AQC/55/22
MARKING DESCRIPTORS 2022-23
OVERVIEW OF UCA GRADING DESCRIPTORS
Areas for UCA Overview of UCA Grading Descriptor
Grading
Descriptors
1 Experimentation experimentation & innovation is the exploration and testing of
& innovation different possibilities through methods of thinking and making. It is
not knowing the outcome at the start and being prepared to take
risks. It can include using established approaches to develop
personalised responses or developing new approaches to provide
new insights and techniques.
2 Research & research & analysis is the gathering and evaluating of diverse
analysis ideas, histories, materials and approaches to make informed
connections between sources that support the development of
your work and thinking, and help situate it in a wider context.
3 Engaging with engaging with practice is building a sustained rapport with
practice processes, technologies, and media to form a personalised
response. This is often about the physical making and testing of
work, but can also refer to the development of a writing practice or
approaches to business strategy.
4 Realisation & realisation & communication is the evolution of work and ideas
communication into their final form through a progression of thoughts and actions.
This is about the quality and thoughtfulness of the outcomes,
communicating an understanding of the conceptual and practical
aspects of the work, and an awareness of presenting and sharing
with different audiences and in different contexts.
5 Personal & personal & professional connectivity is the awareness and
professional application of ideas and practice to professional, cultural, ethical
connectivity and social contexts. It includes considering alternative viewpoints,
appreciating diversity and thinking responsively and critically about
the contexts that work is made for and that creative practice
operates within.
Evidenced through…
risk taking; problem solving; innovation; adaptability and flexibility; material and technical speculation and
inventiveness; experimentation with process; spatial testing; format and interface experimentation;
experimenting with concepts and contexts; consideration of issue of ethics and challenges of
sustainability; experimentation in writing structure and approach; experimentation and innovation
evidenced in final outcomes
critical and contextual thinking; the analysis of problems and possible solutions; interpretation of research
materials; understanding of theoretical concepts and approaches; critical reflection of own work and work
of others; exploring diverse contexts and connections
engagement with specialized procedures, technologies and methods; explorative and in depth making
and thinking; exploring conceptual and practical considerations; appropriate deployment of technique;
technological relevance; ethical contexts; sustainability; workshop competencies; application of discipline
specific skills and knowledge; interdisciplinary engagement; subject engagement and commitment;
working with others.
synthesis and consolidation of practice; evaluation and resolution of contextual and technical
competencies; realisation of intentions; dissemination and presentation; clarity of communication;
appropriate realisation of final outcomes; practical and conceptual understanding; the application of
knowledge in different contexts; understanding audience, viewer, participant or user; interface, format,
display & curation skills, experiential aspects of resolved work; responsiveness to site, location and
context of dissemination; use and application of appropriate vocabulary, grammar, spelling & syntax.
awareness of professional, cultural and social environments; understanding local and global contexts,
inclusivity and diversity; ethics and sustainability; empathy and responsiveness; research ethics;
resource management and sustainability; ethics of audience and participant engagement; work readiness
including discipline specific knowledge; vocational expertise; leadership skills; teamwork; adaptability;
self motivation; time-management; collaboration; planning & organisation; engagement with professional
networks and partners; engaging in UCA as a learning community; group activity; fostering connections
to wider communities and networks; use and application of professional vocabulary, grammar, spelling &
syntax.
 AQC/55/22
MARKING DESCRIPTORS 2022-23

MAPPING OfS THRESHOLD CRITERIA TO UCA GRADING DESCRIPTORS: LEVEL 4

Level 4 Overview (‘seec Credit Level Descriptors for HE’):

Applies an understanding of established areas of knowledge and skills in familiar and unfamiliar learning, work or practice contexts. Acts with support and uses techniques within
established guidelines. Takes responsibility for the nature and quality of outputs and the evaluation of own capabilities and development. Uses established principles to analyse, evaluate,
organise and communicate the relevance and significance of information. Develops projects and/or activities to inform own and/or others learning, work or practice.

THRESHOLD CRITERIA: LEVEL 4 RELATION TO UCA OfS Typical Graduate Skills Relation to ‘seec’ Credit Level
DESCRIPTOR & Attributes Descriptors for HE

• Knowledge of the underlying concepts, practices and principles associated with their area Experimentation & Innovation Knowledge & Understanding Setting
of study. Cognitive Skills Practical Skills
Practical Skills Cognitive Skills

• Evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems related to their Experimentation & Innovation Cognitive Skills Practical Skills
area of study or work Practical Skills Cognitive Skills

• Shows an ability to evaluate and interpret underlying concepts within the context of the Research & Analysis Knowledge & Understanding Application of Knowledge & Understanding
area of study Cognitive Skills Cognitive Skills

• Ability to present, evaluate and interpret qualitative and quantitative information, in Research & Analysis Knowledge & Understanding Application of Knowledge & Understanding
order to develop lines of argument. Cognitive Skills Cognitive Skills
Transferable Skills

• Make sound judgements in accordance with basic theories, concepts and of their Research & Analysis Knowledge & Understanding Application of Knowledge & Understanding
subject(s) of study. Cognitive Skills Cognitive Skills
Practical Skills

