Marking Criteria for Level 4: Writing

Date:

Tutor(s)/Examiner(s):

Student/Candidate:

Final Grade:

Language and Content* (with regard to what can be expected from a student/candidate at Level 4)
Grade

Grammar*

Vocabulary*

excellent accuracy, ; one or two minor

errors at most; no errors in
spelling/punctuation

sophisticated, varied vocabulary;; no

errors; register always appropriate

very high level of accuracy; a few minor

errors including spelling/punctuation

fairly sophisticated, varied vocabulary;

hardly any errors; register always
appropriate

very good degree of accuracy; some

minor errors; some minor errors in spelling/
punctuation

broad vocabulary; a few minor errors;

nearly always appropriate register

B
60-69

good degree of accuracy; some errors,

which can be recurrent; some errors which
can be recurrent in spelling/punctuation,
including occasional basic error

good variety of vocabulary; mostly avoids

repetitions; there may be a few word errors;
mostly appropriate register

C
50-59

basic/appropriate degree of accuracy,

overall; recurrent/basic errors, including in
spelling/punctuation

vocabulary often basic and/or some basic

word errors and/or problems with register

D
40-49

limited grasp of grammar; many recurrent

errors that can hamper understanding; many
recurrent errors in spelling/punctuation
very limited grasp of grammar; many
errors that hamper general understanding;
many errors in spelling/punctuation
very limited grasp of grammar; very high
number of errors (incl. spelling/punctuation)
that almost prevent understanding
virtually no grasp of grammar; very high
number of errors (incl. spelling/punctuation)
that prevent understanding

limited vocabulary and/or many recurrent

word errors that often hamper understanding; repetitions; problems with register
very limited vocabulary and/or many errors
that hamper general understanding and/or
inappropriate register
very limited vocabulary/very high number
of errors that almost prevent understanding;
register is almost entirely inappropriate
hardly any vocabulary and/or very high
number of errors that prevent understanding

A++
90-100

A+
80-89

A
70-79

F+
33-39
F
20-32
FF
0-19

Coherence/Fluency*
highly coherent/clear;
excellent/outstanding range of connectors/cohesive devices; highly controlled use
of organisational patterns;
excellent/outstanding text structure; very
complex sentence structures
very clear; full range of connectors/
cohesive devices and control of organisational patterns; excellent text structure and fluency/use of complex sentence structure
coherent/clear; comprehensive range of
connectors/cohesive devices; very good text
structure and fluency/clear use of complex
sentence structures
mostly coherent/clear, overall; use and
control of connectors/cohesive devices
partly limited; good text structure; good
fluency, occasionally simple sentence
structures
lacking clarity in parts; some connectors;
ideas are linked; regular use of simple/short
sentences; appropriate text structure and
fluency
only few connectors; often very simple
sentence structures; very basic text
structure; very basic coherence and fluency
unclear, disorganised; hardly any connectors; mainly very short/simple sentences; very basic text structure; difficult to understand
highly disorganised; extremely short/
simple sentences; hardly any text structure;
very difficult to understand
completely disorganised; no text structure;
mostly unintelligible

Content*
excellent/outstanding; highly accurate/
analytical/ original/ comprehensive/
exceptionally well-informed

excellent; very accurate/ analytical/

original; highly thorough approach; highly
informed
accurate/ analytical; comprehensive
approach; well-informed; some elements of
originality, but less depth
accurate; good analysis; fairly wellinformed; may not be entirely
comprehensive

appropriate, but not always clear/ comprehensive/ less well-informed; sufficiently

accurate but less analysis; superficial;
simple/unfocused
adequate but basic/ superficial; low clarity;
not appropriately well-informed; analysis
shallow; simple/ unfocused; repetition
little understanding/ clarity; very limited
analysis/ accuracy; very simplistic; illinformed
very limited understanding/ clarity/
accuracy/ analysis; highly simplistic; very illinformed
extremely limited to no understanding/
clarity/ analysis; not informed at all; highly
simplistic

Comments

Mark

Grammar

Language:

Vocabulary

Coherence and Fluency

Content

Content:

* The weightings of language and content in calculating the final mark will vary according to the task. Please also see full description of the MFL- marking criteria on KEATS and/or in the Student Handbook.
(Kings College London/Modern Foreign Languages, September 2016)