iRubric: IGCSE Descriptive Writing rubric

Writing has very few elements which enables the reader to visualize. The writing is not descriptive.

Writing has very few elements which enables the reader to visualize. There are glimpses where the writer attempts to choose unusual vocabulary, use sensory words, employ active adjectives, use similes and metaphors.

Writing has some elements which enables the reader to visualize. The writer attempts to choose unusual vocabulary, use sensory words, employ active adjectives, use similes and metaphors but there are many errors.

Writing has some elements which enables the reader to visualize. The writer attempts to choose unusual vocabulary, use sensory words, employ active adjectives, use similes and metaphors but there are some errors.

Writing has many elements which enables the reader to visualize. The writer attempts to choose unusual vocabulary, use sensory words, employ active adjectives, use similes and metaphors but it is mechanical.

Writing has very many elements which enables the reader to visualize. The writer masterfully chooses unusual vocabulary, uses sensory words, employ active adjectives, uses similes and metaphors without noticeable error.

Some attempt to organise ideas into sentences; evidence of some conscious separation of ideas for clarity

Begins to show variation in, and some control of, sentence structures; uses simple and compound sentences with occasional complex sentences.

Conscious variation of sentence structures may be found in short sentences or
exclamations for effect, rhetorical questions, or in complex sentences linked with appropriate discourse markers e.g. “Firstly, the most important …”. Variation is unlikely
to be sustained; may be some lack of control and grammatical insecurity.

Sentence structures are varied (short sentences or exclamations for effect, rhetorical questions, complex sentences), generally grammatically secure and, at times, effective.

Uses a wide range of sentence structures effectively.

Clear and controlled manipulation of sentence structures for effect.