STA Student Handbook (Taught Programmes) 2025/26

Excellent 

Good 

Satisfactory 

Adequate 

Outstanding performance without significant errors for the level. 

The candidate grasps with ease the full meaning of familiar contexts and is able to articulate basic explanations on the topic. Commendable use of specific vocabulary and expressions. 

Excellent level of grammatical accuracy, demonstrating total comprehension.  

Highly effective writing skills, with precise use of basic connectors and discourse markers, creating a well-defined structure. 

Excellent use of a range of appropriate vocabulary, expressions, basic structures and idiomatic language for the level. 

Very high level of expression with no recurrent errors, demonstrating an exemplary standard of grammatical accuracy for this level. 

Above the average standard, but with some errors. 

Good level of grammatical accuracy with few mistakes that, for the most part, do not compromise clarity of meaning. 

Very good level of ability to understand phrases and high-frequency vocabulary on familiar topics.  

Some reliance on pre-learnt structures, but material well integrated. 

Occasional tendency to rely on pre-learnt structures and some lapses in the clarity of argument. 

Understanding of low frequency structures and vocabulary is at times limited with occasional gaps in information.  

Repetition of some mistakes in morphology and syntax that do not significantly impede meaning. 

Candidate relies very heavily on pre-learnt phrases and structures. 
Poor range of vocabulary and lack of variety in the structures used in written texts. 
Frequent and serious errors leading to misunderstanding. Very limited expression, with constant repetition of errors in morphology and syntax. Rudimentary knowledge of grammar. 

Candidate produces truly excellent and insightful work; demonstrates exceptional knowledge/understanding of the relevant material; a coherent and logical line of argumentation throughout the assignment backed up with sophisticated and authoritative analysis; a commendable ability to go beyond the arguments presented in the critical literature; clear evidence of independent and/or original thinking; immaculate presentation. 

Candidate shows thorough knowledge/understanding of the relevant material; a coherent line of argumentation throughout the assignment backed up with sophisticated analysis; an ability to go beyond the arguments presented in the critical literature; some evidence of independent and/or original thinking; presentation is clear and logical. Work in this band will still contain minor elements that would benefit from further improvement. 

Candidate writes clearly, shows good knowledge/understanding of the topic of the assignment and related concepts and key terms; a solid line of argumentation throughout the assignment backed up with good analysis; good understanding and synthesis of the arguments presented in the critical literature. Presentation is good to very good. 

Satisfactory knowledge/ understanding of the topic of the assignment and related concepts and key terms; an identifiable line of argumentation throughout the assignment backed up with satisfactory analysis; some problems understanding and synthesising the arguments presented in the critical literature. Presentation is satisfactory. 

Poor to weak knowledge/understanding of the topic of the assignment; poor to weak knowledge/understanding of the wider subject area; poor to weak argumentation throughout the assignment, not well integrated with weak and unconvincing analysis; severe problems understanding and synthesising the arguments presented in the critical literature. Presentation is poor to unsatisfactory. 

Extremely high degree of accuracy in grammar and sentence construction. 

Exceptionally high degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. 

Excellent/Outstanding choice of vocabulary and idiom. Translation reads like idiomatic English or target language. No word errors. 

Excellent/Outstanding manipulation of register to convey the subtleties contained in the original passage. 

Excellent/Outstanding translation, which is faithful to the original without being too literal. No omissions or additions which would change the sense of the original text. 

High degree of accuracy in grammar and sentence construction. There may be a few minor errors and/or a few problems with the accurate rendering of very complex structures, but these are largely resolved by credible paraphrase. 

High degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. Very few (minor) errors. 

Very good choice of vocabulary and idiom. Specialised vocabulary may present some problems, but these are largely resolved by credible paraphrase. Translation generally reads like idiomatic target language. There may be a few minor word errors. 

Very good manipulation of register to convey many of the key stylistic features of the original passage. 

Comprehensive translation, which is generally faithful to the original without being too literal. Very few omissions or additions which would change the sense of the original text. 

Good degree of accuracy in grammar and sentence construction. There may be some errors and/or some problems with the accurate rendering of complex structures, but the overall meaning remains for the most part clear. 

Good degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation, although there may be some errors. 

Good choice of vocabulary and idiom. Specialised vocabulary presents some problems, but there should be clear and plausible attempts to overcome these. There may be a few word errors. 

Good manipulation of register to convey some of the stylistic features of the original passage. 

Good translation, which is generally faithful to much of the original text without being too literal. There may be some minor omissions or additions which would change the sense of the original text. 

Some  degree of accuracy in grammar and sentence construction. There are some recurrent (basic) errors and/or recurrent problems with the accurate rendering of more complex structures, but the overall meaning generally remains clear. 

Some degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation, although there may be recurrent errors. 

Generally sound choice of vocabulary and idiom. There are some gaps or invented words, or inappropriate lexical choices. There should be clear attempts to overcome gaps in knowledge, but these are not always convincing. Some basic word errors are possible. 

Some general awareness of register, but this may be inconsistent and may not always match the register of the original text.  

Fairly sound translation, which is mostly faithful towards the original text but tends towards being too literal. There are some omissions or additions which change the sense of the original text. 

Limited degree of accuracy in grammar and sentence construction. There are many recurrent (basic) errors and/or frequent problems with the accurate rendering of simple and more complex structures. Several errors may be serious enough to impede the meaning of the text. 

Basic level of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. There are many errors. 

Basic and/or inaccurate choice of lexis. Frequent gaps, invented words, inappropriate lexical choices and/or incorrect paraphrase. Shows some basic attempts to work around gaps in knowledge, but these are usually unconvincing, and/or there may be many word errors that hamper understanding. 

Adequate choice of register overall but frequently inappropriate or inconsistent.  

Basic translation, which is often unfaithful and/or overly literal in its rendering of the original text. There are frequent omissions and/or additions which change the sense of the original text.