• Appropriate technical, creative or artistic skills related to their area of study or work Engaging with Practice Practical Skills Practical Skills

• Communicate the results of their study/work accurately and reliably, and with structured Realisation & Communication Knowledge & Understanding Practical Skills
and coherent arguments Practical Skills
Transferable Skills

• Undertake further training and develop new skills within a structured and managed Personal & Professional Professional Competencies Application of Knowledge & Understanding
environment Connectivity Transferable Skills Practical Skills
Behaviours & Values
Setting

• Qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of some Personal & Professional Professional Competencies Behaviours & Values
personal responsibility. Connectivity Transferable Skills Setting
 AQC/55/22
MARKING DESCRIPTORS 2022-23

GRADING DESCRIPTORS: LEVEL 4

EXPERIMENTATION & INNOVATION

Threshold Criteria 0-29% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89% 90-100%
Knowledge of the Little to no Low knowledge of the Satisfactory Competent Good knowledge and Very good knowledge Excellent knowledge Exceptional
underlying concepts, knowledge of the underlying concepts, knowledge of the knowledge of the understanding of and understanding of of underlying and knowledge of
practices and underlying concepts, practical methods underlying concepts, underlying concepts, underlying concepts, concepts, practical secondary concepts underlying and
principles associated practical methods and principles of the practical methods practical methods practical methods methods and and practical secondary concepts
with their area of and principles of the area of study. and principles which and principles, if and principles principles methods and a and practical
study. area of study. is sufficient to deal of sometimes balanced showing critical significantly beyond sophisticated methods, and a
the area of study towards the insight what has been understanding, sophisticated
descriptive rather taught. significantly beyond understanding,
than the critical or the threshold significantly beyond
analytical. expectation at this the threshold
level (including expectation at this
awareness of ethical level and beyond
issues and what has been taught
sustainability where (including awareness
appropriate). of ethical issues and
sustainability where
appropriate).

Evaluate the Little to no ability to Low ability to solve Satisfactory ability to Competent ability to Good problem- Very good problem- Excellent problem- Exceptional problem-
appropriateness of solve problems problems and/or solve problems solve complex solving skills, solving skills with solving skills with solving skills with
different approaches and/or make make decisions but related to their area problems, and selecting and clear evaluation and clear evaluation and sophisticated
to solving problems decisions. with significant of study by applying a applying and testing a justifying their use of application of application of evaluation, selection
related to their area limitations. range of methods. range of appropriate a wide-range of appropriate methods methods and application of
of study or work methods and methods. methods.
evaluating their use.
 AQC/55/22
MARKING DESCRIPTORS 2022-23

GRADING DESCRIPTORS: LEVEL 4

RESEARCH & ANALYSIS

Threshold Criteria 0-29% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89% 90-100%
Shows an ability to Little to no evidence Low evidence of Satisfactory ability to Competent ability to Good ability to Very good ability to Excellent ability to Exceptional ability to
evaluate and of ability to evaluate ability to evaluate or evaluate or interpret evaluate or interpret evaluate or interpret evaluate or interpret evaluate or interpret evaluate a range of
interpret underlying or interpret interpret underlying underlying concepts underlying concepts underlying concepts range of concepts wide range concepts concepts using
concepts within the underlying concepts concepts to support and displays the using established using established using established using established established
context of the area of to support the area the area of study ability to extract techniques accurately techniques accurately techniques accurately techniques accurately techniques accurately
study of study relevant points. and can critically and can critically and possesses a well- and possesses a well- well beyond the usual
appraise academic evaluate academic developed ability to developed ability to range, together with
sources. sources. critically evaluate a critically evaluate a critical evaluation, to
wide range of wide range of advance work or
sources. sources. direct arguments.

Ability to present, Little to no argument Low level argument Satisfactory Competent argument Good coherent, Very good coherent Excellent argument Exceptional argument
evaluate and and explanations are and explanations are argument, with some with supporting substantiated and well which systematically with advanced critical
interpret qualitative difficult to weak and/or poorly evaluation and evidence and has arguments, as well as substantiated considers and insight and
and quantitative understand and are constructed, and do interpretation of demonstrated the the ability to arguments which critically synthesises interpretation of
information, in order not supported by not evidence use of qualitative and ability to consider consider, evaluate systematically advanced qualitative complex qualitative
to develop lines of qualitative and qualitative and quantitative and evaluate a range and synthesise a considers and and quantitative and quantitative
argument. quantitative quantitative information of qualitative and range of qualitative critically synthesises information. information.
information. information. quantitative and quantitative qualitative and
information. information. quantitative
information.

