What are the standards used to evaluate student performance called?

• A. Learning Outcomes (LO)
• B. Grading scale
• C. Resit opportunities
• D. Assessment Criteria (AC)

Answer: (D)

Assessment Criteria are the standards used to evaluate student performance. They outline the specific qualities and levels of achievement that count as evidence of learning, turning broad expectations into concrete markers that markers use to judge work. When a piece of work is marked, each criterion is checked—how well you demonstrated understanding of criminology concepts, applied knowledge to a case study, built a logical argument, used relevant evidence, and followed structure and referencing requirements. This makes marking consistent and fair because every student is evaluated against the same criteria, rather than against a vague impression.

Learning outcomes describe what you should be able to do after learning, guiding what the assessment aims to measure, but they aren’t the actual standards used to judge performance. A grading scale tells you what final grade is earned, based on meeting the criteria, and resit opportunities relate to retaking assessments rather than how performance is judged.