What is a rubric?

• A. A chart of criteria for evaluation and levels of fulfillment of those criteria.
• B. A single numerical score only.
• C. A type of standardized test.
• D. A method of classroom management.

Answer: (A)

A rubric is a chart of criteria for evaluation and levels of fulfillment of those criteria. It lays out what quality looks like for each aspect of a task and describes what different performance levels mean. For example, in a writing assignment, the rubric might list criteria such as thesis clarity, use of evidence, organization, and writing conventions, with descriptors for levels like excellent, good, fair, and needs work. This helps both students and teachers see exactly what’s expected and how work will be judged, making feedback specific and consistent. It’s not just a single numerical score, which would hide where strengths or gaps lie. It’s not a standardized test, and it isn’t a classroom-management approach. Rubrics can be analytic (separate criteria with separate levels) or holistic (an overall judgment), but the core idea is that they describe explicit criteria and how well a task meets each one.