Grade and Marks Band Grade Criteria relevant to modules in 1st Year and in the 2nd Year of 4 year programmes Additional criteria more relevant to modules in the later programme years D+ 45 – 50 Satisfactory An acceptable response to the assessment tasks with • basic grasp of subject matter, but somewhat lacking in focus and structure • main points covered but insufficient detail • some effort to apply knowledge to the task but only a basic capacity or understanding displayed • little or no evidence of background reading • several minor errors or one major error • satisfactory presentation with an acceptable level of presentation errors An acceptable level of intellectual engagement with the assessment task showing • some familiarity with the relevant literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework • mostly statements of ideas, with limited development of argument • limited use of evidence, citation or quotation • limited critical awareness displayed • limited evidence of capacity for original and logical thinking D 40 – 44 Acceptable The minimum acceptable standard of response to the assessment tasks which • shows a basic grasp of subject matter but may be poorly focussed or badly structured or contain irrelevant material • has one major error and some minor errors • demonstrates the capacity to complete only moderately difficult tasks related to the subject material • no evidence of background reading • displays the minimum acceptable standard of presentation (spelling, grammar, graphical) The minimum acceptable level of intellectual engagement with the assessment task with • the minimum acceptable appreciation of the relevant literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework • ideas largely expressed as statements, with little or no developed or structured argument • minimum acceptable use of evidence, citation or quotation • little or no analysis or critical awareness displayed or is only partially successful • little or no demonstrated capacity for original and logical thinking E 35 - 39 Marginal A response to the assessment tasks which fails to meet the minimum acceptable standards yet • engages with the subject matter or problem set, despite major deficiencies in structure, relevance or focus • has two major error and some minor errors • demonstrates the capacity to complete only part of, or the simpler elements of, the task • an incomplete or rushed answer e.g. the use of bullet points through part/all of answer A factually sound answer with a partially successful, but not entirely acceptable, attempt to • integrate factual knowledge into a broader literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework • develop arguments • support ideas or arguments with evidence, citation or quotation Page 3 of 5
Grade and Marks Band Grade Criteria relevant to modules in 1st Year and in the 2nd Year of 4 year programmes Additional criteria more relevant to modules in the later programme years F 20 – 34 Unacceptable A response to the assessment tasks which is unacceptable, with • a failure to address the subject matter resulting in a largely irrelevant answer or material of marginal relevance predominating • a display of some knowledge of material relative to the question posed, but with very serious omissions/errors and/or major inaccuracies included in answer • solutions offered to a very limited portion of the problem set • an answer unacceptably incomplete (e.g. for lack of time) • a random and undisciplined development, layout or presentation • unacceptable standards of presentation, such as grammar, spelling or graphical presentation • An unacceptable level of intellectual engagement with the assessment task, with • no appreciation of the relevant literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework • no developed or structured argument • no use of evidence, citation or quotation • no analysis or critical awareness displayed or is only partially successful • no demonstrated capacity for original and logical thinking G 0 – 19 Wholly unacceptable • complete failure to address the subject matter resulting in an entirely irrelevant answer • little or no knowledge displayed relative to the question posed • little or no solution offered for the problem set • No intellectual engagement with the assessment task Page 4 of 5