Law Department marking criteria

Grade Numerical Description of Attainment for the Award of Grade

Equivalent

A++ 85-100 “A” range: First Class

A first class answer is one that has a thoughtful structure, a clear

message, which depending on the question, may display personal
reflection informed by wider reading of appropriate sources and a
A+ 78 good grasp of detail (as evidenced by the choice of relevant
examples which are well integrated into the answer’s structure).

Generally, first-class answers are ones that are excellent for an

undergraduate level and which achieve this standard in one or
more of the following:
A 75
 comprehensiveness and accuracy;
 clarity of argument and expression;
 integration of a range of materials;
A- 72  evidence of wider reading;
 insight into the theoretical issues.

Excellence in one or more of these areas should be in addition to

the qualities expected of an upper second-class answer.

A high first-class answer should reveal an exceptional ability to

offer novel or innovative insights for consideration.

A very high first-class answer should be of a standard that is

suitable for publication in a relevant student journal (subject to
minor amendments).

B+ 68 “B” range: Upper Second Class

An upper second-class answer is one that shows very good levels

of knowledge and understanding of the subject area under
consideration. Importantly, such an answer must have dealt
effectively with the question asked and it should satisfy most, if
not all, of the following:

 demonstrate a good understanding of relevant principles and

B 65 concepts;
 be generally accurate and well-informed by a suitable range
of appropriate reading;
 be reasonably comprehensive in scope;
 be well-organised and structured;
 be succinctly and cogently presented;
 display some evidence of insight, particularly through the
application of relevant rules/principles and/or the

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 development of significant arguments.

B- 62
C+ 58 “C” range: Lower Second Class

A lower second-class answer is a substantially correct one that

demonstrates most, if not all, of the following:

C 55  offers sound levels of knowledge and understanding of

relevant principles and concepts.
 provides a competent answer to the set question (albeit
based largely on textbooks and lecture notes).
 predominantly focuses on reprising material knowledge
C- 52 rather than on the development of key arguments (or the
provision of appropriate analysis).
 Satisfactory levels of presentation, structure and clarity of
expression.

A lower second-class answer may contain some major errors or

omissions. It could be a good answer (i.e., an upper-second class
answer) to a related question but not the one set by the assessor.

D+ 48 “D” range: Third Class

A third-class answer should demonstrate some basic knowledge

and understanding of the general area under consideration.
However, it may be weak in the following ways;

 descriptive only;
D 45  does not answer the question directly;
 misses key points;
 contains important inaccuracies
 covers material sparsely, possibly in note form;
 assertions not supported by authority or evidence.
 limited evidence of problem-solving skills.

P 42 Pass

A pass represents the minimum requirements for an acceptable

standard at the bottom of the third-class category. There is just
sufficient information to indicate that the student has a general
familiarity with the subject area. Such answers typically:

 contain very little appropriate or accurate material;

 cover the basic material in only a cursory fashion;
 are poorly presented and do not develop arguments.

E 38 Very close and Not bad Fails

35 Too little by way of information or analysis to pass. “E” grade

answers show enough familiarity with the subject matter of the
32 question (or topic) to suggest that the student made a genuine, if

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 failing attempt, to learn it.

A mark of 38 denotes a very close fail and the assessor gives it

accepting that a second assessor or an external examiner may, on
reflection, raise this to a pass.

F 28 Bad fail

25 By contrast with an “E” grade, in an “F” grade answer there is

insufficient material to indicate that the student made a serious
22 attempt to learn the subject matter addressed by the exam
question or essay topic.

F- 15 “F-” is a grade to be given to an answer which, under examination

conditions, typically for lack of time, consists of a paragraph or
two or an answer plan relevant to the question but not more.
0 0 Grade given for un-submitted work, unanswered questions,
answers which are wholly irrelevant to the question set and show
no sign of reading the question.

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