High distinction

85 - 100    

• Contains striking originality of approach or analysis.
• Demonstrates exhaustive or innovative research.
• Exceptionally well written, structured and expressed.
• Is otherwise exceptional in some way.
• An Honours Thesis receiving a high distinction grade will generally be of publishable quality. By this it is meant that it provides a solid foundation for development into a      publication, not that it is ready to submit to a journal in the form it was submitted for  assessment.

Distinction

75 - 84

• Achieves a sustained, critical and evaluative approach to the issues.
• Content and structure is well organised in support of the argument.
• Demonstrates extensive research and analysis to support a well-documented argument.
• Generally well expressed and free from errors.
• Has a clear structure and is well articulated.

Credit

65 - 74

• Covers main issues fairly well.
• Contains no significant errors
• Demonstrates an attempted critical approach to the issues.
• Demonstrates reasonably sound research and analysis in addressing the key issues.
• Has a clear structure and reasonably clear expression.

Pass

50 - 64

• Identifies the key issues, but does not follow through with a reasoned argument.
• Contains some significant errors.
• Displays satisfactory engagement with the key issues.
• Offers descriptive summary of material relevant to the issues.
• Superficial use of material and may display a tendency to paraphrase.
• Demonstrates little evidence of in-depth research or analysis.
• Adequate expression.
• Overall, demonstrates the minimum level of competence in the assessment.

Fail

0 - 49

• Contains significant or numerous errors.
• Few or no identifiable arguments.
• Content that is inappropriate or irrelevant.
• Lack of research or analysis.
• Difficult or impossible to understand through poor grammar, expression or structure.
• Overall, does not demonstrate the minimum level of competence in the assessment.