The Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) is one of India’s top educational institutions, offering a variety of undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma programs across different fields. Whether you’re pursuing an MBA, BBA, or any other course, understanding how your marks are allocated plays a crucial role in your academic performance.
In this article, we’ll delve into the distinction between internal marks and external marks at NMIMS, how they are calculated, and what impact they have on your overall grade.
What Are Internal Marks?
Internal marks are those marks awarded based on a student’s performance in various assessments conducted within the course. These assessments are typically controlled by the faculty and conducted throughout the semester, rather than at the end.
Components of Internal Marks:
- Assignments: Assignments or projects are a significant component of internal evaluation. These assignments are generally submitted online through the student portal or via email.
- Mid-Term Exams: Mid-term exams are held to test students’ understanding of the topics covered in the first half of the semester.
- Presentations/Discussions: Some courses may require students to give presentations or participate in group discussions, which contribute to internal marks.
- Class Participation: Active participation in classes and discussions may also be considered for internal marks in some courses.
- Quizzes/Surprise Tests: Regular quizzes or surprise tests can also contribute to internal marks, providing a continuous assessment of student performance.
Weightage of Internal Marks:
The weightage of internal marks can vary across different courses, but generally, internal marks contribute to 40-50% of the total grade. This gives students a chance to secure good marks even before the final exams, depending on their performance throughout the semester.
What Are External Marks?
External marks are those awarded based on the final examinations held at the end of the semester. These exams are typically more comprehensive, covering the entire syllabus of the course. Unlike internal assessments, which are spread throughout the semester, external exams provide a single opportunity to test a student’s grasp of all the course material.
Components of External Marks:
- Final Semester Exams: The final exams usually account for a significant portion of the external marks, ranging between 50-60% of the total grade. These exams assess your overall understanding of the subject matter taught during the semester.
- End-of-Course Projects: Some courses also have projects or practical exams as part of the final assessment. The marks from these assessments are added to the external marks.
- End-of-Semester Presentations: In certain courses, especially those related to management or research, students might be required to present a final project or dissertation, which contributes to external marks.
Weightage of External Marks:
External exams generally contribute to the 50-60% of the total grade, making them a crucial component of the overall evaluation. However, it’s essential to note that these marks alone will not determine your final grade if your internal marks are insufficient.
Differences Between Internal and External Marks
- Weightage and Contribution to Final Grade:
- Internal Marks: Contribute to approximately 40-50% of the total grade. These are continuous assessments.
- External Marks: Generally make up 50-60% of the total grade, and these are based on final exams.
- Assessment Mode:
- Internal Marks: Are awarded based on continuous assessment through assignments, presentations, class participation, and mid-term exams.
- External Marks: Are given based on a final comprehensive examination held at the end of the semester.
- Scope of Evaluation:
- Internal Marks: Evaluate a student’s ongoing performance and understanding throughout the semester. Students have multiple opportunities to improve their marks.
- External Marks: Test a student’s overall grasp of the entire syllabus and typically provide just one chance for evaluation.
- Impact of Poor Performance:
- Internal Marks: Even if you don’t perform well in the final exam, internal marks can still significantly impact your final grade. Poor internal performance can, however, reduce your chances of achieving a good overall grade.
- External Marks: While these marks carry more weight, failing in external exams can severely affect your final grade, irrespective of your internal performance.
How Do Internal and External Marks Affect Your Grades?
Understanding how internal and external marks combine to form your final grade is key to strategizing your semester. In most NMIMS programs, the final grade is calculated by combining both internal and external marks, and students must perform well in both to secure top grades.
Grade Calculation Example:
Let’s say you have the following marks for a course:
- Internal Marks: 45%
- External Marks: 55%
In this case, the total grade would be calculated as:
- Internal Contribution: 45% of 50 = 22.5%
- External Contribution: 55% of 50 = 27.5%
Your final score would be the sum of these contributions:
22.5% + 27.5% = 50%
This shows that while both internal and external marks play significant roles, poor performance in either category can impact your final grade.
The distinction between internal and external marks at NMIMS is crucial for students to understand in order to excel academically. Internal marks allow students to secure a significant portion of their final grade through consistent performance during the semester, while external marks give them the chance to demonstrate their overall grasp of the subject at the end of the course.
By balancing both types of assessments, staying organized, and actively engaging in class, students can achieve their academic goals more effectively. Keep in mind that focusing solely on one type of assessment (internal or external) may hinder your ability to reach your full potential, so it’s essential to perform well across both.
