6 Answer
The six essay meets all the criteria of a five: its superiority to the five essay is a result of degree, not kind. The level of insight may be particularly convincing and/or subtle or the writing exceptionally impressive. Certainly the six essay exhibits a depth of understanding and a sophisticated use of language.

5 Answer
The five essay reflects a strong grasp of the text. The response has a clearly stated thesis which is convincingly supported. In both understanding and writing, the paper is proficient. The essay reflects a strong grasp of the conventions of language.

4 Answer
The four essay is competent. References are present and suitable, but may be limited to only part of the text. The assertions in the four essay tend to be simplistic. There are no significant errors in reading. The writing is able to convey the writer's views in an organized, straightforward fashion; errors are present but generally not distracting. Overall, the student has good control of the conventions of language.

3 Answer
The three essay's response is barely adequate. While the student's treatment of the topic may not be wrong, it may be incomplete or so superficial as to seem inaccurate. While a central idea may not be clearly stated, it is present or implied and at least partially supported. Support may consist of long references to the prose, which are not clearly connected to a central idea; alternatively, support may be very meagre and/or replaced by repetitive statements. Organization is present, but may not directly help the flow of ideas. There are lapses in the student's control over the conventions of language.

2 Answer
The two essay's response reflects a significant misunderstanding of the story and/or the task required by the question. The discussion may be irrelevant, seriously incomplete, or simply wrong. Composition errors are recurring and distracting. In some cases, the marker may sense that the student has grasped the essence of the question but has such deficiencies in language as to render the explanation seriously compromised.

1 Answer
The one essay compounds the problems of the two essay. These papers are often noticeably weaker in their prose. There is a serious lack of control in the writing; in fact, the marker may wonder, at times, what the writer is trying to say. Other one papers are little more than a restatement of the topic.

0 Answer
The 0 essay response has less than a complete sentence, or is written in verse, or is a response manifesting an achievement less than outlined in scale point 1.