Which document identifies the standards for evaluating performance on an assessment?

• A. Grading policy
• B. Grade boundaries
• C. Assessment Criteria (AC)
• D. Learning Outcomes (LO)

Answer: (C)

Assessment Criteria identify the standards used to judge performance on an assessment. They lay out the specific features that evidence must show and describe different levels of achievement for each aspect of the task, such as understanding, analysis, use of evidence, structure, and communication. By mapping marks to these criteria, markers can assess consistently and fairly, ensuring all candidates are evaluated against the same expectations. This makes it clear what an answer needs to do to reach a particular level, rather than just indicating an overall grade. In contrast, a grading policy governs how marks are translated into final grades, grade boundaries set the cut-offs between grades, and learning outcomes state what knowledge and skills learners should acquire overall—not how performance is judged in a particular assessment.