--- title: Rubrics slug: rubrics docTags: createdAt: 2025-09-22T16:29:44.976Z --- Rubrics is the central library for creating and managing reusable rubrics used in courses, assignments, discussions, and course templates. Build a rubric once and reuse it anywhere you grade. From here you can create, edit, copy, tag, and export rubrics. Rubrics can either calculate grades or be used for feedback only, and they support criteria weights and optional level ranges for more precise scoring. When a rubric is attached to a grade, assignment, or discussion, students will see the rubric in the Student Portal once the grade is published. Rubrics added to course templates automatically copy forward to new courses. ::Iframely{originalUrl="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq4wEM_Q4jQ" embedUrl="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq4wEM_Q4jQ" title="Rubrics" html="
"} ## Adding a New Rubric to the Bank To add a new rubric to the bank, open **Home / Rubrics** and click **New Rubric**. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/IRd_yGq6BxoVAmOMZG8Pu_image.png) A setup modal opens—use the options below to define the rubric’s structure before you design the grid. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/5YvOXtKNF8vJIOIcdkP5S_image.png) ### Name, Description, and Tags Give the rubric a clear name. Add a short description if you want internal context. Tags are optional and help with searching and organizing later. ### Level scale Choose the performance labels that will appear across the top of the rubric (2–6 levels). The dropdown includes many ready-made options (e.g., *Excellent / Good / Fair / Poor* or *Exemplary / Proficient / Developing / Beginning*). Pick whichever is closest to your needs—you can rename levels and edit their descriptions later on the **Design** tab, and you can adjust the number of levels from **Details** if required. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/WTyQTDtG_iWyMOuDqMXEz_image.png) ### Scale type Choose how each level gets its point value. The options change the fields shown in the modal: ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/LEa0otSoqQxOChanOFp7y_image.png) - **Sequential:** Fixed descending values (e.g., 4, 3, 2, 1). - **Equal division:** Divides a maximum value evenly across the number of levels. - A **Scale points** field appears where you enter the top score. Example: with 4 levels and Scale points = 100, the levels become 100, 75, 50, 25; with 5 levels, 100, 80, 60, 40, 20. - **Custom:** You set the exact value for each level. - A **Custom scale values** field appears; enter numbers separated by commas, highest to lowest (e.g., for five levels: 10, 9, 7, 4, 1). - **None / Feedback only:** No numeric score is calculated; use the rubric purely for comments/feedback. When attached to a grade, the grade field remains editable. After you click **Add Rubric**, you can continue customizing on **Edit Rubric**—including enabling **levels with range**, setting **criteria weights**, and renaming levels or criteria on the **Design** grid. ### Rubric criteria Choose how many criteria (rows) the rubric will score - **1 to 10** from the dropdown. This sets the initial number of rows on the **Design** grid. ### Access settings Control who can see and edit the rubric, and where it’s available. - **Read access: **Determines who can view the rubric in the Rubrics list and use it when attaching to grades, assignments, or discussions (subject to their general permissions). - **Update access: **Determines who can edit the rubric’s settings and design. - **Location access: **Limits the rubric to specific campuses/locations so it’s only available where you intend to use it. :::hint{type="info"} Access settings affect staff visibility and editing. Student visibility is separate - students see rubrics only when a rubric is attached to their work. ::: Once these fields are set, click **Add Rubric** to create it. You’ll land on **Edit Rubric** to fine-tune details and design. ## Customizing and Editing Rubrics After you click **Add Rubric**, you’re taken to the Rubric Edit page. It’s the same page you’ll see when editing an existing rubric. The right side has two sections: **Details** (structure and settings) and **Design** (the grid you’ll use for scoring). ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/s60cdk9fG3SehBbmip8Qk_image.png) ## Rubric Details Section Use the **Details section** to adjust the rubric’s structure and settings. Changes take effect on the Design grid after you click Save. