IPS SCORING GUIDE:
Demonstrating Your Understanding and Getting Feedback
level 6 - Student work at this level shows excellent understanding of science concepts and their interrelationships and shows a mastery of the scientific method to solve problems. Analysis, conclusions and explanations are detailed and show very logical and thoughtful reasoning. Models, principles or theories are used creatively, coherently and effectively to analyze problems, draw analogies and make insightful inferences. Accurate calculations clearly show the appropriate methods of calculations. Student work thoroughly addresses all aspects of the task. Written communication is clear, coherent and effective. WOW! Awesome! Truly exceptional! (A+)
level 5 -Student work shows strong understanding of science concepts and their interrelationships and shows very good use of the scientific method to solve problems. Analysis, conclusions and explanations show logical and thoughtful reasoning. Models, principles or theories are used coherently and effectively to demonstrate understanding. Calculations are mostly correct and show appropriate methods. Student work accurately addresses all major aspects of the task. Written communication is clear and coherent. Good job! I am convinced you understand. You get it. This makes sense. (A)
level 4 -Student work shows good understanding of science concepts and skill in use of the scientific method to solve problems. Analysis, conclusions and explanations show good reasoning. The use of models, principles or theories is mostly accurate to demonstrate understanding. Mostly correct calculations show some appropriate methods of calculations. All major aspects of the task are addressed, although there may be minor errors and/or misconceptions. Written communication is coherent. OK! I think you understand. You got it, mostly. (B)
level 3 -Student work shows basic understanding of science concepts and some use of the scientific method to solve problems. Analysis, conclusions or explanations show some reasoning, but may be vague or incomplete. Models, principles or theories are used with some accuracy. Calculations show some appropriate methods of calculations. Most aspects of the task are addressed. Written communication is understandable. Almost! You understand some of the pieces, but need to do additional work to see the connections. You are getting close. Keep going. (C)
level 2 - Student work shows limited evidence of understanding of science concepts (partial understanding). Conclusions, explanations, and calculations may be vague or illogical, but at least demonstrate some coherent reasoning and some understanding. Written communication is limited. Well, you understand some of the concepts, but have some big holes. Keep going. (D)
level 1 -Student work shows minimal knowledge and little understanding of science concepts. Explanations may be vague or illogical. The response is incomplete. Written communication is limited. You got something right. You need to focus on this area. (F)