Make sound Little to no sources Low ability to select Satisfactory selection, Competent selection, Good critical Very good synthesis Excellent synthesis of Exceptional synthesis
judgements in and judgements and evaluate reading evaluation and evaluation and selection and of a broad range of a broad range of of a broad range of
accordance with basic considered with gaps and research to make commentary on commentary on evaluation of research, primary research, primary research and primary
theories and in key understanding judgements in line reading, research and reading, research and research and primary sources, views and sources, views and sources to make
concepts of their of key theories and with basic theories primary sources to primary sources, sources, usually information and information and insightful judgements
subject(s) of study. concepts in their and concepts of their make judgements in sometimes beyond beyond the set range, integration to make integration to make in line with basic and
subject of study. subject(s) of study line with basic the set range, to to make judgements judgements in line judgements in line advanced theories
with over-reliance on theories and concepts make judgements in in line with basic with basic theories with basic theories and concepts in their
set sources. of their subject(s) of line with basic theories and and concepts of their and concepts of their subject of study.
study. theories and concepts of their subject(s) of study. subject(s) of study.
concepts of their subject(s) of study.
subject(s) of study.
 AQC/55/22
MARKING DESCRIPTORS 2022-23

GRADING DESCRIPTORS: LEVEL 4

ENGAGING WITH PRACTICE

Threshold Criteria 0-29% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89% 90-100%
Appropriate Little to no technical, Lowt echnical, Satisfactory technical, Competent technical, Good command of Very good technical, Excellent technical, Exceptional technical,
technical, creative or creative or artistic creative or artistic creative or artistic creative or artistic highly-developed creative and/or creative and/or creative and/or
artistic skills related skills in most, or key, skills related to their skills required for skills required for technical, creative artistic skills and artistic skills artistic skills
to their area of study areas area of study. area of study. area of study. and/or artistic skills finesse in their
or work selection and
application.
 AQC/55/22
MARKING DESCRIPTORS 2022-23

GRADING DESCRIPTORS: LEVEL 4

REALISATION & COMMUNICATION

Threshold Criteria 0-29% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89% 90-100%
Communicate the Little to no clarity in Low clarity in the Satisfactory Competent Good communication Very good Excellent Exceptional
results of their the expression of expression of ideas communication of communication of of information, ideas, communication of communication of communication of
study/work ideas and/or unable and/or unable to information, ideas, information, ideas, problems and information, ideas, information, ideas, information, ideas,
accurately and to convey meaning convey clear meaning problems and problems and solutions verbally, problems and problems and problems and
reliably, and with verbally, visually verbally, visually solutions verbally, solutions verbally, visually and/or in solutions verbally, solutions verbally, solutions verbally,
structured and and/or in writing. and/or in writing. visually, electronically visually and/or in writing. visually, electronically visually, electronically visually, electronically
coherent arguments and in writing. writing. and in writing. and in writing. and in writing.
 AQC/55/22
MARKING DESCRIPTORS 2022-23

GRADING DESCRIPTORS: LEVEL 4

PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIVITY

Threshold Criteria 0-29% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89% 90-100%
Undertake further Little to no Low contribution to Satisfactory Competent Good contributions Very good Excellent contribution Exceptional
training and develop contribution to group group activity and/or contribution to group contribution to group to group activity contribution to to group activity contribution to group
new skills within a activity and/or project work which activity and/or project activity and/or project and/or project group activity and/or project work, activity and/or
structured and project work which develops new skills. work which develops work which develops work, with an and/or project work, with teamwork and project work, with
managed develops new skills. new skills. new skills. understanding of with exceptional some leadership teamwork and
environment team roles and the teamwork and the taking responsibility leadership taking
processes for the processes for the for the development responsibility for the
development of development of new of new skills. development of new
new skills. skills. skills.

Qualities and Littlem to no ability Low ability to manage Satisfactory ability to Competent ability to Good ability to Very good ability to Excellent ability to Exceptional ability to
transferable skills to manage learning learning and/or work manage learning and systematically manage systematically systematically manage learning on manage learning on
necessary for and/or work without without supervision. work with minimal or learning, and work manage learning, manage learning, own initiative, and own initiative, and
employment supervision. no supervision. without supervision. and work without and work without work without work without
requiring the exercise supervision. supervision. supervision. supervision.
of some personal
responsibility.
Little to no accurate Low accurate use Satisfactory expression Competent Good expression Very good Excellent expression Exceptional
use of terminology, terminology, with and style with expression and style, and style with expression and style and style with minimal expression and style
with limited many errors in appropriate with a range of appropriate with minimal errors errors in spelling, with no errors in
vocabulary and many spelling, vocabulary vocabulary and errors vocabulary and some vocabulary with in spelling, grammar grammar and syntax. spelling, grammar
errors in spelling, and syntax. in spelling, grammar errors in spelling, minimal errors in and syntax. and syntax.
grammar and syntax. and syntax which do grammar and syntax spelling, grammar
not affect which do not affect and syntax.
understanding. understanding.

Little to no basic Low level of basic Satisfactory numeracy Competent numeracy Good numeracy Very good numeracy Excellent numeracy Exceptional
numeracy or digital numeracy or digital and digital literacy, and digital literacy, and digital literacy, and digital literacy, and digital literacy, numeracy or digital
literacy, hardware literacy, hardware hardware and hardware and hardware and hardware and hardware and literacy, hardware
and software skills. and software skills. software skills. software skills. software skills. software skills. software skills. and software skills.