Grade descriptors
Grade 7 Excellent performance
Demonstrates: comprehensive understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills; high level of ability to apply and synthesize information, concepts and ideas; quantitative and/or qualitative analysis and thorough evaluation of data; fully reasoned balanced judgments based on holistic consideration of multiple viewpoints, methodologies or opinions; communication of a well reasoned and justified personal viewpoint, while critically appreciating the views, perceptions and cultural differences of others; a high level of proficiency in communicating logically and concisely using appropriate terminology and conventions; insight and originality.
Demonstrates personal skills, perseverance and responsibility in a wide variety of investigative activities in a very consistent manner. Works very well within a team and approaches investigations in an ethical manner, paying full attention to environmental impact. Displays competence in a wide range of investigative techniques, paying considerable attention to safety, and is fully capable of working independently.
Grade 6 Very good performance
Demonstrates: broad detailed understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills; good level of ability to apply and synthesize information, concepts and ideas; quantitative and/or qualitative analysis and evaluation of data; reasoned balanced judgments based on holistic consideration of multiple viewpoints, methodologies or opinions; communication of a reasoned and justified personal viewpoint, while critically appreciating the views or perceptions and cultural differences of others; a competent level of proficiency in communicating logically and concisely using appropriate terminology and conventions; occasional insight and originality.
Demonstrates personal skills, perseverance and responsibility in a wide variety of investigative activities in a very consistent manner. Works well within a team and approaches investigations in an ethical manner, paying due attention to environmental impact. Displays competence in a wide range of investigative techniques, paying due attention to safety, and is generally capable of working independently.
Grade 5 Good performance
Demonstrates: sound understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills; competent level of ability to apply and synthesize information, concepts and ideas; some quantitative and/or qualitative analysis and evaluation of data; balanced judgments based on holistic consideration of multiple viewpoints, methodologies or opinions; communication of a reasoned personal viewpoint, while appreciating the views or perceptions and cultural differences of others; a basic level of proficiency in communicating logically and concisely using appropriate terminology and conventions.
Demonstrates personal skills, perseverance and responsibility in a variety of investigative activities in a fairly consistent manner. Generally works well within a team and approaches investigations in an ethical manner, paying attention to environmental impact. Displays competence in a range of investigative techniques, paying attention to safety, and is sometimes capable of working independently.
Grade 4 Satisfactory performance
Demonstrates: secure understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills with some information gaps; some level of ability to apply and synthesize information, concepts and ideas; descriptive ability with quantitative and qualitative data, limited analytical skills and rudimentary evaluation of some contrasting viewpoints or methodologies or opinions; communication of a personal viewpoint, some awareness of perceptions and cultural differences of others; a basic limited proficiency in communicating using appropriate terminology and conventions.
Demonstrates personal skills, perseverance and responsibility in a variety of investigative activities, although displays some inconsistency. Works within a team and generally approaches investigations in an ethical manner, with some attention to environmental impact. Displays competence in a range of investigative techniques, paying some attention to safety, although requiring some close supervision.
Grade 3 Mediocre performance
Demonstrates: limited understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills with information gaps; basic level of ability to apply and synthesize information, concepts or ideas; descriptive ability with quantitative and qualitative data; vague consideration of some contrasting viewpoints or methodologies or opinions; basic communication of a personal viewpoint, weak awareness of perceptions and cultural differences of others; communication lacking in clarity, with some repetition or irrelevant material.
Demonstrates personal skills, perseverance and responsibility in some investigative activities in an inconsistent manner. Works within a team and sometimes approaches investigations in an ethical manner, with some attention to environmental impact. Displays competence in some investigative techniques, occasionally paying attention to safety, and requires close supervision.
Grade 2 Poor performance
Demonstrates: partial understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills with some fundamental information gaps; little ability to apply and synthesize information, concepts or ideas; limited descriptive ability with quantitative and qualitative data; no consideration of contrasting viewpoints or methodologies or opinions; weak communication of a personal viewpoint, occasional awareness of perceptions and cultural differences of others; communication frequently lacking in clarity, repetitive, irrelevant or incomplete.
Rarely demonstrates personal skills, perseverance or responsibility in investigative activities. Works within a team occasionally but makes little or no contribution. Occasionally approaches investigations in an ethical manner, but shows very little awareness of the environmental impact. Displays competence in a very limited range of investigative techniques, showing little awareness of safety factors and needing continual and close supervision.
Grade 1 Very poor performance
Demonstrates: very little understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills with many fundamental information gaps; inability to apply and synthesis information, concepts or ideas; inability with handling quantitative and qualitative data; no consideration of contrasting viewpoints or methodologies or opinions; lacks communication of a personal viewpoint, or awareness of perceptions and cultural differences of others; communication mostly lacking in clarity, repetitive, irrelevant or incomplete.
Rarely demonstrates personal skills, perseverance or responsibility in investigative activities. Does not work within a team. Rarely approaches investigations in an ethical manner, or shows an awareness of the environmental impact. Displays very little competence in investigative techniques, generally pays no attention to safety, and requires constant supervision.
