Assessment Rubric Generator
Build an analytic or holistic marking rubric with weighted criteria and level descriptors, and check that the levels are actually distinguishable from one another.
Last reviewed by the Radiatus Cloud team
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A rubric only helps if the levels are distinguishable
Descriptors that differ only by an adverb, such as "explains clearly" against "explains very clearly", give a marker nothing to decide with, and two markers will disagree. Levels have to differ in something observable: the number of examples, whether reasoning is present, whether errors affect the conclusion. Writing descriptors that name the observable difference is most of the work of building a rubric, and it is the part usually skipped.
Analytic and holistic serve different purposes
An analytic rubric scores each criterion separately, which produces detailed feedback and takes longer. A holistic rubric gives one judgement against a whole-performance descriptor, which is faster and less informative. Analytic suits formative assessment where the student will act on the feedback; holistic suits high-volume summative marking where a grade is the output. Using an analytic rubric and then only reporting the total wastes the work.
Weighting is a statement about what matters
Equal weights say every criterion is equally important, which is rarely intended and often what happens by default. If accuracy matters more than presentation, the weights should say so, and if they do not, markers will apply their own weighting invisibly and inconsistently. Making the weights explicit is what makes different markers converge.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a good level descriptor?
A named observable difference from the level below. Descriptors differing only by an adverb, such as clearly against very clearly, give a marker nothing to decide with and two markers will disagree.
Should I use an analytic or holistic rubric?
Analytic where the student will act on the feedback, since it scores each criterion separately. Holistic for high-volume summative marking where a single grade is the output and speed matters.
How many levels should a rubric have?
Four or five. Three is too coarse to distinguish adjacent performances, and more than six produces levels that markers cannot tell apart, which reintroduces the inconsistency the rubric was meant to remove.
Should students see the rubric beforehand?
Yes, in nearly every case. A rubric shared in advance tells students what is being assessed, which is the point. Withholding it assesses their ability to guess the criteria alongside the actual work.
Do weights need to be equal?
No, and they usually end up that way by default. If accuracy matters more than presentation the weights should say so, otherwise markers apply their own weighting invisibly and inconsistently.
Privacy & Security
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How to Use
List your criteria and performance levels to build a rubric.
Disclaimer: This tool is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Results are for educational and utility purposes.