ECS1501/0/2025

Economics 1A

ECS 1501

Year module

Department of Economics

Important information – please read carefully

 CONTENTS
Page

1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 3
2 How to work through the module content................................................................................................... 3
3 Study plan....................................................................................................................................................... 4
4 Announcements.............................................................................................................................................. 5
5 E-tutors ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
6 Discussion forums .......................................................................................................................................... 6
7 Additional resources ...................................................................................................................................... 6
8 Live online classes .......................................................................................................................................... 6
9 Assessments .................................................................................................................................................... 8
9.1 Formative Assessments ................................................................................................................................... 8
9.2 Summative Assessments.................................................................................................................................. 8
10 How are graded assessments dealt with in this module? ........................................................................... 8
10.1 Formative assessments .................................................................................................................................... 8
10.1.1 Assessments 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 ............................................................................................................................ 9
10.1.2 Written Assessment (Assessment 3)................................................................................................................ 9
10.2 The Examination ........................................................................................................................................... 10
10.3 Format of graded formative assessments – a summary ................................................................................. 10
10.4 Assessment topics and the release and due dates of the graded assessments ................................................ 11
11 Missed assessments ...................................................................................................................................... 11
11.1 Formative assessments .................................................................................................................................. 11
11.2 Examination ................................................................................................................................................... 12
12 System Issues ................................................................................................................................................ 12
13 Final mark .................................................................................................................................................... 13
14 Types of questions........................................................................................................................................ 14
15 Cheating........................................................................................................................................................ 14
15.1 Why should you not cheat? ........................................................................................................................... 14
15.2 What is cheating? .......................................................................................................................................... 15
15.3 Consequences of cheating ............................................................................................................................. 15
16 Frequently Asked Questions ....................................................................................................................... 16

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1 Introduction

ECS1501 consists of 6 assessments spread throughout the year and an examination at the end of the year. The
marks you obtain for the assessments are used to calculate your year mark, contributing 40% to your final mark.
The examination will contribute the remaining 60% of your final mark. In other words, all the assessments
contribute towards your final mark, and you will write a formal examination at the end of the year.

We accept that you can draw and interpret simple graphs, add, subtract, multiply and divide, and read and write
well enough to express yourself clearly in English. If this is not the case, you must put in some extra time to
improve these skills.

As a general guideline, you should spend at least 120 (notional) hours studying this module. This includes the time
you work through the prescribed content in the study material and the time you spend doing assessments.

The best way to be successful in this module is to work diligently from the start to the end of the tuition period.

2 How to work through the module content

The module is divided into 15 Topics. In each topic on the module website, you will find lessons containing the
content you must study and activities to test your understanding and ability to apply the knowledge in the lessons.
To help you stay on track and engage with the content, follow these steps for each of the 15 topics in the course.
(We’ll elaborate on some of the points in the rest of this document):

a. Work Through the Lesson

Each topic consists of lessons that contain the core course content. Read and engage with these carefully, making
notes as needed.

b. Complete the Activities (Quizzes)

Throughout the lessons, you will encounter activities (quizzes) designed to determine if you understand the content
and provide the opportunity for you to make sure you can apply your knowledge to economic problems.

• These activities provide immediate feedback, so take note of the explanations given.
• Use this feedback to identify areas where you need to review the material further.
• The questions are like those you will have to answer in the graded assessments.
• These activities are self-assessment quizzes and do not count towards your year mark.

Not only do these activities give you feedback on your understanding of the contents, but they also give you the
opportunity to familiarise yourself with the different types of questions that we ask in the graded assessments:

• quizzes that contain true/false, multiple-choice, fill in the missing word and numerical questions.
• quizzes where you must provide short written answers or diagrams that you have to upload.

c. Use the Checklist for Self-Assessment

Once you have worked through all the lessons and activities for a topic, complete the self-assessment checklist.

• This will help you evaluate whether you have grasped the key concepts before moving on.

