# What is a rubric?

> A rubric sets out the criteria for a piece of work and what each level of quality looks like. Here are the types, an example, and how rubrics make marking fair.

Learn · Glossary

A rubric is a scoring guide that lists the criteria for a piece of work and describes what each level of quality looks like, so marking is consistent and students know what's expected.

- Page: https://sparkmentis.ai/learn/what-is-a-rubric

## Types

- **Analytic.** Each criterion is scored separately: thesis, evidence, structure, language.
- **Holistic.** One overall score, described level by level.
- **Single-point.** Only the expected standard is described; notes mark above or below it.

## Why they matter

Rubrics make marking fairer between teachers and between scripts, and they make AI marking checkable: the AI can say which criteria an answer met.

## Questions

**Do rubrics work for math?**

Yes: method, accuracy and communication can each be criteria.

**Can AI mark with my rubric?**

Yes. SparK-12's AI marking follows your rubric and gives reasons.

## Related

- [SparK-12: AI marking](https://app.sparkmentis.ai/features/ai-marking): Suggested marks with reasons, released by people
- [What is AI marking?](https://sparkmentis.ai/learn/what-is-ai-marking.md): Glossary
- [SparkMentor: Essay feedback](https://sparkmentor.sparkmentis.ai/features/essay-feedback): Thesis, structure, evidence, tone

## Book a demo

Email info@sparkmentis.ai (subject "SparkMentis demo request") with your organization, your role and the products you're interested in.