Marking Criteria Translation Into Foreign Language

I (70% +)

II. I (60-69%)

II. II (50-59%)

III (40-49%)

Understanding and
communication of
meaning

The English text

has been
faithfully and
accurately
rendered.
Nuances of
meaning are
precisely
captured.

Most of the English

original has been
rendered faithfully.
The meaning of the
English text has
been generally
understood.

Often poor and

inaccurate rendering
although the meaning
of the English text
has been generally
understood.

Command of
syntax and
grammar

Sophisticated use
of syntax and
grammar
practically free
from errors

Good use of syntax

and grammatical
accuracy.

Reasonable but not

always accurate
rendering of English
text.
The meaning of the
English text has been
generally conveyed
but the students
translation feels like a
text translated from a
foreign language.
Reasonable use of
syntax and
grammatical accuracy

Knowledge and use

of vocabulary in
target language

Excellent range
and knowledge
of vocabulary
and idioms,
always
responding
accurately to
English text.
Rare or no need
to paraphrase.
Excellent use of
appropriate
register in the
target language
and awareness of
cultural context.

Good knowledge
of vocabulary and
idioms. Paraphrase
will sometimes be
employed, but will
generally be
correct where used.

Reasonable use of
vocabulary and
idioms. Frequent and
sometimes incorrect
paraphrase.

Mostly appropriate
use of register and
awareness of
cultural context.

Register not always

appropriate and some
failures to show
awareness of cultural
context

Frequent
shortcomings in the
use of register and
evidence of little
understanding of
cultural context.

Excellent level
of fluency and
manipulation of
the language in
light of demands
of translation
Spelling
practically free
from errors.
Excellent use of
punctuation.

Good level of
fluency and
manipulation of the
language in light of
demands of
translation
Minor spelling
errors and
competent use of
punctuation.

Reasonable level of
fluency and
manipulation of the
language in light of
demands of
translation
A number of spelling
errors. Use of
punctuation not
always accurate.

Little fluency and

poor manipulation of
the language in light
of demands of
translation

Ability to use
appropriate
register and
understand
cultural context

Fluency and
adaptability in style

Spelling and
punctuation

Syntactic structures
very basic and
accuracy is
compromised by a
number of very
intrusive and basic
errors.
Shortcomings in the
use of appropriate
vocabulary and
idioms. Will contain
gaps or invented
words or large
amounts of incorrect
paraphrase.

Substantial
interference from
source language. A
marked number of
spelling errors. Lack
of familiarity with
punctuation
conventions in the
target language.

Fail (39% and

below)
Incompetent
rendering of
English text.
Lack of evidence
that English text
has been fully
understood.

Numerous mistakes
in the manipulation
of syntax and
inadequate
understanding of
grammar.
Lack of knowledge
of basic
vocabulary.
Frequent errors in
the use of
vocabulary and
idioms compromise
communication
throughout the
work.
No idea of
appropriate register
or cultural context.

No fluency and
failure to
manipulate the
language in light of
demands of
translation.
Communication is
put at risk by the
frequent number of
spelling and
punctuation errors.