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d. Participate in the Discussion Forums

Each topic has two discussion forums:

• General Queries Forum – Use this space to ask and answer general questions related to the topic.
• Activity Questions Forum – Engage in discussions based on prepopulated questions.

These forums are monitored by the E-tutors.

e. Access the Topic Additional Resources

Each topic has an Additional Resources folder, which contains:

• A copy of the forum discussion activity questions

• PowerPoint slides
• Topic notes

3 Study plan

The following study programme was drawn up to help you work through the module systematically. The lecturers
will also work according to this study programme.

Week Week Starting Topic Covered Assessment

1 31 March Work through the Important Complete the Orientation

Information document and the Start Questionnaire
Here section on the module
webpage.

2 7 April 1. The study field of economics.

3 14 April 2. The economist’s toolkit.

4 21 April 3. Economic systems.

5 28 April 4. Production possibilities curve. Complete Assessment 1 – due date 5

May

6 5 May 5. Circular flow model.

7 12 May 6.1 Demand.

8 19 May 6.1 Demand.

9 26 May 6.2 Supply.

10 2 June 6.3 Market equilibrium. Complete Assessment 2 – due date 9

June

11 9 June 6.3 Market equilibrium.

12 16 June 7. Consumer and producer Complete the Practice Assessment –

surplus. due date 23 June

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13 23 June 8. Changes in demand and supply.

14 30 June Break Complete Assessment 3 – due date 21

July
15 7 July Break

16 14 July 9. Government intervention.

17 21 July 10. Price elasticity.

18 28 July 10. Price elasticity.

19 4 August 11. Other elasticities. Complete Assessment 4 – due date 12

August

20 11 August 12. Theory of demand.

21 18 August 12. Theory of demand.

22 25 August 13. Theory of supply. Complete Assessment 5 – due date 8

September
23 1 September 13. Theory of supply.

24 8 September 14. Perfect and imperfect

competition.

25 15 September 14. Perfect and imperfect Complete Assessment 6 – due date 29

competition. September

26 22 September 15. Labour market.

27 29 September Examination Preparation.

28 6 October Examination Preparation.

29 13 October The examination period

commences.

4 Announcements

We will post an announcement every Monday at 08:00 AM to update you on what you need to do each week
and any important information you need to know. It is compulsory for you to read these announcements and to visit
myUnisa regularly to stay updated on any developments.

5 E-tutors

E-tutors play a vital role in supporting your learning journey at Unisa. Our E-tutors are experienced facilitators
tasked to guide and assist you with understanding module content, answering questions, and clarifying concepts.
You can engage with them on the topic-specific discussion forums. Please, do not hesitate to seek guidance and
assistance from them.

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6 Discussion forums

Discussion forums are an essential part of the learning experience, providing you with a space to engage in
meaningful conversations about each topic as it becomes active in the study program. These forums encourage
collaboration; you can ask questions, share insights, and learn from different perspectives. Engaging in the
discussions also fosters a sense of community, it helps to break the loneliness of studying in an online learning
environment.

You will find two discussion forums under each of the topics

• General Queries Forum – This forum is where you can ask and answer general questions related to the
topic.
• Activity Questions Forum – The discussion topics (questions) on this forum are preloaded. You can upload
your answers to these questions or ask for clarity and feedback.

Note that due to the number of students registered for this module (close to 20 000) and to keep the threads on the
discussion forums manageable, we have divided the students into three groups. You will be allocated to a specific
discussion forum group (A, B or C).

These forums will open as each topic becomes active in line with the study programme, so be sure to check the
schedule and participate actively to make the most of this resource. Your e-tutors are there to help you succeed—
don’t hesitate to contact them on the forums.

7 Additional resources

7.1 Topic-specific additional resources

Additional resources will be provided under each topic to support your learning. These resources include
comprehensive topic notes, PowerPoint slides summarising key concepts (note that you will not be able to print
these slides as they contain animation that will be lost when you print them), and topic-specific questions designed
to assist you in preparing for the assignments. The questions will also serve as a basis for discussion on the topic-
specific forums, where you can engage with fellow students and e-tutors.

