Marking criteria

The following list indicates the attributes diagnostic of a particular mark band. These attributes are different for each mark band: work at the bottom end merely satisfies basic requirements for comprehension, work at the top end exhibits more complex characteristics. Ticks will often cluster in a particular band, but this clustering does not necessarily determine the final mark; in other words, these criteria provide no mechanical way of calculating marks.

80+
  • Work that, with minor technical corrections, could be submitted for publication
  • Written with faultless elegance and sophistication
  • Originality of ideas, aims and approach shows readiness for postgraduate study
  • Characterised by sophisticated critical handling of complex issues
70-79
  • Extremely well written, without technical errors
  • Has an ambitious scope that is partly fulfilled by work submitted
  • Characterised by distinctiveness of ideas, aims and approach
  • Engages rigorously with cutting-edge scholarship
  • Displays both breadth and depth of knowledge
60-69
  • Displays initiative and independence of mind
  • Sound critical grasp of issues, including engagement with alternative interpretations
  • Effective deployment of primary sources
  • Effective use of journal articles
  • Argument supported by detailed evidence from independent study
  • Argument is clear and well structured
50-59
  • Some critical awareness of issues and debates
  • Writing is clear and effective
  • Argument and information are relevant to the question
  • Information is accurate
  • Correctly presented, with sources cited accurately
  • Tendency to description, narrative or generalisation
40-49
  • Uncritical coverage of issues and debates
  • Largely descriptive, narrative or generalised
  • Adequate comprehension of basic events, terms and concepts
  • Adequate presentation, with some attempt to cite sources
  • Notable errors or irrelevance
35-39
  • Minimal understanding of basic events, terms and concepts
  • Significant errors or considerable irrelevance
  • Argument is poorly constructed
  • Sources not cited
20-34
  • Barely discernible argument
  • Substantial omissions or errors, or largely irrelevant
  • Writing is barely comprehensible
0-19
  • No discernible argument
  • Displays no knowledge or understanding of the subject
  • Writing is incomprehensible






Last updated