As recent events attest student assessment is a tricky business! In Quality Assessment and Subject Review of HE across the UK it has emerged as one of the most problematic areas [1] in MSOR provision. This article is a preliminary outline of the practitioners’ views of good practice and areas for improvement in assessment as revealed by the survey of subject review reports as part of the LTSN Maths Stats & OR Network funded ‘Where are we now?’ project. We also mention some relevant material from mathematical education and staff and educational development and suggest some areas that might benefit from further research and development. In effect this article forms a contents list for further material to come. The Network has recognised the importance of assessment and the need to disseminate good practice through its CAA series [2] and through the recent establishment of a project Supporting good practice in assessment in MSOR[3].
