy.

Assignment	Weighting within OCAS	Your score	Contribution
TMA01	20%	62	12.4
TMA02	30%	70	21.0
TMA03	50%	75	37.5
OCAS	100%		70.9

In this example, the OCAS of 70.9 is in the Pass 2 range. If the student then scored 72 on the EMA, both components would be at 70 or above and Pass 2 would be within reach. If they scored 66 on the EMA, the lower band (Pass 3) would apply. This is why the EMA or exam matters so much even after strong TMAs.

Notice too that the later, heavier TMA has more influence. A weak TMA01 with a small weighting is rarely the end of the world, as long as you learn from the feedback.

How do iCMA scores fit in?

If your module also has iCMAs (interactive computer-marked assignments), they are marked automatically and the score appears on the module website. Where they carry a weighting, they feed into your continuous assessment alongside your TMAs. Some iCMAs allow more than one attempt, but the policy notes that second and later attempts receive lower scores, so it pays to work carefully the first time. iCMAs cannot be extended and cannot be attempted after the cut-off date.

What about one-component modules?

On a one-component module, your TMA and other assessment scores are weighted and combined into a single overall score, and your grade comes from that one figure. The same idea applies: check the weightings, and give most time to the tasks that carry most marks.

What score do I need on OU TMAs for a distinction?

On undergraduate fully graded modules, the module results policy lists Pass 1, which is often called a distinction, at 85. On two-component modules, you need 85 in both OCAS and OES. The policy describes these boundaries as the highest the Module Result Panel can use, which means the panel may set lower boundaries for a particular presentation, but never below the pass mark.

Not every module awards distinction or merit. The OU Help Centre has an article on grading for modules that explains which grades apply.

What happens if I fail or miss an OU TMA?

An unsubmitted TMA scores zero unless substitution applies. Substitution is available on only a small number of modules. Where it applies, it happens automatically at the end of the module if it improves your OCAS. In the TMA and iCMA policy, a low or zero TMA score is replaced by the average of its original score and your preliminary OCAS. You do not need to request it, and work with an academic misconduct penalty is not eligible.

Missing a compulsory TMA or a threshold can mean failing the module even with a good overall average, unless you can show circumstances beyond your control. If you know you will struggle to submit on time, ask for an extension before the cut-off date. Our guide on requesting an OU TMA extension explains how.

If you do not pass the module, the Module Result Panel may offer a resit, a resubmission or a single TMA or iCMA reassessment. These are at the panel’s discretion and you cannot request them.

Can I query my OU TMA score if I think it is wrong?

Yes. Email your tutor within 14 calendar days of receiving your score and explain your reasons clearly. Focus on specific points, for example a section of the marking guidance you believe you met, rather than simply asking for more marks. If you are still unhappy after your tutor’s decision, the policy allows an appeal to the Student Casework Office within 28 calendar days.

Before you query, reread the feedback alongside the marking guidance. Often the comments explain exactly where marks were lost. Our guide to using the marking criteria to plan a TMA shows how to connect feedback to the criteria for next time.

How can I move my OU TMA scores into a higher band?

Moving up a band usually comes from a few specific changes rather than working harder in general:

• Read the feedback form against the guidance. List the two or three comments that appear most often and fix those first.
• Answer every part of the question. Missing a sub-question is one of the fastest ways to lose marks.
• Use module materials precisely. Tutors look for accurate use of the module’s own concepts and evidence.
• Move from description to analysis. Higher bands reward explaining why and how, not just what.
• Tidy your referencing and presentation. These are small marks, but they are easy to secure.
• Plan for the heavier TMAs. Give more time to the assignments with higher weightings.

Who can help me understand my OU TMA feedback?

Your OU tutor and Student Support Team should always be your first contacts. If you want extra one-to-one support, our Open University tutors can go through your returned TMA and feedback with you, explain what the comments mean and help you plan your next assignment. We cannot promise any particular score, and we do not write or submit TMAs for students. If you would like comments on your next draft before it goes in, see our TMA draft review, and make sure any support you use fits the OU’s academic conduct rules.