Marking Rubrics

Summary

A rubric is a grid of criteria aligned to different attainment levels, used to promote consistency and streamline marking and feedback.

This guide covers how to set up a Rubric within Ultra, and is aimed at Administrators and Teaching staff.

Tip

The built-in Ultra rubrics on this page can only be applied to Ultra Assignments. If used a rubric and the scores cannot be hidden from students.

How Rubrics work

A Rubric is a grid used to support criterion-based marking. Using one can:

• make the marking process simpler and quicker.
• increase consistency between markers and across submissions.
• help students understand their grade and feedback better.

A rubric has three main components:

• Criteria (rows): the factor being marked, eg. Critical analysis, Presentation structure
• Attainment bands (columns): how good the work is, eg. Excellent, Good
• Descriptors (cells): a description of what is expected for that criterion and attainment band

The marker selects the relevant descriptor for each criteria and if needed inputs a mark, and the overall rubric score is calculated automatically.

There are various rubric types available, which differ in terms of how the mark is calculated. If the work is marked out of 100, it doesn't matter if you choose a percentage or points rubric.

PercentagePercentage rangePointsPoints range

Each attainment band awards a specific percentage value, eg:

• Excellent = 100%
• Satisfactory = 75%
• Unsatisfactory = 50%
• Poor = 25%

By default the same values are used for each criteria, but you can manually adjust these if needed. This doesn't affect the criteria weighting (eg. 25% of total mark).

Each attainment band can award a percentage value within the given range, eg:

• Excellent = 75 - 100%
• Satisfactory = 50 - 75%
• Unsatisfactory = 25 - 50%
• Poor = 0 - 25%

By default the same value ranges are used for each criteria, but you can manually adjust these if needed. This doesn't affect the criteria weighting (eg. 25% of total mark).

Each attainment band awards a specific points value, eg:

• Excellent = 12 points
• Satisfactory = 9 points
• Unsatisfactory = 6 points
• Poor = 3 points

Points-based rubrics are weighted using the maximum points for each criterion. So to equally weight criteria, set each to have the same maximum points values.

Each attainment band can award a points value within the given range, eg:

• Excellent = 10 - 12 points
• Satisfactory = 7 - 9 points
• Unsatisfactory = 4 - 6 points
• Poor = 0 - 3 points

Points-based rubrics are weighted using the maximum points for each criterion. So to equally weight criteria, set each to have the same maximum points values.

Create and manage Rubrics

The simplest way to access rubrics is through the Gradebook.

1. Open the Gradebook then click the Settings (cog) icon in the top right.
   
2. In the Gradebook Settings menu, scroll down to the Course Rubrics section. Here you can add new rubrics and manage existing ones.
   
3. To create a new rubric:
   • click Create to manually build a rubric
   • click Generate to use the AI Design Assistant as a starting point for building the rubric.
4. To manage an existing rubric:
   • to view or edit: click the rubric name to open it and edit content
   • to duplicate or delete: click the three dots icon next to the name and choose the relevant option

Tip

A rubric can't be edited once it has been used to mark a submission.

To make changes for future assignments, first make a copy and edit as needed.

Build manually

1. Click Create in the Course Rubrics menu. This is accessed through Gradebook or Assignment settings.
   
2. This opens a blank percentage rubric with four equally weighted criteria (rows) and four evenly stepped mark bands (columns).
3. Enter a descriptive rubric title at the top, eg. Summative presentation.
4. Leave the rubric type as the default percentage or click to select another type.
5. To add a new column or row, hover in the header where you would like it to appear and click the purple plus icon. Repeat as needed. Don't worry if the values are strange at this point.
   
6. To edit criteria names, hover over any of the criteria row headers and click the Pen icon. Enter the criterion name in the box and update the criterion weighting if needed. Ignore Align with goals; this feature is not used at UoY.
   
7. To edit attainment band names, hover over an attainment band column header and enter the updated name in the box.
   
8. To enter descriptors and marks available, hover over the cell and click the Pen icon. Enter the descriptor into the box and update the marks value(s) if needed.
   
