Modern Foreign Languages / Kings College London

Criteria for Marking Translations from English into the Target Language
A++
First
90-100

A+
First
80-89

A
First
70-79

With regard to what can be expected from a student/candidate at Level 6

an outstanding translation, of near publishable or professional quality, which shows an
exceptionally high degree of grammatical accuracy and stylistic precision. It is hard to see how more
could have been demanded within the constraints of the task.
Grammar and
Exceptionally high degree of accuracy in grammar and sentence construction
syntax
with no errors.
Vocabulary and
Outstanding choice of vocabulary and idiom. Translation reads like idiomatic
expression
Target Language of near-publishable or professional quality. No word errors.
Register
Outstanding manipulation of register to convey the ambiguities and subtleties
contained in the original passage.
Translation
Outstanding translation, which is faithful to the original without being too
technique
literal. No omissions or additions which would change the sense of the original
text.
Spelling and
Exceptionally high degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. No errors.
punctuation
a thoughtful translation which shows a very high degree of grammatical accuracy and stylistic
precision.
Grammar and
Very high degree of accuracy in grammar and sentence construction with hardly
syntax
any errors.
Vocabulary and
Excellent choice of vocabulary and idiom. Translation generally reads like
expression
idiomatic Target Language. Hardly any word errors.
Register
Thoughtful manipulation of register to convey some of the ambiguities and
subtleties contained in the original passage.
Translation
Excellent translation, possibly of outstanding quality, which is generally faithful
technique
to the original without being too literal. Virtually no omissions or additions
which would change the sense of the original text.
Spelling and
Very high degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. Hardly any errors.
punctuation
a very good translation which shows a high degree of grammatical accuracy and stylistic precision.
Grammar and
syntax
Vocabulary and
expression

Register
Translation
technique
Spelling and
punctuation

High degree of accuracy in grammar and sentence construction. There may be a

few minor errors and/or a few problems with the accurate rendering of very
complex structures, but these are resolved by credible paraphrase.
Very good choice of vocabulary and idiom. Specialised vocabulary may present
some problems, but these are resolved by credible paraphrase. Translation
generally reads like idiomatic Target Language. There may be a few minor word
errors.
Thoughtful manipulation of register to convey the key stylistic features of the
original passage.
Comprehensive translation, which is generally faithful to the original without
being too literal. Very few omissions or additions which would change the sense
of the original text.
High degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. Very few (minor) errors.

B
Upper
second
60-69

C
Lower
second
50-59

D
Third
40-49

a good translation which shows a good degree of grammatical accuracy and stylistic precision.
Grammar and
syntax

Good degree of accuracy in grammar and sentence construction. There may be

some (mostly minor) errors and/or some problems with the accurate rendering
of complex structures, but the overall meaning remains clear.
Vocabulary and
Good choice of vocabulary and idiom. Specialised vocabulary presents some
expression
problems, but there should be clear and plausible attempts to overcome these.
There may be a few word errors.
Register
Good manipulation of register to convey some of the stylistic features of the
original passage.
Translation
Good translation, which is generally faithful to the original text without being
technique
too literal. There may be some minor omissions or additions which would change
the sense of the original text slightly.
Spelling and
Good degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation, although there may be
punctuation
some minor errors.
a sound translation which shows an appropriate degree of grammatical accuracy and stylistic
precision.
Grammar and
Appropriate degree of accuracy in grammar and sentence construction. There
syntax
are some recurrent errors and/or recurrent problems with the accurate
rendering of more complex structures, but the overall meaning generally
remains clear.
Vocabulary and
Generally sound choice of vocabulary and idiom. There are occasional gaps or
expression
invented words, or inappropriate lexical choices. There should be clear attempts
to overcome gaps in knowledge, but these are not always convincing. Occasional
basic word errors are possible.
Register
Some general awareness of register, but this may be inconsistent and may not
always match the register of the original text.
Translation
Sound translation, which is fairly faithful towards the original text but tends
technique
towards being too literal. There are some omissions or additions which change
the sense of the original text.
Spelling and
Appropriate degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation, although there may
punctuation
be recurrent errors.
an adequate translation which shows a basic degree of grammatical accuracy and stylistic
precision.
Grammar and
Basic level of accuracy in grammar and sentence construction. There are many
syntax
recurrent errors and/or frequent problems with the accurate rendering of
simple and more complex structures. Some errors may be serious enough to
impede the meaning of the text.
Vocabulary and
Basic and/or inaccurate choice of vocabulary. Contains frequent gaps, invented
expression
words, inappropriate lexical choices and/or incorrect paraphrase. Shows some
basic attempts to work around gaps in knowledge, but these are usually
unconvincing, and/or there may be many recurrent word errors that sometimes
hamper understanding.
Register
Adequate choice of register overall but frequently inappropriate or inconsistent
Translation
technique
Spelling and
punctuation