7.2 Topic - PDF (printable version)

You will find printable (PDF) copies of the online material in these topic-specific folders. Should you wish, you
can download and print the material. This will allow you to study offline (load-shedding?) and to annotate. While
the core content remains the same, it's important to note that the online lessons' interactive elements, embedded
videos, and dynamic features are lost in the printable format. You should work through the online version
whenever possible to fully engage with the content and benefit from its interactive components.

7.3 General additional resources

This folder, which you will find under the welcome section, is the central hub for important module-related
information. It contains essential resources such as guidelines on using the webcam, links to recordings of the
online lessons, and other key materials to help you navigate the module effectively. We’ll notify you in the weekly
announcement when new material is uploaded to the folder.

8 Live online classes

Live online classes will be held to introduce each topic covered in the module. These sessions provide an
interactive platform to understand the material better and engage with lecturers in real-time. The links to access
these live lectures will be shared in an announcement.

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Please note the following:

• The classes are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon from 15:00 to 16:00. See the table below for the dates
and topics covered in each session.

• The classes are not compulsory.

• The classes are recorded. The recordings will be posted under Additional Resources in the “Recording
Links” document within 2 days of the session.

• You do not need our permission to leave the meeting early. You may come and go as you please.

• The classes do not replace the official study material. They do not cover all the sections either. They are
merely supplementary to improve your understanding.

We encourage all students to attend and take advantage of this valuable learning opportunity.

Session Date Topic Covered

1 2 April Who are we?
2 9 April 1. The study field of economics.
3 16 April 2. The economist’s toolkit. (Including tips on answering
assessment questions)
4 23 April 3. Economic systems.
5 30 April 4. Production possibilities curve.
7 7 May 5. Circular flow model.
8 14 May 6.1 Demand.
9 28 May 6.2 Supply
10 4 June 6.3 Market equilibrium.
11 18 June 7. Consumer and producer surplus.
12 25 June 8. Changes in demand and supply (Including tips on
answering the written assessment)
13 16 July 9. Government intervention.
14 23 July 10. Price elasticity.
15 6 August 11. Other elasticities.
16 13 August 12. Theory of demand.
17 27 August 13. Theory of supply.
18 10 September 14. Perfect and imperfect competition.
19 24 September 15. Labour market.
20 TBC Examination Preparation

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9 Assessments

The role of assessments is to develop and assess skills. That is, it is to see if you have mastered the content of the
study material and have reached the learning outcomes. At the beginning of each topic, learning outcomes are
provided. The different assessment activities are designed to determine if you have achieved these learning
outcomes. We can differentiate between two types of assessment:

• Formative assessments, i.e., assessments 1- 6, help you to master the outcomes. They focus on the
development of skills while
• Summative assessments, i.e., the examination, assesses whether the outcomes or skills have been mastered.

9.1 Formative Assessments

Assessments that focus on developing skills are sometimes called formative assessments and typically concentrate
on one key concept or building block. With these assessments, you and we (the lecturers) can assess whether there
are gaps in your understanding of the concept. Significantly, you will get feedback and guidance based on your
inputs and the identified gaps. Also, one gets an opportunity to do the assessment again, allowing you to apply what
you have learned from the feedback.

Formative assessments can be graded, that is, they count towards your year mark (see section 8.1 below) or non-
graded. As the name implies, non-graded assessments do not count towards your year marks.

Non-graded formative assessments include the online activities in the lessons on the module website, the questions
discussed on the discussion forums, and the self-assessment quizzes and activities.

9.2 Summative Assessments

In contrast, summative assessments assess whether you have mastered the skills/outcomes of the content. Thus, a
summative assessment is an exam.

10 How are graded assessments dealt with in this module?

10.1 Formative assessments

The formative assessments aim to assist you in achieving specific outcomes. The best way to tackle them is to work
through the prescribed material, make notes, and underline key concepts – the everyday things you do when you
work through a topic. Once done, you can open your assessment and start working through the questions. These
assessments are not timed, so you can keep them open for as long as you want. Because you have time, you can go
back to your notes or the prescribed material and look for the answer or use similar examples to answer a question.

