Assessment formats

Choose the right Fuxam exam-type submission format and rating mode for written exams, oral exams, presentations, term papers, projects, portfolios, and practical assessments.

Universities describe assessments in many everyday labels — Klausur, oral exam, presentation, term paper, project, portfolio, practical. In FuxamCMS, those labels become exam types: a submission format plus a rating mode, duration, scheduling, and attempt workflow. This chapter is a catalog for examination offices and curriculum planners who need to pick the right template without inventing a new one for every module title.

Why it matters

Examination regulations rarely say “file upload.” They say written exam, oral examination, or practical demonstration. Mapping those domain formats onto a small, governed catalog of exam types:

Keeps My Exams filters and module planning readable
Prevents one mega-template from mixing incompatible attempt workflows
Makes grading controls predictable for examiners
Supports ECTS and transcript reporting with the right scale choice

Create templates under Create an exam type. Configure scales under Configure grading scale.

How it fits

Layer	Question it answers
Domain format	What does the Prüfungsordnung call this assessment?
Submission type	How do students deliver work in Fuxam?
Rating mode	Graded, pass/fail, or participation?
Module requirement	Where the type is attached; may include weight and final-exam flags
Live exam	What staff open in My Exams

Key terms

Term	Meaning
Submission format	The exam type Type field: file upload, exam, digital exam, presentation, or custom form
Rating mode	How the result is recorded: Graded, Pass or fail, or Participation
Summative	Counts toward module completion / transcript (typical Exam Center use)
Formative	Learning feedback; often stays in teaching tools unless regulations require Exam Center tracking

Catalog — domain format to Fuxam template

The rows below are strategy guidance: map your regulation wording to documented Fuxam mechanics. Exact names and durations belong in your institutional catalog.

Written exam (Klausur)

Aspect	Guidance
Typical purpose	Timed, invigilated knowledge or skills test; often the main module exam
Suggested Type	Exam or Digital exam (if delivered online)
Suggested rating mode	Usually Graded with a German 1.0–5.0 or percentage schema
Duration	Set length in minutes on the exam type
Scheduling	Often deadline- or appointment-based depending on exam office practice
Watch for	Pass boundary at 4.0 on German scales; points-to-grade conversion — see Configure grading scale

Oral exam

Aspect	Guidance
Typical purpose	Spoken examination with examiners; protocol-driven
Suggested Type	Presentation (duration-based) or Custom form when you need a fixed protocol sheet
Suggested rating mode	Graded (numeric or letter) or Pass or fail if the regulation is binary
Duration	Common for presentation-type templates
Extras	Topic confirmation settings when students must agree a topic before the sitting
Watch for	Pair a custom form for examiner criteria; rating mode still records the outcome

Presentation

Aspect	Guidance
Typical purpose	Talk, defense, or performance assessed in a timed slot
Suggested Type	Presentation
Suggested rating mode	Graded when differentiated marks are required; Pass or fail for competence gates
Scheduling	Appointment-based scheduling often fits presentation slots
Watch for	Alternative assessment requests if students may need another format

Term paper (Hausarbeit)

Aspect	Guidance
Typical purpose	Extended written work submitted by a deadline
Suggested Type	File upload
Suggested rating mode	Usually Graded
Scheduling	Deadline-based is typical
Watch for	Attempt workflow must match resit rules for written coursework

Project

Aspect	Guidance
Typical purpose	Applied individual or group project with deliverables
Suggested Type	File upload (artifacts) and/or Custom form (structured reflection)
Suggested rating mode	Graded for scored projects; Pass or fail for milestone gates
Watch for	Weight percentage on the module requirement when the project is only part of the module grade

Portfolio

Aspect	Guidance
Typical purpose	Collection of evidence over time
Suggested Type	File upload (compiled portfolio) or Custom form (structured sections)
Suggested rating mode	Graded or Pass or fail per regulation; some institutions treat intermediate check-ins as Participation
Watch for	Do not overload one form — prefer focused forms; see Custom exam forms

Practical (lab, clinical, workshop)

Aspect	Guidance
Typical purpose	Demonstrated skill, safety competence, or workshop performance
Suggested Type	Exam / Presentation for observed practicals; Custom form for checklists; File upload for lab reports
Suggested rating mode	Pass or fail for safety/competence gates; Graded when a differentiated mark is required; Participation for attendance-only practicals — see Participation and ungraded completion
Watch for	Binary modes do not use rating schemas

Quick comparison

Domain format	Common Type	Common rating mode	Schema needed?
Written Klausur	Exam / Digital exam	Graded	Yes
Oral exam	Presentation / Custom form	Graded or Pass or fail	Only if Graded
Presentation	Presentation	Graded or Pass or fail	Only if Graded
Term paper	File upload	Graded	Yes
Project	File upload / Custom form	Graded or Pass or fail	Only if Graded
Portfolio	File upload / Custom form	Graded, Pass or fail, or Participation	Only if Graded
Practical	Varies	Pass or fail / Participation / Graded	Only if Graded

Choosing rating mode with the format

If the regulation says…	Prefer
German numeric grade, letter grade, or ECTS A–F	Graded + matching rating schema
“Bestanden / nicht bestanden” only	Pass or fail
Proof of attendance or engagement, no mark	Participation
Scored exam with bonus points or unusual rounding	Still Graded — handle conversion and rounding policy via schemas and ruleset rounding

Best practices

One template per regulatory pattern — same format and same rating mode and same attempt workflow.
Name for humans — for example “Written exam — graded — auto reattempt”, not an opaque code.
Separate binary gates from graded finals — a pass/fail lab safety check and a graded Klausur should usually be two types.
Document formative vs summative intent — keep pure teaching quizzes out of Exam Center unless the assessment must appear in My Exams.
Plan custom forms before custom-form types — Custom exam forms.

Common pitfalls

Choosing File upload for every written assessment when a timed Exam type better matches invigilated Klausur logistics.
Using Graded for a regulation that only allows pass/fail — graders then expect a schema that policy never intended.
Creating parallel types that differ only by cosmetic name — staff cannot tell which to attach to modules.
Ignoring topic-confirmation needs for presentations and thesis-style assessments.

FAQ

Is an oral exam always a Presentation type?

Not necessarily. Use Presentation when duration and appointment-style delivery fit. Use Custom form when the priority is a structured examiner protocol. The rating mode is independent of that choice.

Can one module have both a practical pass/fail and a graded written exam?

Yes — as separate examination requirements, each with its own exam type. Keep attempt workflows compatible across types on that module.

Where do ECTS credits fit in this catalog?

ECTS credits describe workload in curriculum and module planning. ECTS grades (A–F) are achievement labels you model in rating schemas for Graded types. Do not confuse the two.

Exam types — section overview.
Create an exam type — build the template.
Configure grading scale — schemas and worked scales.
Participation and ungraded completion — attendance-style outcomes.
Custom exam forms — structured submissions.
Attempt lifecycle — resits and reassessment.