Numerical range

Class

Keyword

Description

Subdivision

15-39

(±27)

F

FAIL

Completely fails to demonstrate understanding of material; or irrelevant or extremly superficial.

15-29: Virtually no attempt to answer.

30-39: Has at least attempted an answer.

40-49

(±44)

III

POOR

Work which shows some knowledge of the material, but is seriously deficient in understanding, breadth of reference and/or organisation and/or presentation of evidence. May miss the point of the question, or be unduly brief.

40-44: Directionless and/or padded

45-49: A valid underlying argument is discernible

50-59

(±54)

II.2

FAIR

Competent and broadly relevant work, but lacking in breadth of reference, or poorly related to the question or clumsy in presentation. May contain some fairly basic factual errors. An answer that would normally fall into the II.1 class may fall into this class if it is too short, rushed, unfinished or badly organised.

50-54: Gaps in understanding and coverage together with poor organisation and focus (the argument may emerge in a fragmentary or unfocused way). Some material may be irrelevant or its significance left unclear.

55-59: Competent understanding of the basic material with reasonable organisation and focus, but may tend to state ideas rather than explain or justify them.

60-69

(±64)

II.1

GOOD

Work that shows a good broad-based knowledge of the topic, presented in an organised way, clearly argued and focused on the set question, and with appropriate, but routine, exemplification. Broadly accurate in technical detail.

60-64: Competent and accurate in the reproduction of received ideas, showing evidence of reading of the principal sources of published work on the subject, and supported with reasonable exemplification.

65-69: A persuasive and effective answer, regularly, but not consistently, sophisticated in analysis and impressive in displaying relevant knowledge; includes some attempt to treat the evidence critically and to synthesise arguments.

70-79

(±74)

I

VERY GOOD

Work that is excellent both in the range and command of the material covered and in argument and analysis. The answer engages closely and critically with the question; provides full supporting evidence, possibly using unusual examples; shows some originality in presentation; brings in relevant material from a wide range of sources; shows confident mastery of detail; and is well-planned and complete.

70-74: Meets some of these criteria

75-79: Outstanding performance, meeting all, or virtually all, of these criteria.

80-85

(±82)

I*

Dist.

EXCEL-

LENT

An outstanding and memorable performance, in which all the qualities deemed to constitute first-class work are present in a remarkable degree.