What does TMA stand for at the Open University, and how do TMA01 to TMA05 work?
A tutor-marked assignment (TMA) is coursework your Open University tutor marks during the module. Most modules have several, numbered TMA01, TMA02 and so on, and you submit them through the online eTMA service by a fixed cut-off date.
Your tutor returns a score, comments on your script and a summary form (often called the PT3). On most modules, TMA scores combine into an overall continuous assessment score (OCAS), and the end-of-module assessment (EMA) or exam gives a separate examinable score (OES). You usually need to pass both. Your module’s assessment guide sets the weightings and the pass mark.
Quick facts
TMAs are numbered in order · submitted on eTMA by the cut-off · marked with comments and a PT3 summary · they feed your OCAS · the EMA or exam is marked separately.
How should I read my TMA question and guidance notes?
Most lost marks come from answering a slightly different question. Before you read anything else, take the TMA question apart:
- Command words tell you what to do: describe means set out; explain means say why or how; compare means show similarities and differences; evaluate or discuss means weigh strengths and limits and reach a judgement.
- Topic words tell you what to write about. Underline them and keep them in view.
- Limiting words narrow it down: “using two examples”, “with reference to Block 2”, “in no more than 1,500 words”.
Then read the guidance notes line by line. They often say which module chapters, readings or activities to use, and how the marks are split between parts.
How do I plan my TMA from the module materials?
OU TMAs are usually marked on how well you use the module materials, not on how much outside reading you do. Build your plan from the units, readings and activities the guidance notes point to.
- List the points the question needs, in the order you will make them.
- Under each point, note the module evidence or example that supports it, with the page number.
- Add one limitation or counter-point where the question asks you to evaluate.
- Check the plan against the guidance notes before you write a full sentence.
What TMA structure works for most OU modules?
Most essay-style TMAs follow this shape. Adapt it to reports, case studies or reflections as your guidance notes say.
| Part | What it does | Share of a 1,500-word TMA |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Answers the question in a sentence and says how the essay will build the answer | About 150 words |
| Main body | Three to five paragraphs, each making one point, backed by module evidence and linked back to the question | About 1,150 words |
| Conclusion | Pulls the points into a judgement. No new evidence | About 200 words |
| References | Every source cited, in Cite Them Right Harvard | Usually not counted |
Inside each body paragraph, a simple pattern keeps you analytical: make the point, give the evidence, explain what it shows, then link back to the question.
How do I use Cite Them Right Harvard quickly?
Most OU modules use Cite Them Right Harvard; OU law modules use the OU Law guide to citation. The basics:
- In the text: author surname and year, with a page number for quotes, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 45).
- Module materials: cite the author of the unit or chapter where one is given, otherwise The Open University and the year.
- Reference list: alphabetical by author, with the title in italics for books and module units, and an “Available at” link and accessed date for online sources.
Check your module’s own referencing guide, because some modules ask for small variations.
What are the rules on word limits and presentation?
Every TMA states a word limit. Many modules penalise going over it, and the reference list and headings may or may not count. Write the word count at the end if the guidance notes ask, use the file format they specify, and put your name and personal identifier where they say.
How do I submit my Open University TMA through the eTMA service?
Submit through the eTMA service before the cut-off date, and keep the confirmation. If something might stop you meeting the cut-off, contact your tutor before it passes: extensions are usually only possible if agreed in advance, and some assessments cannot be extended.
How can my tutor’s feedback raise my next TMA score?
The comments on your last TMA are the clearest guide to what your tutor rewards. Make a short table before your next TMA:
| Comment on my last TMA | What I will do differently |
|---|---|
| “Too descriptive” | After each piece of evidence, add a sentence on what it shows and its limits |
| “Answer the question more directly” | Start each paragraph with a point that uses the question’s words |
| “Referencing needs attention” | Check every citation against Cite Them Right before submitting |
Which common mistakes cost OU students marks?
- Writing everything you know about the topic instead of answering the question
- Ignoring the guidance notes or the marks split between parts
- Summarising module readings without evaluating them
- Going over the word limit
- Citations that do not match the reference list
- Using AI tools in ways your module does not allow, or without the acknowledgement it asks for
Want a tutor to check your draft against all of this before the cut-off? See TMA draft review or our Open University TMA help.