The Department has a standardized percentage marking scheme . There is also a Faculty scheme which uses letter grades. Let's suppose that we're talking about an essay. Or it could mean that the material is not too bad, but isn't relevant to the question. Finally, an essay obtaining 70 or more should have all these good qualities, plus some kind of spark that makes it special - and therefore exceptionally good.
Parallel criteria apply to marks for language assignments.
All marks are provisional until they have been confirmed by the External Examiner at the end of the year. This applies both to coursework, and to the results of any first-semester examinations. However, your final degree class isn't arrived at by straight averaging. The Faculty operates a more sophisticated scheme, the effect of which is to take into account the distribution of marks. The regulations governing failed papers are quite complex, and you should read the following section carefully.