Guide To Teaching and Learning

What are Grading Rubrics?

A grading rubric is a guide that explicitly articulates the specific components of an assignment and the instructor’s expectations for student work at different levels of quality. A rubric divides a given assignment into component parts, and provides clear descriptions of the characteristics of the work associated with each part at varying levels of performance.

Rubrics can be used for a wide array of course assignments: making projects, design projects, presentations, research papers, performances, group projects, portfolios, and more. Rubrics can be used as scoring or grading guides to provide formative feedback to support ongoing learning. Sharing them with students before they are asked to do an assignment helps them understand what to do, how to do it, and how they’ll be evaluated. View examples and learn more about creating grading rubrics.

Why use a rubric?

Instructor benefitsStudent benefits
Helps ensure fair, equitable, and consistent grading, particularly in large courses, or courses taught with multiple instructors and teaching assistantsClearly communicates specific requirements and expectations for an assignment
Saves instructors time spent grading by reducing uncertainty, and by allowing instructors to refer to the rubric description associated with a score rather than having to write numerous long commentsHelps students monitor and assess their progress as their work towards clearly indicated goals
Helps instructors get a clear picture of student strengths and challengesHelps students reflect on where they did well and how they can improve 
Clarifies expectations for assignments so faculty and students are all on the same pageAllows for timely revision through quick, clear feedback
Adapted from a wide variety of sources including: Carnegie Mellon, Hunter College, Vanderbilt University, and Harvard University.

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