CARDIFF SCHOOL OF MODERN LANGUAGES

TAUGHT POSTGRADUATE MARKING CRITERIA:

COURSEWORK ESSAY

These generic marking criteria are used to mark coursework on taught

postgraduate modules on the MA in Translation Studies programme in Cardiff
School of Modern Languages (MLANG). In each case the primary judgment
concerning marks is made on the grounds of academic persuasiveness and quality of
argument. Other criteria are supplemental and serve to distinguish marks within a
class. All marks awarded by examiners are provisional, until confirmed by the Exam
Board. The pass mark for the MA in Translation Studies is 50, with a Merit being
marked at 60 or more and a Distinction being marked at 70 or more.
1

Distinction: Mark Range 70-100%

Criteria for marks in the distinction range 90-100%: Outstanding
 Work is worthy of publication or dissemination as appropriate to the field.
 Exceptional in-depth knowledge across specialised and applied areas of relevant
literature, available information, and conceptual issues.
 The work is written to the very highest standards, presents a cutting-edge
synthesis of appropriate available information, and is extremely coherently
structured.
 Where group work is involved there is evidence of a truly exceptional individual
contribution.
 Outstanding evidence of acquisition of relevant skills and their application at
every level.
 Exceptional and essentially flawless presentation, including referencing

Criteria for marks in the distinction range 80-89%: Superior

 Evidence of high level of originality and independent thinking, as appropriate to
the task.
 Outstanding knowledge of relevant literature, available information, and
conceptual issues appropriate to the field.
 The work is extremely well written, presents an outstanding synthesis of
appropriate available information, and is very coherently structured.
 Where group work is involved there is evidence of an outstanding individual
contribution.
 Outstanding evidence of acquisition of relevant skills and their application.
 Superb presentation, including referencing

Criteria for marks in the distinction range 70-79%: Excellent

 Evidence of originality and independent thinking, as appropriate to the task.
 Commanding knowledge of relevant literature, available information, and
conceptual issues appropriate to the field.
 The work is very well written, presents an excellent synthesis of appropriate
available information, and is coherently structured.
 Where group work is involved there is evidence of an excellent individual
contribution.
 Excellent evidence of acquisition of relevant skills and their application.
 Excellent presentation, including referencing

MLANG Taught Postgraduate Marking Criteria: Coursework Essays

Merit: Mark Range 60-69%
Criteria for merit 60-69%: Good
 Very good knowledge of relevant literature, available information, and conceptual
issues appropriate to the field.
 The work is well written, draws valid conclusions, presents a very good synthesis
of appropriate available information, and is clearly structured.
 Where group work is involved there is evidence of a productive individual
contribution.
 Very good evidence of acquisition of relevant skills.
 Very good presentation, including referencing.

Pass: Mark Range 50-59%

Criteria for a Pass in the range 50-59%: Fair
 Adequate understanding of relevant literature, available information, and
conceptual issues appropriate to the field 2
 Adequate synthesis of available information.
 Work is coherent and adequately structured.
 Where group work is involved, there is evidence of a positive individual
contribution.
 Evidence of acquisition of relevant skills.
 Good presentation, including referencing

Fail: Marks in the range <50

Criteria for a mark in the fail range 40-49%: Narrow Fail
 Demonstrates clear but limited attempt to become acquainted with relevant
source material and draw relevant conclusions and/or draws conclusions that do
not all follow logically from the work undertaken.
 Work is not fully coherent, poorly structured, and indicates that key concepts are
generally not understood.
 Little evidence of acquisition of relevant skills.
 Where group work is involved, there is inadequate individual contribution to the
relevant task.
 Poor presentation, poor referencing

Criteria for a mark in the fail range 30-39%: Clear Fail

 Makes little attempt to become acquainted with relevant source material.
 Does not draw conclusions or makes unsupported assertions.
 Work is not coherent, very poorly structured, and indicates that key concepts are
not understood.
 Very little evidence of the acquisition of key skills.
 Where group work is involved there is very poor individual contribution to the
relevant task.
 Very weak presentation, little or no referencing.

Criteria for a mark in the fail range 20-29%: Insufficient

 Shows no grasp of relevant issues or source material
 Fails to articulate a relevant line of argument and demonstrations gross
misconceptions or misapplications
 Work is disorganised and indicates a complete failure to understand relevant
concepts
 Little evidence of the acquisition of any relevant skills
 Where group work is involved there is a complete failure to contribute
meaningfully to the relevant task.
 Deeply flawed and fragmented presentation, with no meaningful referencing.

MLANG Taught Postgraduate Marking Criteria: Coursework Essays

Criteria for a mark in the fail range 10-19%: Weak
 Shows no evidence of any reading around the topic or even a basic familiarity
with materials covered in class
 Fails to articulate even the most basic line of argument and demonstrates a large
number of gross misconceptions or misapplications
 Work is confused, overly brief and indicates no understanding of relevant
concepts
 No evidence of the acquisition of any relevant skills
 Where group work is involved there is a total failure to add value, even
superficially, to the relevant task.
 Deeply flawed, fragmented and incomplete presentation, where errors
predominate and there is no referencing.

Criteria for a mark in the fail range 0-9%: Poor

 Shows fundamental ignorance and/ or misunderstanding of the literature, context 3
and relevant concepts. Possible plagiarism
 Fails to conclude or to complete the essay
 Work is confused throughout and indicates no understanding of basic relevant
concepts
 No evidence of the acquisition of any relevant skills
 Where group work is involved there is a total failure to make even the most
negligible contribution.
 Totally unsatisfactory, replete with fundamental errors and where there is no
referencing.

Criteria for a mark of 0%

 A plagiarised essay, blank return or non-submission

MLANG Taught Postgraduate Marking Criteria: Coursework Essays