All universities and indeed, courses have different marking schemes so you need to refer to your institutions guidance for their own requirements. What follows is an example marking scheme which you may find useful to assist you in guessing your grade.1st Class StandardA 1st Class piece will display most, if not all, of the following characteristics:special signs of excellence such as unusual clarity, excellence of presentation, originality of argumentcomprehensive knowledge of the subjectexcellent understanding of issues and debatesconfidence in the selection and interpretation of materials/authoritylogical and convincing development of an argumentwritten style appropriate to the level of the workfluent and articulate expressioncorrect use of academic referencingevidence of independent thought and judgment in answering the question2:1 StandardA 2:1 piece will display most, if not all, of the following characteristics:a richer and more developed argument than a 2:2, with a clearly stated and well argued conclusion, showing the ability to range over appropriate areas of the subject matter with acuteness of analysis, intelligent challenges to the question set, and an abundance of appropriate authority or evidence intelligently appliedthorough knowledge of the subject; few if any minor factual errorsgood understanding of issues and debatesability to select and interpret appropriate material/authoritysolid development of an argumenta written style appropriate to the level of the workclear expressioncorrect use of academic referencinga balanced and well considered answer to the question2:2 StandardA 2:2 piece will display most, if not all, of the following characteristics:a considered argument marshalling some of the advantages and disadvantages, where appropriate, with well selected authority or evidenceadequate, although incomplete, knowledge of the subject; some factual errorssatisfactory understanding of issues and debatesreasonable, although flawed, ability to select and interpret appropriate material/authoritysome flaws or gaps in the construction of an argumenta written style not entirely appropriate for study at the level of workpoor or unclear expressionincorrect use of academic referencinga partial or incomplete answer to the question3rd StandardA piece in this grade band will display most, if not all, of the following characteristics:some signs of use of relevant evidence to tackle the question, even though treatment may be one sided or scantincomplete knowledge of the subject; some factual errorssome understanding of issues or debatessome difficulty with the selection and interpretation of appropriate material/authoritysome flaws or gaps in the construction of an argumenta written style inappropriate for study at this levelexpression that is not always clear or consistentincorrect use of academic referencinga partial or incomplete answer to the questionFail Usually below 39%A piece in this grade band will display most, if not all, of the following characteristics:irrelevant content, vagueness, error, general lack of understandinglimited knowledge of the subjectsignificant factual errorslittle understanding or actual misunderstanding of the issues and debatessevere difficulty in selecting and interpreting materialillogical or incomplete development of argumenta written style entirely inappropriate for study at this levelconfused, muddled or misleading, or incoherent expressionincorrect use or absence of academic referencingtoo short
