50- 50+ 55+ 60+ 65+ 70+

Task Does not attempt the Generally follows the
achievement task guidelines but some
Does not complete the elements are missing
task
Does not include
required elements
Insufficient words
Development of Does not address the
ideas essay question
Does not expand
on/lacks a clear thesis
statement
Lacks supporting idea
Shows little or no
understanding of the
relevance of
supporting ideas and
shows no connection
between the topic of
the paragraph and
ideas expressed
Essay structure Does not follow basic
essay format,
structure is difficult to
discern
Fulfills the task Fulfills all task Fully addresses all Fully addresses all
requirements with requirements with required elements required elements,
some deficiencies in occasional areas of shows critical and/or
content deficiency or original thought, able
inaccuracy to develop
sophisticated analysis
Addresses the Addresses some part Addresses most parts Addresses all parts of Addresses all parts of
question minimally of the question of the question the question but to the question fully
Limited development Shows an Expands on thesis varying degrees Expands in detail on
on thesis statement understanding on how statement but lacks Expands in detail on the thesis statement
States supporting to develop the thesis development in parts thesis statement and critically engages
ideas but their statement but is Contains some Contains relevant with the topic
relevance may be lacking relevant supporting supporting ideas Includes supporting
questionable States relevant ideas Develops supporting ideas from multiple
Has limited supporting ideas but Able to develop ideas logically and perspectives
development of may not connect them supporting ideas, in with detail Integrates supporting
supporting ideas and clearly parts, but lacks ideas of multiple
may not connect them Supporting ideas are development in others perspectives and
with the topic of the relevant to the topic of evaluates them
paragraph the paragraph but are
too limited or
simplistic
Understands and uses Understands and uses Confidently uses Confidently uses Uses complex but
standard essay standard essay standard essay standard essay easy to follow text
format, introduction format, may have format, may have format, shows some structure, theme,
and conclusion may some disorganisation occasional lack of ability to develop purpose and direction
lack elements, at times without clarity in structure on structural complexity are clearly established
structural clarity may affecting overall some points and maintained
be inconsistent integrity of essay
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Coherence and Ideas are consistently Maintains an overall Maintains an overall Successfully Successfully Successfully connects
logic disconnected, little connection of ideas to connection of ideas maintains connection maintains connection a range of ideas to
relationship to overall the main theme but and logical of ideas and logical of ideas throughout central theme, able to
theme clarity of logical relationships relationships the essay, logical extend logical
relationships may be throughout the essay, throughout the essay relationships are clear relationships beyond
inconsistent though some sections with occasional lack of and easy to follow what is expected
may be more difficult clarity
to follow
Clear meaning Consistently struggles Maintains overall Maintains overall Consistently Expresses meaning Command of language
to express meaning clarity of meaning but clarity of meaning, expresses meaning clearly and lucidly, communicates clarity
clearly clarity in specific though some sections clearly and lucidly, may be a few lapses of meaning even when
phrases, sentences, may be flawed may be some lapses of clarity in particular discussing complex
points or sections may of clarity on particular phrases ideas and issues
be inconsistent points or sentences
Language Use Uses no transition Uses limited transition Uses transitional Uses transitional Uses a wide range of Uses transition signals
signals signals signals mostly signals accurately but transition signals mostly seamlessly
Vocabulary is basic Vocabulary is accurately repetitively accurately Use of multiple
and shows no repetitive and does Uses synonyms to Shows some variety in Uses multiple synonyms causes little
understanding of not show avoid repetition and synonyms and a synonyms and a broad to no repetition and
synonyms understanding of shows a moderate moderate range of range of vocabulary demonstrates a clear
Demonstrates synonyms range of vocabulary vocabulary Uses correct depth of vocabulary
minimal grasp of Uses some correct Uses mainly correct Uses mainly correct grammatical forms Grammatical errors
grammatical forms grammatical forms, grammatical forms grammatical forms with minor are of such a degree
with frequent with a few with some errors in inaccuracies to draw little to no
inaccuracies distorting inaccuracies distorting complex sentences attention
meaning coherence distort coherence