TABLE 2: GENERIC MARKING CRITERIA ON THE 101 POINT SCALE

QAA Level of Study

4 (C)

5 (I)

6 (H) 7 (M)

Generic Descriptors of Assessment Criteria for an

individual piece of student work.
(All levels subsume the positive attributes of the level below
them)

89 - Subject specific assessment criteria are satisfied to the very

100 highest standard with no areas of weakness.
Very extensive and detailed knowledge with impressive
conceptual understanding. Extensive evidence of coherence,
creativity, originality, autonomy, imagination and the ability
to deal with complexity, contradictions or gaps in the
knowledge base and ability to synthesise appropriate
principles by reference to primary sources and knowledge at
the forefront of the discipline.
Answer very well organised, accurate and very well presented
and may be of publishable standard.
89 100

78-83 Subject specific assessment criteria are satisfied to a high

standard with no areas of weakness.
Excellent knowledge and understanding; clear evidence of
coherence, creativity, originality and the ability to deal with
complexity, contradictions or gaps in the knowledge base and
ability to synthesise appropriate principles by reference to
primary sources and knowledge at the forefront of the
discipline..
Answer very well organised, accurate and very well presented
and may be close to publishable standard.

89100

78-83 68-72 Subject specific assessment criteria are satisfied to a high

standard with very few areas of weakness.
Demonstrates excellent knowledge and understanding; clear
evidence of analysis, coherence, creativity, originality and the
ability to synthesise appropriate principles by reference,
where appropriate, to primary sources and knowledge at the
forefront of the discipline.
Answer very well organised, accurate and very well
presented. .

89100

78-83 68-72 62-65 Subject specific assessment criteria are satisfied to a good
standard with few areas of weakness.
Displays good knowledge and understanding with clear
evidence of analysis, coherence, and the ability to synthesise
materials from other modules, from primary sources and
knowledge at the forefront of the discipline.
Answer well organised, accurate and very well presented

78-83 68-72 62-65 55-58 Subject specific assessment criteria are satisfied with few
errors
Displays good knowledge and understanding with few errors
and some evidence of analysis and the ability to synthesise
material from the teaching programme and from wider
reading, including primary reference sources, and /or from
practical experience.
Answer well organised, accurate and well presented
68-72 62-65 55-58 48-52 Subject specific assessment criteria are satisfied with no
significant errors
Good knowledge and understanding, with no significant
errors and evidence of the ability to select, apply and analyse
information from teaching programme and information
gained from wider reading which includes primary reference
sources and/or from practical experience. At M level,
demonstration of independent study should be informed by
primary sources and knowledge at the forefront of the
discipline.
Answer well organised and well presented
62-65 55-58 48-52 42-45 Most subject specific assessment criteria are satisfied
No major fundamental errors (except at M level).
Reasonable knowledge and understanding of key concepts, no
major fundamental errors but significant subject specific
criteria are omitted. Demonstrates some ability to select,
apply and analyses information derived from teaching
programme, but fails to demonstrate evidence of independent
study.
Answer well organised
55-58 48-52 42-45 33-39 Most subject specific assessment criteria are satisfied, except
at M level.
Shows knowledge of most of the important elements and
some understanding, but patchy and contains some major
errors and omissions and little evidence of critical analysis.
Answer is organised and presented just about satisfactorily
48-52 42-45

33 39

22-29 Some relevant knowledge of more important elements, but

limited understanding.
No major misconceptions but several omissions.
Answer is of limited quality but is just acceptable.

42-45 33-39 22-29 7-15 Deficient attainment of intended learning outcomes for all

except level 4 of study

Inadequate knowledge and understanding and major
misconceptions, but at least basic awareness of some aspects
of the area.
Answer incomplete, poorly organised and presented
33-39 22-29 7-15

Appreciably deficient attainment of intended learning

outcomes for any level of study
Serious lack of any relevant knowledge and understanding of
fundamental aspects of subject.
Answer incomplete, poorly organised and presented.

22-29 7-15

Seriously deficient attainment of intended learning outcomes.

Poor quality work well below the appropriate standards
required for the level of study
Very minimal knowledge; no understanding; fundamental
misconceptions, unacceptable presentation

0-15

No understanding or any relevant knowledge, fundamental

misconceptions
Fails in all respects to provide any assessable answer to the
question
Work not worthy of marking or not submitted

Key:
The GREEN shaded boxes indicate the minimum standard required for that level of study
The BLUE shaded boxes indicate the lower second class borderline
The PINK shaded boxes indicate the upper second class borderline
The YELLOW shaded boxes indicate the first class borderline
Use of Points between the bands will require the development of descriptors that differentiate the
level of performance required to attain those marks

TABLE 3: Relationship between the 21 and 101 point scale

Class

Description

21 point scale

Equivalent to these
fixed points on the
101 point scale

First class

Exceptional

20

100

First class

Excellent

19

94

First class

High

18

89

First class

Mid

17

83

First class

Mid

16

78

First class

Low

15

72

Upper second

High

14

68

Upper second

Mid

13

65

Upper second

Low

12

62

Lower second

High

11

58

Lower second

Mid

10

55

Lower second

Low

52

Third

High

48

Third

Mid

45

Third

Low

42

Fail

Marginal fail

36

Fail

Fail

29

Fail

Fail

22

Fail

Fail

15

Fail

Fail

Zero

Zero