Dear Prospective Student Respondent

My name is Tarish Jagwanth, and I am a senior lecturer in the School of Accounting at Nelson Mandela University and currently a registered PhD in Accounting candidate at Nelson Mandela University.

You are being requested to participate in this research study. The study focuses on whether classmark requirements for access to final assessments add value or contribute to the throughput rates in first-year accounting modules. The study, therefore, aims to provide a generic guidance framework on assessment practices with reference to classmark requirements, for first-year accounting students' access to final assessments after the research has been conducted.

Participation in the study will be through means of an online questionnaire, which investigate UKZN accounting students' perception of the value of classmark requirements in first-year accounting modules. The questionnaire will take approximately 15-20 minutes in total to complete.

The research participant criteria are UKZN students, specifically students who studied first-year accounting modules at either the Westville or Pietermaritzburg campuses in the 2023 or 2024 academic year. Males and females of all races meeting the participant criteria are invited to participate in the research.

If you are interested in being part of the study, please use the following link to access the questionnaire: https://mandela.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=9UoDhsMa5jIECHrPeIW9eQ%3D%3D. After clicking on the link, you will be requested to provide consent to participate, before proceeding to the rest of the questionnaire. The link can also be accessed through the attached recruitment letter which outlines further information and details of this study. Participation is voluntary and anonymous.

Ethical clearance has been obtained for the research from the Nelson Mandela University Research Ethics Committee (Human), and the ethical clearance number is: REC-042508-025.

Kindly find attached UKZN gatekeepers permission letter, ethical clearance letter, and the recruitment letter described above.

Thank you for your consideration - your participation will be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards
Tarish Jagwanth