Add a marking rubric
A rubric is a list of criteria, each with a maximum mark. You can upload it as a file, paste it as text, or use the criteria table in your spec.
Upload a rubric file
Drop the file on the upload panel with your other files, or choose Add rubric once something is attached. Accepted formats:
- Spreadsheets: XLSX, XLSM, XLTX and CSV or TSV.
- Documents: PDF or DOCX containing a criteria table.
- Plain text: TXT or MD.
Files can be up to 20 MB. Older .xls files cannot be read. Save the sheet as .xlsx and upload it again.
DeepMarking looks for a criteria column (such as Criteria, Item or Description) and a marks column (such as Max Mark, Marks Available or Out of). A section or component column is used as a prefix for the criteria under it. Total, penalty and comment rows are ignored.
Paste the criteria
- Under the drop area, choose Paste the marking criteria (or the marking criteria if no spec is attached yet).
- Paste one criterion per line with its marks at the end. A table copied from Word, Excel or a PDF works as it is.
- Choose Use these criteria. The button stays grey until at least one criterion is found.
No rubric yet
If you have added the spec and the submissions but no rubric, DeepMarking waits until every file is read, then asks No rubric yet. What it offers depends on the spec and your plan:
- Draft the rubric from the spec (paid plans, when the spec describes its marking criteria). AI reads the criteria and their marks from the spec and builds the rubric. It opens in Check the drafted rubric, where you can change any criterion or mark before you choose Use these criteria. A draft does not use marking credits.
- Use the spec's criteria table as it is (any plan, when the spec has a criteria table). The table is copied word for word, without AI.
- I will add my own rubric leaves the rubric empty for you to upload or paste.
You can replace a drafted or copied rubric with your own file later.
When a spreadsheet could be either
A spreadsheet could be a rubric or a student's work. DeepMarking reads it in your browser to decide. If it cannot tell, it asks Is [file name] the marking rubric? with the likelier answer first. Closing the question keeps that answer.
To avoid the question, drop the file straight on Add rubric.
Total marks
When you add the rubric, Total marks is set to the rubric's total, unless the spec states the assessment's weight or you have already typed your own. A spreadsheet or text rubric sets it straight away; a Word or PDF rubric sets it when you start marking. If your total differs from the rubric's, for example a 30-mark rubric for an assessment worth 40, DeepMarking asks Rubric scale differs from your project weight. Choose Use this rubric to scale each final mark to your total, or Remove rubric.
Changing criteria
There is no editor for individual criteria in DeepMarking. Before you start marking, clear the Rubric slot with its close button, fix the criteria in your file or text, and add it again.
Common questions
- What if my rubric uses descriptors or bands rather than one mark per criterion?
- DeepMarking needs a maximum mark for each criterion. Add a marks column to your sheet, or paste each criterion with its maximum mark at the end of the line.
- Can DeepMarking write a rubric for me from the spec?
- On a paid plan, yes. When you have added the spec and the submissions but no rubric, DeepMarking offers to draft one from the criteria in the spec, and you check it before it is used. On any plan it can copy a criteria table that is already in the spec.