Review the feedback once you submit your assessment and return to your notes. Try to understand where you went
wrong. Work through the section again and attempt the assessment again (if you want). A 24-hour time delay is
set between the first and second attempts. This “forces” you to reflect on the feedback, consult your notes again
and not rush into your second attempt unthinkingly.

Assessments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are formative. They

• contribute 40% of your final mark

• each assessment counts 10% towards this formative mark of 40%, except for Assessment 3, which counts
50% of the formative mark
• usually, deal with only a few topics or sub-topics
• provide individualised feedback

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10.1.1 Assessments 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6

These assessments are quizzes, and they

• give a second chance to do the assignment. If you do,

o a time delay of 24 hours is set between the two attempts.
o You will receive a different set of questions on your second attempt.
o the average mark of the two attempts will contribute to your year mark. Note, once you open
an attempt, the system will treat it as an attempt and will, even if you do not answer any of the
questions or click on the submit button, later (on the closing date of the assessment) auto-submit it
on your behalf. If you do not answer any of the questions, you will be awarded zero (0) marks for
the attempt (and your mark for the assessment will be halved).
• can be taken any time during the assignment's availability and has no time limit.
This means that
o you can open the assessment and keep it open until you are ready to submit it. Just remember to
do so before the closing date of the assessment, or the system will submit the assessment on your
behalf.
o you have the time to work through the relevant section(s) of the prescribed material and return
to the question when you have “found” the answer.

Note that:

1. before attempting Assessment 1, you must complete the Orientation Questionnaire, available under
the Start Here section on the module website. If you do not see Assessment 1 in the Assessment section,
you have not completed the Orientation Questionnaire and received at least 90%. Note, that you need to
activate your webcam to access the Orientation Questionnaire. This requirement gives you the opportunity
to assess whether your laptop/device can be used for the examination at the end of the year when the use of
a webcam is a requirement.
2. once you open an attempt, the system will treat it as an attempt and will, even if you do not answer any of
the questions or click on the submit button, later (on the closing date of the assessment) auto-submit it on
your behalf. If you do not answer any of the questions, you will be awarded zero (0) marks for the
attempt (and your mark for the assessment will be halved).

10.1.2 Written Assessment (Assessment 3)

Assessment 3 will be in written format. This means you must submit a written .pdf document containing your
written answers. Take note of the following:

1. You must draw graphs and answer written questions in your answer sheets.
2. The written assessment counts 50% of your formative mark.
3. You may use a scanner (or camera) to upload your handwritten answers and graphs. However, we will not
mark any uploads that are illegible. Please ensure that your handwriting and scanner quality are clear
and legible.
4. You will be required to sign an Academic Integrity Declaration
5. A practice assessment will be available (16 - 30 June) to help you prepare for assessment 3. You will
receive feedback on your answers, which will help you prepare for assessment 3. The practice assessment
is not compulsory and does not count any marks, but we highly recommend that you use this opportunity.

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10.2 The Examination

An examination will be written at the end of the year during the October/November examination period. The
examination date will be displayed on the timetable closer to the time.

The examination assesses whether you have mastered the contents. Note that it assesses whether you, not your
neighbour, your girlfriend’s second cousin or your private tutor have mastered the contents. The use of a webcam is
a prerequisite in the examination.

The webcam does not mean that you cannot use a pen and paper or a calculator to draw a diagram or do a
calculation to answer a question. The people who inspect the webcam images are experienced and can distinguish
between instances where a student is doing calculations and suspicious movements. Remember, the aim of the
webcam is not to catch you out but rather to protect the integrity and standing of your qualifications. If you are
honest, the webcam should not be an issue.