9. When the rubric is complete, click Save.
   

Marking rubrics: example of manually built content

Only some of the rubric is visible on this screen, but the user can scroll to review the rest of the content.

• Criteria: Understanding of technique. 25% of total mark.
  • First (70-100%): Demonstrates an exceptional understanding of the navigation technique by applying advanced methods.
  • 2:1 (60-69%): Shows a highly competent understanding of the navigation technique with clear application.
  • other attainment levels not visible
• Criteria: Quality of explanation. 25% of total mark.
  • First (70-100%): Provides an in-depth and insightful explanation of the technique, covering advanced aspects thoroughly.
  • 2:1 (60-69%): Gives a clear and detailed explanation of the technique, addressing key aspects effectively.
  • other attainment levels not visible
• other criteria not visible

Generate using AI

The AI Design Assistant can generate a rubric as a starting point or to speed up your rubric development.

Using the Marking Rubric generator effectively

This tool is best used to generate broadly the content you need, which you can tweak manually in the rubric editor. The more detailed the description provided, the less manual editing will be needed.

1. Click Generate in the Course Rubrics menu. This is accessed through Gradebook or Assignment settings.
   
2. Define the rubric:
   • Enter a suitable Description, eg. which assessment type and the criteria to include. You can't select course items for this feature.
   • Select a suitable Rubric type (usually Percentage range is most appropriate)
   • Set the Complexity level and adjust the number of Columns and Rows as needed (default is 4x4).
3. Click Generate.
4. Review the generated rubric content. If needed, repeat steps 4-7 to refine the output.
5. Click Continue.
6. Check and manually edit content or settings as necessary (eg. rubric title, criteria weighting, attainment level labels and cutoffs, descriptor wording) and click Save.

Marking rubrics: interface and examples of AI generated content

Description: Presentation about applying a navigation technique. Criteria to include: Understanding of technique, quality of explanation, presentation materials, presentation skills

Rubric type: Percentage range

Complexity: level 7/10

Columns: 5 (possible range: 2-5)

Rows: 4 (possible range: 2-7)

Content generated:

Only some of the rubric is visible on this screen, but the user can scroll to review the rest of the content.

• Criteria: Understanding of technique. 30% of total mark.
  • Exceptional (80-100%): Demonstrates an exceptional understanding of the navigation technique by applying advanced methods.
  • Highly Competent (60-80%): Shows a highly competent understanding of the navigation technique with clear application.
  • other levels not visible
• Criteria: Quality of explanation. 25% of total mark.
  • Exceptional (80-100%): Provides an in-depth and insightful explanation of the technique, covering advanced aspects thoroughly.
  • Highly Competent (60-80%): Gives a clear and detailed explanation of the technique, addressing key aspects effectively.
  • other levels not visible
• Criteria: Presentation materials. % of total mark not visible
  • Exceptional (80-100%): description not visible
  • Highly Competent (60-80%): description not visible
  • other levels not visible

You can also combine the AI-DA rubric generator with an iterative GenAI tool such as Google Gemini to further streamline rubric development. For example, in this webinar exert, guest speaker Anne-Gaelle Colom from the University of Westminster describes how she combined the rubric generator and ChatGPT to efficiently produce a bespoke rubric for a specialised assessment task.

Webinar extract: Streamlining rubric creation with AI, Anne-Gaelle Colom (11 mins 12 secs, UoY log-in required)

Add to an Ultra Assignment

1. Open the Assignment then click the Settings (cog) icon in the top right. If you accessed the Assignment from the Gradebook, select the Content and Settings tab to see the icon.
2. In the Assignment Settings menu, scroll down to the Additional Tools section and click Add marking rubric.
   
3. The Course Rubrics menu lists the rubrics already associated with the site.
   • to use an existing rubric: click Add next to its name.
   • click Create to manually create a new rubric.
   • click Generate to use AI to build a rubric.
     
