You'll get feedback throughout university – but why is it important? What should you do with it?

With so much to go through, this part of deadline season can be overwhelming. But we're here to help! We've put together some information, resources and testimonies from faculty, to help our SELLL community understand the importance of engaging with feedback, and how it can help you improve your work, your confidence, and your resilience.

Feedback happens all the time

Feedback is not just the final mark! You're in a constant feedback cycle… You get feedback every time you share ideas in a seminar, every time you speak with your peers and your tutors; every time you complete a formative assessment.

Don't forget that positive feedback is just as important to pay attention to as negative feedback. If your markers are telling you that you're doing something right, make sure that you continue to do it on purpose, not just because it's a lucky accident.

Geoff Poole

Use a computer – not a phone!

Use a computer to read feedback. The summary with the mark doesn't have all the feedback detail. The most helpful feedback is often the in-text comments you won't see on a phone!

Feedback is important because it is offers reflection. It reflects your work back at you, so you can see it from different angles and through others' eyes. And such perspectives can help you reflect on how to improve that work.

James Harriman-Smith

What is the marking criteria?

Every assessment is marked against criteria. There are marking criteria for each discipline, and for every form of assessment from essays to podcasts to films. We realise they are a tad wordy, but that's because it is a comprehensive list of every box you need to tick in order to achieve a particular grade, so take the time to consult it!

Feedback can be really hard to read; and equally as hard to think about how to build on it and to take it forward.  Think of this as a way to demonstrate engagement and resilience – key attributes that potential employers will want to know about.

Ruth Connolly

What are feedback & consultation hours?

Each tutor has three hours every week during term-time dedicated to exchanging ideas and feedback with all students. You can find an A-Z list of tutors and their F&C hours on the school website. These hours exist to help you – use them!

You may be surprised to know that lecturers get feedback on all their own research – and this is anonymous and from several people.  And it can go on for several pages, and really sting!  So, we know what it is like – but we also know that the best way to improve one's work is to reflect on what (and how and why) you do well, and what needs to work.  Come up with a concrete plan to take your feedback into the next round of assignments – use the Feedforward Form and make a list of the top 3 or 4 things you want to watch out for – and the top 3 or 4 things you do well!

Stacy Gillis

Want further feedback?

There are so many more ways to get feedback throughout university, so why not try using one of these services while you're working on your next assignments?

  • Royal Literary Fund
  • Academic Skills Set (from the library)
  • The Writing Development Centre)
What's the feedforward form?

This form will help you to reflect productively on feedback from all your modules. Whatever your marks, it's really important that you make the most of the advice from your tutors: this will help you gain a clearer understanding of how to build on your feedback in your next assessments!

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