Group assessments

Group work is a standard part of study at university. It involves working as a team to produce a response to an assessment task, which could be a report, an essay, or a group presentation. This is an important preparatory exercise for roles in many fields of employment. 

Features of group work 

Different grades can be allocated for a group work task. Students in the group may: 

• receive an individual mark as well as a group mark 
• only receive an individual mark. 

Group work can be challenging, as working with others creates a different study environment than when working alone. Problems can arise due to different ways of working and communicating. However, by implementing a few strategies such as those listed below, your group has a better chance of being a productive and well-functioning unit. 

When challenges arise 

Despite forward-planning, things can go wrong. Some group members may not do their share of the work, or someone may have an emergency or illness that takes them away from their studies. Problems will sometimes arise no matter how well you have configured your group task, and regardless of group composition and approach to workload. 

If you are concerned that your group is not functioning well, there are several actions you can take: 

• The first is the most important: the group must try to fix any issues themselves. Communication is key. 
• Keep a record of all communication. These are evidence that the group has tried its hardest. It can also show evidence if someone in the group is not communicating nor completing tasks they have been allocated. 
• Discuss ideas on what to do when trouble arises with someone from the Peer Support Desk. You won’t be the first person to have encountered groupwork blues. 
• Speak to your unit coordinator if problems continue. They may have a solution for your group to continue working. 
• Finally, you can chat with Student Advocacy if you feel you have been unfairly treated or your marks have been affected by others.