Basic translation, which is often unfaithful and/or overly literal in its rendering
of the original text. There are frequent omissions and/or additions which change
the sense of the original text.
Basic level of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. There are many errors.

F+
Fail
33-39

an incomplete or inaccurate translation, which shows a limited degree of grammatical accuracy and
stylistic precision.
Grammar and
Limited level of accuracy in grammar and sentence construction. Due to a
syntax
difficulty in rendering even basic linguistic structures and/or many (basic) errors
certain passages of the translation may be unintelligible.
Vocabulary and
Limited and often inaccurate choice of vocabulary. Translation contains many
expression
gaps, inappropriate lexical choices and/or invented words and/or word errors so
that meaning is frequently unintelligible. There are few attempts to work
around gaps in knowledge.
Register
Limited sense of register.
Translation
technique

F
Fail
20-32

FF
Fail
0-19

Inadequate translation, which is often unfaithful and/or overly literal in its

rendering of the text. There are many serious omissions and/or additions which
impede the sense of the original text.
Limited level of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. Frequent (basic) errors.

Spelling and
punctuation
a mostly incomplete or inaccurate translation, which shows a very limited degree of grammatical
accuracy and stylistic precision.
Grammar and
Very limited accuracy in grammar and sentence constructions. Due to an
syntax
extreme difficulty in rendering even basic linguistic structures and/or a very
high number of errors the translation is largely unintelligible and/or contains
such erratic grammar that long passages are incorrect.
Vocabulary and
Very limited and mostly inadequate level of vocabulary. Translation contains a
expression
high number of gaps, inappropriate lexical choices, invented words regularly
and/or word errors that meaning is often unintelligible. There are very few
attempts to work around gaps in knowledge.
Register
Very limited sense of register.
Translation
Very inadequate translation, which is mostly unfaithful and/or overly literal in
technique
its rendering of the text. There are often omissions and/or additions which
impede the sense of the original text severely.
Spelling and
Very limited level of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. Very frequent basic
punctuation
errors throughout.
an (almost) entirely incomplete or inaccurate translation, which displays an extremely limited
knowledge and understanding of translation processes, as well as hardly any grammatical accuracy and
stylistic precision.
Grammar and
Extremely limited or no accuracy in grammar and sentence constructions. Due to
syntax
the inability to render even basic linguistic structures and/or an extremely high
number of (basic) errors the translation is (mostly) unintelligible or contains
such erratic grammar that hardly anything is correct.
Vocabulary and
Inadequate level of vocabulary overall. Translation contains numerous gaps,
expression
inappropriate lexical choices and/or numerous invented words and/or such a
high number of word errors that meaning is (almost) completely unintelligible.
There is no or hardly any attempt to work around gaps in knowledge.
Register
Extremely limited or no sense of register.
Translation
Extremely inadequate translation, which is (almost) entirely unfaithful and/or
technique
literal in its rendering of the text. There are numerous omissions and/or
additions which render the sense of the original text (almost) unintelligible.
Spelling and
Extremely limited level of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. Dominated by
punctuation
errors.

Kings College London/Modern Foreign Languages, September 2016