Unlike some other universities, Imperial does not encourage its students to fake the results of the National Student Survey - something which shows in the latest results. Although 85% of the 1044 respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their course (with a further 9% ambivalent), assessment feedback once again received a mauling.

Imperial's lowest average results came in questions 5-9, the whole of the "Assessment and Feedback" category. The questions and their average scores were:

• Q5: The criteria used in marking have been clear in advance. 58% (2.2)
• Q6: Assessment arrangements and marking have been fair. 69% (High 2.1)
• Q7: Feedback on my work has been prompt. 43% (Low third)
• Q8: I have received detailed comments on my work. 37% (FAIL)
• Q9: Feedback on my work has been prompt 40% (Scraped through!)

Assessment feedback is a perennial issue at Imperial, coming at meetings at all levels of the representation structure every year this reporter has been around (and that is a lot). Apparently progress on improving this is still slow.

Medicine was at the bottom of the pile, with only 18% of 370 respondents saying they had received detailed comments, and only 27% believing the comments they did receive to have been helpful. By Imperial's own exam rules, Medicine should have been thrown out long ago, although probably without being told why.

Despite this, Imperial was still able to achieve a reasonable satisfaction result due to some excellent performances in other areas. Satisfaction with IT facilities was at 90%, with the library at 85% and the refurbishment aiming to improve that score further.

Computing achieved an overall satisfaction score of 96%, with Biological Sciences courses hitting 92%. Computing was also the only subject grouping where more than 50% of students found feedback was both prompt and useful. Although they give poor feedback, over 90% of medics found their course intellectually stimulating and well taught, with the College average sitting around 86%.

Despite years of complaints by student representatives, assessment seems to be the main thing dragging Imperial's satisfaction scores down.

Talking point: Why do you think feedback is so bad?

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