In addition, the examination has a time limit of 2 hours. Once you start the assessment, you will have 2 hours to
complete the assessment. Though enough time is available to complete the assessment, you won’t have time to
consult or look for the answers in your study material. Ensure you study the required topics and are prepared for the
examination.
The examination:
• Contributes 60% of your final mark.
• Covers all the topics covered during the year.
• no feedback is provided.
• is only available during the time it is scheduled on the timetable
• have a time limit – once you start the assessment, the clock starts running, and you have a set time (i.e., 2
hours) to complete the assessment.
• only one attempt is allowed.
• require the use of a webcam. More information on using a webcam is available in the Additional
Resources folder on the module website. The Orientation Questionnaire also requires using a webcam to
give you practice in using a webcam.
More details about the examination will be communicated on the myUnisa and/or myExams platforms closer to the
time.

10.3 Format of graded formative assessments – a summary

Number
The time The type of
of
Assessment Weight Timed delay between feedback Grading method
attempts
attempts provided
allowed
01 10 No 2 1 day Individualised Average
02 10 No 2 1 day Individualised Average
Practice 0 No 1 N/A Individualised Not graded.
Assessment
03 50 No 1 N/A Individualised Highest
04 10 No 2 1 day Individualised Average
05 10 No 2 1 day Individualised Average
06 10 No 2 1 day Individualised Average

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10.4 Assessment topics and the release and due dates of the graded assessments

The graded assessments will be released on the module website during the year and can be submitted online only.
You will not receive a (printed) copy of the assessments, and you cannot submit your answers using a mark-reading
sheet.

Do not wait until the last date provided before you complete your assessments on myUnisa, as the system might be
very busy or down for routine maintenance. No extension can be granted. Once the due date has passed, the
submission link closes on the system.

Assessment Topic(s) Date available Closing date Closing time

covered in the
assessment

1 Topics 1 - 4 21 April 5 May 11:00 (PM)

2 Topics 5 - 6.3 26 May 9 June 11:00 (PM)

Practice Topics 5 - 8 16 June 23 June 11:00(PM)

Assessment

3 Topics 5 - 8 30 June 21 July 11:00 (PM)

4 Topics 9 - 11 4 August 18 August 11:00 (PM)

5 Topics 12 - 13 25 August 8 September 11:00 (PM)

6 Topics 14 - 15 15 September 29 September 11:00 (PM)

If you do not see Assessment 1 in the Assessment section, you have not successfully completed the Orientation
Questionnaire.

11 Missed assessments

11.1 Formative assessments

No extension will be given for the formative assessments. However, we know that life does not always go
according to plan. Alternative arrangements will be made for students with valid reasons for missing a due date.
The following procedure must be followed strictly:

1. A link to apply for a special assessment will be posted to the announcements before the assessment.
2. Proof must be submitted to the link within 10 days of the closing of an assessment.
3. Students will not be accommodated beyond this date.
4. Your submission will be investigated, and feedback will be provided within 14 days of the closing of the
assessment. Please do not request updates before this date.
5. Please check your myLife email at least daily for communication from us.
6. Submitting false evidence will result in your application being declined, and you will be reported to the
Academic Integrity Committee.
7. Students who did not complete the form in the link will not be accommodated.

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These reasons must be in line with those stipulated in Unisa’s assessment policy, for example:
a. Death in the immediate family
b. Military/SAPS service
c. Illness on the due date of the assessment
Evidence, a doctor’s note, proof of hospitalisation or call-up instructions must be submitted within 10 days
of the assessment’s due date.
Connectivity problems beyond Unisa’s control, for example:
a. Personal network or service provider issues
b. Load shedding
c. Crashed computers
will not be accommodated.

11.2 Examination
Note that, for the examination, you must follow the university's formal procedures to apply for a special
examination. The lecturers will not be able to assist with this. If you are unable to write the examination, please
follow the procedure outlined by the university in the following link:
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Assignments-&-Examination/Examinations/Aegrotat-and-Special-
Exams

12 System Issues
Unisa system issues must be reported within 24 hours of the occurrence by completing the form using the
link we will provide for each assessment. Attach proof, for example, a screenshot, of the occurrence. Note that it
will be verified if the problem was indeed on Unisa's side before alternative arrangements are made.

