What is a rubric primarily used for in student assessment?

A rubric is primarily used to differentiate levels of skill performance or behavior, providing a clear set of criteria against which student work can be evaluated. It lays out specific expectations for an assignment or task by detailing levels of quality for various criteria, such as understanding of material, skill application, creativity, or adherence to procedures. This helps instructors deliver nuanced feedback, guiding students in understanding their strengths and areas that require improvement.

By articulating varying degrees of performance, rubrics enable both instructors and students to have a common understanding of what constitutes excellence in a given task. This transparency is particularly important in educational settings, as it encourages self-assessment and helps students take ownership of their learning journey.

In contrast, counting tasks completed, creating a singular score based on attendance, or standardizing grades across different subjects do not capture the comprehensive assessment of student skills and behaviors in the same way, which is why they do not align with the primary purpose of a rubric.