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/2U-RUGSMOvyCeISQieKnI_image.png) - **Rubric Key:** system ID (read-only) - **Rubric Name:** title shown in the list and on PDFs - **Description:** optional staff notes - **Tags:** optional labels for search/filtering - **Levels:** number of performance levels (columns) - **Scale Type:** how levels get points - **Sequential:** fixed descending values (e.g., 4, 3, 2, 1). - **Equal division:** evenly splits a top score across levels; **Scale points** appears to set the top score. - **Custom:** define the exact numeric value for each level on the **Design** grid (click a level’s value to edit, e.g., 100, 85, 70, 50). If **Levels with range** is enabled, each level shows **Min/Max** you can adjust, and bands can be fine-tuned per criterion. - **None / Feedback only:** no numeric score; for comments/feedback only. - **Levels With Range:** convert each level to a min–max band (e.g., 81–100) - **Criteria:** number of rows to score - **Criteria Weights:** enable row weighting **Right column (Print / Access / Scope)** - **Print Page Size:** paper size for PDF - **Page Orientation:** portrait or landscape - **Print **[PDF Template](docId:3aW2wrBZ-qZwGGEgdSsr-)**:** optional layout template - **Owner:** display only (read-only) - **Read Access:** who can view/use the rubric - **Update Access:** who can edit it - **Location Access:** limit availability to selected campuses/locations When the structure looks right, click **Save** and switch to **Design** to fill in level names, points or ranges, criteria, and the cell descriptions students will see. You can return to **Details** anytime to tweak levels, scale type, ranges, or weights. ## Rubric Design Section The **Design** grid is where you write the rubric itself—level names and descriptions, the points (or ranges) for each level, your criteria rows, and the per-cell descriptions students will see. What you can edit here depends on the options you enabled in **Details** (Scale type, Levels with Range, Criteria Weights). ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/76oRw5Wz6y2-DOyziW6s8_image.png) ### Edit a Level (Name, Description, and Score) Click a **level header** to open **Edit Rubric Level**. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/zkeF4ugabIfN8VNfT5_Ff_image.png) Here, you can rename the level, update its description, and set its score. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/_g61p0dkHJeY7fHXLfkB3_image.png) - **Sequential:** points are fixed by the number of levels (e.g., 4,3,2,1); not editable on Design. - **Equal division:** points are evenly split; not editable on Design. To change them, adjust **Scale points** in **Details**. - **Custom:** - **Without ranges:** enter the exact points for the level. - **With *Levels with Range* on:** the field represents the **maximum** for that level. Start at the top level with the highest score, then work downward (set each level’s max below the one above). The system fills the lower bounds automatically based on the next level down and closes the bottom band for you. ### Rename a Criterion (and Set Weight) To edit the details of a criterion, start by clicking on the **criterion name**. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/LlIeqEmKZynRx6FBIUK5g_image.png) In **Edit Rubric Criteria** you can rename the row. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/Nu1TFtYwWy-ZsbKqn_8eG_image.png) If **Criteria weights** is enabled, a **Criteria weight** field appears; save to update and the percentage shows under the criterion name. ### Edit Cell Descriptions Click any description to open the **Edit Rubric Criteria Description **modal**.** ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/PDMp0w_VGIGNT4aJP0hYP_image.png) Enter what performance looks like for that criterion at that level. Keep it specific and observable; this is what students will read when grades are published. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/DyzJrkNXDWbqb3vv1FjQo_image.png) ### Rubric Preview Click **Download PDF** to open a live preview of your rubric in a modal. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/-jxeBBj754xVEISq-_Fpy_image.png) Use the toolbar at the top to zoom, move between pages, or save the PDF. The layout reflects your **Page size**, **Orientation**, and any **PDF template** set in **Details**. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/WiClnH5NmlDjOBKQ1kCDi_image.png) ## Rubric Tags Use tags to group and find rubrics quickly. Tags are color-coded chips that show on the Tags page and help you filter on the Rubrics list. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/p_ZzgdkebDUlAIRyUZiZK_image.png) ### Create a Rubric tag On the **Tags** tab, click **New Tag** to open the **Add Tag** window. Choose a **Tag Colour**, enter the **Tag** name (required) and an optional **Description**, then click **Add** to save. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/-7OR3wvEXQCPTQMXEgffC_image.png) ### Edit or Delete a Rubric Tag Use the **pencil** to rename or change color/description. Use the **×** to delete a tag you no longer need. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/I0bETjB1bOMm-hHmZeZWJ_image.png) ### Apply Tags to a Rubric Open the rubric, go to **Details / Tags**, pick one or more tags, and **Save**. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/cf1yJVUew2yBnJkR0EHZy_image.png) The coloured-coded tags will appear on the Rubrics list. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/sKe4dBOaJUbBWNE4cN40x_image.png)