The procedure for reporting system issues when attempting assessments 1-6 is as follows:

1. Take a screenshot/photo showing the error with the date and time and keep it safe.
2. Try again later. System errors are usually brief; you can continue where you left off. Keep trying until the
closing date.
3. If the issue persists on the closing date, please report it as follows within 24 hours of the closing date:
• A link will be posted to the weekly announcements before the assessments. Submit your proof to
this link within 24 hours of the assessment closing date OR
4. Do not report system errors before the closing date. The link will be activated on the closing date and
remain open for 24 hours.
Take further note:
1. Your submission will be investigated, and feedback will be provided within 7 days. Please do not
request updates before this date.
2. Please check your myLife email at least daily for communication from us. You will not be accommodated
if you miss the extension date due to not checking your email.
3. Submitting false evidence will result in your application being declined, and you will be reported to the
Academic Integrity Committee for possible disciplinary action. In addition, we will add you to the list of
suspicious students who will be closely monitored in future assessments.
4. Students who did not complete the form in the link or followed the above procedure will not be
accommodated.

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13 Final mark
Your final mark is based not only on your examination mark but also on your year mark. If your final mark (as
calculated by the method below) is 50% or more, you will pass ECS1501. If your final mark is less than 50% but
between 40% and 49%, you will not pass ECS1501 but will qualify for a supplementary examination.
Irrespective of the year mark obtained, you must obtain a subminimum of 40% in the examination.
Use the following formula to calculate your final mark (if your examination mark is more than 40%):
𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑘𝑘𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓% = (𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑘𝑘𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦% × 0.4) + (𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑘𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒% × 0.6)
In line with the Unisa assessment policy, your year mark will not be considered if you have received less than 40%
in the examinations. In such an event, the mark you obtained in your examination will be your final mark. In other
words, if your year mark was 50% but you received 30% for the examination, your final mark will be 30%.

Note that the Orientation Questionnaire does not count towards the final mark.

The (average) mark received by

Mark
Assessment Weight Student X for the assessments Calculation
obtained
(mark shown as a percentage %)

10 10 x 0,7
1 70 7
(70% = 70/100 = 0,7)

2 10 60 10 x 0,6 6

3 50 50 50 x 0,5 25

4 10 40 10 x 0,4 4

5 10 70 10 x 0,7 7

6 10 50 10 x 0,5 5

Year mark 100 54

Mark/100 Weight Calculation Mark

obtained
Year mark 54 0,4 (40% of the final mark) 54 x 0,4 21,6

Examination mark 63 0,6 (60% of the final mark) 1 63 x 0,6 37,8

Final mark 100 59,4

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If you are repeating this module, you should take note that the "continuous assessment" style of ECS1501 has
been replaced by the conventional exam-based form as of 2025. To get ready for the examination at the end of
the year, you will thus need to turn in several graded online assessments during the year, on which you will receive
feedback.

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14 Types of questions

Four kinds of questions are used in the assessments:

• Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) where only one of the alternatives is correct. This is the “default” MCQ
type.
• Multiple-correct MCQs where one or more of the alternatives can be correct. It will be clearly stated when
this type of question is used. For example, look for a message like “Note, more than one statement can be
correct.” A multiple-correct MCQ can be marked negatively, that is, you will be penalised (lose a percentage
of the mark for the question) for every incorrect choice you make. It will be clearly stated when the multiple-
correct MCQ is marked negatively.
• True/False questions. Note, True/False questions can be marked in different ways:
o "Normal" True/False questions. You get a mark when you choose the correct option but lose no marks
if you answer the question incorrectly.
o True/False questions are marked negatively; that is, you will be penalised if you make the incorrect
choice. It will be clearly stated when the True/False question(s) is marked negatively. Note that the
penalty mark is subtracted from the total marks awarded for the assessment.
For example, an assessment consisted of 15 True/False questions that were negatively marked. If you
answered ten questions correctly and had five questions incorrect, your marks for the assessment will be
calculated as follows:
You receive 10 marks (10 x 1) for your correct answers. However, you lose 0,5 marks for each incorrect
answer, 5 x 0,5 = 2,5.
Your final mark:
10 – 2,5 = 7,5
o True/False/Don't know questions marked negatively. This format is also marked negatively. However,
whereas the format above "forces" one to choose, and you risk losing marks, you can now opt out by
selecting the "unsure" option. Thus, you get a mark (say one mark) for a correct answer. If you select the
incorrect option, the mark for the question or part thereof (say -0,5 marks) will be subtracted from the
total marks you receive for the assessment, and if you choose the "unsure" option, you receive zero
marks for the question. It will be clearly stated when the True/False/Don't Know question(s) is marked
negatively.
• Numeric response. You have to do a calculation and fill in your answer. Note that Moodle does not accept
decimal commas. You must use a decimal point to indicate decimal fractions. For example, Ten divided
by 4 equals 2.5 (not 2,5). Units (R, kg, km, widgets, …) are ignored, and you must submit the number only.

15 Cheating

15.1 Why should you not cheat?

First and foremost, not cheating is the right thing to do, but there is more to it:

• The risk of getting caught and facing disciplinary action.

• The damage to your name/reputation.
• You will miss essential building blocks in the understanding of the content. These gaps in your knowledge
might come back to bite you when you do your second or third-level modules or, even worse, when you
start working and cannot do what you are supposed to do with your qualification.
• Damaging and diminishing Unisa’s brand – “the university where students cheat”. Even if you don’t cheat,
disregarding the cheating of your friends or study group members could have negative consequences for
you. Not only for being guilty by association but also because of the reputational damage done to the Unisa
brand. If the word spreads that Unisa students can pass and get their degrees by cheating, employers will
not employ Unisa graduates.
Thus, you should not only not cheat but also report cheating. (Also see the announcement on contract cheating).

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15.2 What is cheating?

Cheating (or academic dishonesty) can be defined as follows:

i. Academic dishonesty is any act a student commits that allows them to gain or attempt to gain an unfair or
undeserved learning advantage.

ii. It breaches Unisa’s policies and involves behaviour contrary to academic integrity.

In short, it means breaking the rules to gain an unfair advantage. Let us make it more practical. The following are
real-life examples of cheating found on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram or students’ recorded
login IP addresses:

• If you ask a “tutor” to assist you while completing your assignment.

• If you ask any person to assist you with answering your assessment questions.
• Requesting any person to submit/write your assignment on your behalf.
• Sharing your login details with any person to do/submit an assessment on your behalf.
• Sharing your questions and answers with students before the assignment is closed.

As can be seen from our discussion, cheating or not is a personal choice. If you cheat, you cannot shift the blame
onto anybody else. Thus, if you are caught cheating, you must bear the consequences.

Before we get to the consequences of cheating, the following are some of the reasons given by students at
disciplinary hearings why they cheated (it goes without saying none of these reasons was accepted):

• It is the only way to pass this module.

• All my friends/study group members do
• I cannot afford to repeat the module
• I did not have time to prepare for the assessment.
• I don’t understand the prescribed material.

Though none of the students explicitly said it, behind many explanations was the assumption that they would get
away with it. Unfortunately, that is not the case, as Unisa has zero tolerance for cheating.

15.3 Consequences of cheating

If you are caught cheating or we suspect you are cheating, you will be notified via e-mail that disciplinary steps are
being taken against you, and you will receive zero marks for the assessment in question. These sanctions align
with the recommendations for a Category 1 contravention (that is, a minor or first-time contravention).

You can accept the penalty (zero marks for the assessment) or respond within five working days of receiving the e-
mail stating you wish to dispute the allegation(s).

If you do not reply within five working days, it will be taken as an admission of guilt, and the zero mark will stand.

