Writing and using assessment criteria

So far in the structuring of programmes, we have considered the roles of levels, level descriptors and learning outcomes. We now come to consider assessment criteria and how they relate both to learning outcomes and assessment methods. By assessment methods, we mean the task undertaken by the student-such as writing an essay, answering a question in an examination or developing a portfolio-that is subject to assessment. Assessment criteria are the basis on which a judgement of the adequacy of the work is made.