Demonstrates: comprehensive understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills; high level of ability to apply and synthesize information, concepts and ideas; quantitative and/or qualitative analysis and thorough evaluation of data; fully reasoned balanced judgments based on holistic consideration of multiple viewpoints, methodologies or opinions; communication of a well reasoned and justified personal viewpoint, while critically appreciating the views, perceptions and cultural differences of others; a high level of proficiency in communicating logically and concisely using appropriate terminology and conventions; insight and originality.
Demonstrates personal skills, perseverance and responsibility in a wide variety of investigative activities in a very consistent manner. Works very well within a team and approaches investigations in an ethical manner, paying full attention to environmental impact. Displays competence in a wide range of investigative techniques, paying considerable attention to safety, and is fully capable of working independently.
Grade 6 Very good performance
Demonstrates: broad detailed understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills; good level of ability to apply and synthesize information, concepts and ideas; quantitative and/or qualitative analysis and evaluation of data; reasoned balanced judgments based on holistic consideration of multiple viewpoints, methodologies or opinions; communication of a reasoned and justified personal viewpoint, while critically appreciating the views or perceptions and cultural differences of others; a competent level of proficiency in communicating logically and concisely using appropriate terminology and conventions; occasional insight and originality.
Demonstrates personal skills, perseverance and responsibility in a wide variety of investigative activities in a very consistent manner. Works well within a team and approaches investigations in an ethical manner, paying due attention to environmental impact. Displays competence in a wide range of investigative techniques, paying due attention to safety, and is generally capable of working independently.
Grade 5 Good performance
Demonstrates: sound understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills; competent level of ability to apply and synthesize information, concepts and ideas; some quantitative and/or qualitative analysis and evaluation of data; balanced judgments based on holistic consideration of multiple viewpoints, methodologies or opinions; communication of a reasoned personal viewpoint, while appreciating the views or perceptions and cultural differences of others; a basic level of proficiency in communicating logically and concisely using appropriate terminology and conventions.
Demonstrates personal skills, perseverance and responsibility in a variety of investigative activities in a fairly consistent manner. Generally works well within a team and approaches investigations in an ethical manner, paying attention to environmental impact. Displays competence in a range of investigative techniques, paying attention to safety, and is sometimes capable of working independently.
Grade 4 Satisfactory performance
Demonstrates: secure understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills with some information gaps; some level of ability to apply and synthesize information, concepts and ideas; descriptive ability with quantitative and qualitative data, limited analytical skills and rudimentary evaluation of some contrasting viewpoints or methodologies or opinions; communication of a personal viewpoint, some awareness of perceptions and cultural differences of others; a basic limited proficiency in communicating using appropriate terminology and conventions.
Demonstrates personal skills, perseverance and responsibility in a variety of investigative activities, although displays some inconsistency. Works within a team and generally approaches investigations in an ethical manner, with some attention to environmental impact. Displays competence in a range of investigative techniques, paying some attention to safety, although requiring some close supervision.
Grade 3 Mediocre performance
Demonstrates: limited understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills with information gaps; basic level of ability to apply and synthesize information, concepts or ideas; descriptive ability with quantitative and qualitative data; vague consideration of some contrasting viewpoints or methodologies or opinions; basic communication of a personal viewpoint, weak awareness of perceptions and cultural differences of others; communication lacking in clarity, with some repetition or irrelevant material.
Demonstrates personal skills, perseverance and responsibility in some investigative activities in an inconsistent manner. Works within a team and sometimes approaches investigations in an ethical manner, with some attention to environmental impact. Displays competence in some investigative techniques, occasionally paying attention to safety, and requires close supervision.
Grade 2 Poor performance
Demonstrates: partial understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills with some fundamental information gaps; little ability to apply and synthesize information, concepts or ideas; limited descriptive ability with quantitative and qualitative data; no consideration of contrasting viewpoints or methodologies or opinions; weak communication of a personal viewpoint, occasional awareness of perceptions and cultural differences of others; communication frequently lacking in clarity, repetitive, irrelevant or incomplete.
Rarely demonstrates personal skills, perseverance or responsibility in investigative activities. Works within a team occasionally but makes little or no contribution. Occasionally approaches investigations in an ethical manner, but shows very little awareness of the environmental impact. Displays competence in a very limited range of investigative techniques, showing little awareness of safety factors and needing continual and close supervision.
Grade 1 Very poor performance
Demonstrates: very little understanding of factual information, terminology, concepts, methodology and skills with many fundamental information gaps; inability to apply and synthesis information, concepts or ideas; inability with handling quantitative and qualitative data; no consideration of contrasting viewpoints or methodologies or opinions; lacks communication of a personal viewpoint, or awareness of perceptions and cultural differences of others; communication mostly lacking in clarity, repetitive, irrelevant or incomplete.
Rarely demonstrates personal skills, perseverance or responsibility in investigative activities. Does not work within a team. Rarely approaches investigations in an ethical manner, or shows an awareness of the environmental impact. Displays very little competence in investigative techniques, generally pays no attention to safety, and requires constant supervision.