If you respond and dispute the allegation, the misconduct becomes a Category 3 “serious” contravention, and it will
be sent to the University’s DSAA for a formal Disciplinary Hearing arrangement. (Remember that if you receive a
warning letter, the university has evidence against you, and your evidence will have to be sufficient to prove your
innocence.) Your mark will be reinstated if you are not guilty at the Disciplinary Hearing. However, a harsher
penalty will be imposed should you be found guilty, for example, a possible suspension from the university of
between 2 and 5 years.

To summarise. Don’t cheat, do the right thing!

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16 Frequently Asked Questions

Please read this section before you email the lecturers. Due to the number of emails received, we will not respond to
any queries that have been addressed below:

If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please try the below remedies before contacting us:

I am getting “Error – Invalid response value Please make use of the browser Google Chrome to access
detected” when attempting the assessments myModules. Do not use the mobile App.
(see below example):

The “Start attempt” button does not work (it is Change your device settings. We uploaded the document
greyed out). See below example: “Activating your camera for Moodle Proctoring Tool for MCQ
examinations” to help you.

If that does not work, contact mymodules22@unisa.ac.za for

technical support.

The lecturing team cannot assist with technical issues

beyond this.

My webcam does not work. If you experience problems with your webcam, please consult the
Additional Resources folder for the “webcam” document with
instructions. If you continue to experience problems, it is possible
that you need to change your device settings to activate your
camera.

If that does not work, contact mymodules22@unisa.ac.za for

technical support.

Note that the lecturers cannot assist with technical queries

beyond the advice given here.

I get an error “The quiz is currently not Please make use of the browser Google Chrome to access
available.” myModules. Do not use the mobile App.

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 ECS1501

Assessment 1 does not open. Assessment 1 will not open unless you have passed the
Orientation Questionnaire. Please ensure you have attempted and
achieved the minimum grade for the Orientation Questionnaire.

My marks for the assessment were Please revise section 12 of this document. Pay particular
miscalculated. attention to how True/False questions are graded.

My mark does not correspond to the mark in The average mark of the two attempts will contribute to
the quiz. your year mark, i.e. if your mark was 40% for the first attempt
and 48% for the second attempt, then your mark for the
assessment will be 44%:

(% 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 1 + % 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 2)

𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 =
2
(40 + 48)
=
2
88
=
2

= 44

I only attempted the assessment once, but Once you open an attempt, the system will treat it as an attempt
there was a second attempt for which I got and will, even if you do not answer any of the questions or click
zero (0). on the submit button, auto-submit it later (on the closing date of
the assessment) on your behalf. If you do not answer any of the
questions, you will be awarded zero (0) marks for the attempt
(and your mark for the assessment will be halved).

The system crashed while I was attempting an Please wait for the system to recover and try again.
assessment.
If the system does not recover by the closing date, please complete
the form using the System Issues link posted in the announcement
before the assessment. The link will close 24 hours after the
closing date of the assessment.

Students who submit false evidence will be reported to the

Academic Integrity Committee.

Connectivity problems beyond Unisa’s control will not be

accommodated, including:
• Personal network or service provider issues
• Load shedding
• Crashed computers

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 I am unable to write an assessment due to the Request an extension by submitting proof using the Special
following: Assessment link posted in the announcement before the
assessment. All requests must be sent within 10 days of the
a. Death in the immediate family closing date.
b. Military/SAPS service
c. Illness on the due date of the assessment

I suspect a mistake in the question or the As we are human beings, we make mistakes from time to time. If
marking of an assessment. you notice such a mistake, please email us and provide details of
the question number, a description of the error, and motivation for
the correct answer.

I want to talk to an e-tutor. The e-tutors are available on the discussion forms. Do not hesitate
to ask them questions; they are here to help you.

Note that the e-tutors are not available outside the discussion
forum. This means that they will not respond to private e-
mails from students.

Any other technical errors. Email mymodules22@unisa.ac.za or

myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za

I want to email the lecturers. Email ECS1501-25-Y@unisa.ac.za

Please ensure you have read this document and all the
announcements on myUnisa before contacting the lecturers.

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