Assessment & feedback initiatives

Pilot programs designed to enhance your overall learning experience.

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At university, learning is done in more ways than one.

One of our goals to create Progress for All is to make education accessible. We do this by enhancing the overall learning experience and quality of assessments and feedback for you. Browse through our two pilot programs below that we're rolling out from Term 2 2026 onwards for several courses.

Cadmus

Cadmus is a collaborative learning and assessment platform being trialled at UNSW. It's being used across 22 courses involving over 4,000 students across Term 2 and Term 3. 

Cadmus is designed to support students working in groups by providing:

  • Structured workflows
  • Improved communication
  • Transparency over contribution
  • Tools that help teaching teams better manage and support group assessments. 

The platform also offers students a centralised place to plan, collaborate, track progress and receive feedback throughout the assessment process.

    • AERO3110
    • AGSM9101
    • CEIC3007
    • COMM1120
    • CVEN2101
    • FINS3626
    • GEOS2711
    • INFS5604
    • MARK3092
    • MATH3831
    • MATS1110
    • MATS3007
    • MDIA2097
    • MTRN3100
    • NEUR2201
    • OPTM6421
    • PSYC1025
    • SOMS1012
    • SOMS1912
    • SOMS1913
    • TABL5543
    • ZEIT4707

By using Cadmus, you can benefit from a more organised and structured assessment experience that supports academic success from start to finish. The platform encourages collaboration, helps you stay on track with your work, and provides clearer, more timely feedback to support your learning and improvement throughout the teaching period.

Cadmus platform features

Cadmus also includes a range of built-in features designed to strengthen your academic skills and reduce common assessment pressures. Tools such as autosave, draft checking, integrated referencing support, and feedback visibility help students feel more confident when completing assessments, while also supporting the development of academic writing, critical thinking, and referencing skills.

Drop-in sessions

To learn more about Cadmus and understand how it will be used in your course, register for a student information and training session below. 

These sessions will provide an overview of the platform, demonstrate key features and give you the opportunity to ask questions before you begin using Cadmus for your assessment. 

Benefits of Cadmus

Improved student experience

through a more intuitive, organised, and supportive assessment environment.

Greater confidence in assessments

with access to drafting tools, clearer guidance, and timely feedback throughout the assessment process.

Enhanced academic skills development

by building academic writing, referencing, and critical thinking capabilities over time.

Reduced stress and better assessment support

through features such as autosave, draft review tools, and having all assessment information and feedback available in one place.

Competency-Based Assessments

Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) is a new learning model that is being introduced in some courses, focusing on whether students have demonstrated the key skills and knowledge required for the course rather than assigning numerical marks.

Instead of receiving a percentage or score for assessments, you will be assessed against clearly defined learning outcomes or competencies.

Under the Competency-Based Assessment model, results are recorded using the below grading scale:

  • Competent with Merit, Competent or Not Yet Competent, OR
  • Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory.

The aim of CBA is to help ensure students develop and demonstrate essential skills, with clear expectations about what success looks like. It also includes constructive feedback and opportunities to improve, helping students focus on learning and skill development rather than competing for marks.

How results will appear under the CBA model

Your final result will be recorded using the competency grading scale below. The course will not contribute to your WAM, but it will still count towards your program requirements and academic progression.

GradeDefinition
CMCompetent with Merit
CNNot Yet Competent
COCompetent
SYSatisfactory
FLUnsatisfactory Fail

Benefits of Competency-Based Assessments

More focus on learning

and understanding the material, taking away the stress about grades. Stronger focus on developing practical skills. 

Clear expectations of success

by demonstrating key skills and knowledge required outlined for the course.

More helpful feedback

to support improvements in the course with multiple opportunities to demonstrate competency.

The CBA approach has already been used at UNSW. In 2025, a Competency-Based Assessment pilot included more than 5,000 students across 28 courses.

Have a question?

Contact us for advice on all things UNSW, including faculty-specific questions, essential services, support and development. We’re here to help.