4. The Additional Tools settings section will show the selected rubric name. To remove a rubric, hover over it and click the dustbin icon.
   
5. Click Save.

Students can view the rubric with the Assignment instructions before submission.

Mark using a Rubric

This section only covers the specific details of marking with a rubric. See our guide to marking Ultra Assignments for more general advice, such as how to open submissions.

1. Open a submission and make sure that the feedback panel on the right is open to show the Marking Rubric.
2. There are some display options while marking:
   • Each criterion is expanded by default. Click the criterion title to collapse or expand.
   • The Show descriptions toggle shows or hides the descriptor for each attainment level.
     
3. To enter a mark, select the appropriate attainment level for each criterion.
   • For rubrics with a percentage or points range, enter the specific raw criterion mark.
   • Percentage criterion marks are converted to the weighted mark next to the criterion header.
   • The final calculated rubric mark is shown at the top of the Marking Rubric section.
     

4. You can also add written feedback.

   • Criterion-specific feedback: click the speech bubble icon next to the criterion title. Note: It is not possible to open this feedback box if you have overridden the rubric mark.
     
   • Overall feedback: open the Overall Feedback section above the marking rubric.
     
   • Group assignments: You can give separate feedback to the whole group and individual students in the Overall Feedback section. Criterion-specific feedback is shown to the whole group.

Once marks are posted, students can see all the rubric information within the submission:

• the overall rubric mark
• the criterion mark and the relevant descriptor
• any additional feedback given
• the final mark, if a mark schema is applied or the rubric mark is manually overridden

Using a Rubric with a Mark Schema

A mark schema converts a raw numeric score within a range to a single mapped mark. You could use this with a rubric to apply stepped marking, or to convert a numerical score to a qualitative label (eg. Excellent, Good etc.).

The marking schema is automatically applied to the original rubric mark or a manually overridden mark. Note that students can always see the original rubric score if they open the submission.

For more information, see our guide to Mark Schemas.

Manually override rubric mark

You can also manually override numeric rubric marks, for example to round the final score or manually apply a stepped mark. Note that students can always see the original rubric score if they open the submission.

There are different methods to override rubric marks, with slightly different visibility:

Marking interfaceGradebook Marks tabAssignment Submissions tab

Override visibility

• Staff: mark labelled as an override within the submission and in the Gradebook
• Students: mark labelled as an override within the submission
• All: original rubric mark and criterion marks are always visible within the submission

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This method is useful if the override is applied while marking the submission.

If the submission point allows multiple attempts (which is our recommended setting), you must override the overall mark, not the individual attempt.

This is based on the assignment settings, so it isn't affected by how many attempts the student actually made.

1. Click the three dots in the top right of the marking interface and select Override final mark.
   
2. In the OVERRIDE mark pill that appears, delete the rubric mark and enter the new mark.
   
3. If you need to remove the override, click the three dots again and select Remove Override. Deleting the mark just in the override mark pill will still show as an Override.
   

Override visibility

• Staff: mark not labelled as an override within the submission or the Gradebook
• Students: mark not labelled as an override within the submission
• All: original rubric mark and criterion marks are always visible within the submission

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This method is useful when the work has already been marked using the rubric and is being adjusted afterwards.

1. Open the Gradebook Marks tab. This shows a grid of students and assessments.
2. Click the cell for the relevant student and assignment. Delete the mark shown and enter the new mark.
   
3. If you need to remove the override, manually re-enter the original rubric mark. This can be seen within the submission if needed.

Override visibility

• Staff: mark not labelled as an override within the submission or the Gradebook
• Students: mark not labelled as an override within the submission
• All: original rubric mark and criterion marks are always visible within the submission

---

This method is useful when the work has already been marked using the rubric and is being adjusted afterwards.

1. Open the Assignment and select the Submissions tab. This shows a list of students and marks.
2. Click the mark pill for the relevant student. Delete the mark shown and enter the new mark.
   
3. If you need to remove the override, manually re-enter the original rubric mark. This can be seen within the submission if needed.