Performance assessments
In order to acquire credit points, a performance is required. This can take the form of an oral or written examination of the material, active participation (excursion), or submission of written reports or exercises.
A distinction is made between three types of examination:
- Session examinations
- End-of-semester examinations
- Graded or ungraded semester performances
In session and end-of-semester examinations, continuous performance assessments can contribute to the assessment of a course unit. There are three types of Continuous Performance Assessments:
- Compulsory performance elements
- Interim examinations
- Learning tasks
- Credit points are only awarded for satisfactory performance. One credit corresponds to a workload of 25-30 hours.
- Additional information on examination scheduling, registering for or withdrawal from exams, distance examinations and FAQ can be found on the ETH website Performance assessments.
- The types of the performance assessment, including Continuous Performance Assessments, is specified in a binding manner for each course unit in the course catalogue at Performance Assessment/Additional information on mode of examination.
Legal aspects
- Course units and performance assessments are regulated in the ETH Zurich external page Performance Assessment Ordinance (available in German, French and Italian only).
- The Directive on Languages of instruction in Bachelor's and Master's and university continuing education programmes (PDF, 165 KB) explains, among other things, in Article 4 the subject of languages in performance assessments.