Pearson - International GCSE Art and Design Taxonomy - How to use the Taxonomy in conjunction with the Assessment Grid

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Pentious

Pearson’s International GCSE Art and Design Taxonomy explains how to apply the taxonomy alongside the assessment grid to support centre feedback on student progress. It describes how examiners make holistic judgements for each component using performance band descriptors, including a best-fit approach when work sits between two bands. After selecting a performance band, centres use the assessment grid to assign marks per assessment objective and total mark, referencing the specification section on applying the grid. It also notes a November 2023 update changing “Crude” to “Rudimentary”.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

How to use the Taxonomy with the Assessment Grid

Holistic judgement and performance bands

Best-fit approach for work between bands

Using the assessment grid to assign marks

November 2023 keyword descriptor update

Pearson – International GCSE Art and Design Taxonomy How to use the Taxonomy in conjunction with the Assessment Grid Both components in this qualification are 100% externally assessed, however centres will find it helpful to use the taxonomy and assessment grid to provide feedback on student’s progress. • When assessing work for each component, examiners will make a holistic judgement using the descriptors in the taxonomy, to establish which performance band matches most closely the candidate’s work. • Candidate’s work that falls between two performance bands must achieve all the keyword descriptors in the lower band and some in the band above. Where this happens, examiners will use their professional judgement to decide which performance band is most appropriate using a ‘best-fit’approach. • After a performance band has been established, the next stage is to use the assessment grid to decide a mark within the performance band. Read through ‘Applying the Assessment Grid’ on page 41 of the specification prior to establishing a mark for each assessment objective and total mark. | Performance bands | BELOW INTERNATIONAL GCSE STANDARD (0) | LIMITED | L IMITED/ BASIC | BASIC | BASIC/EMERGING COMPENENT | EMERGING COMPETENT | EMERGING COMPETENT / COMPETENT & CONS ISTENT | COMPETENT &
CONSISTENT | COMPETENT & CONSISTENT/ CONFIDENT & ASSURED | CONFIDENT & ASSURED | CONFIDENT & ASSURED / | EXCEPTIONAL | EXCEPTIONAL | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Consider the keyword descriptors to the right carefully.
Has the candidate achieved all,
most or some of the descriptors? | No rewardab le material | Unstructured Clumsy Disjointed Minimal Rudimentary | The cand idate has ach ieved a l l of the keyword descr iptors in the lower band and some of those above . | Deliberate
Methodical
Superficial Partial Unresolved Simplistic | The cand idate has ach ieved a l l of the keyword descr iptors in the lower band and some of those above . | Reflective
Predictable
Broadening
Repetitive
Intentional Adequate | The cand idate has ach ieved a l l of the keyword descr iptors in the lower band and some of those above . | Informed Purposeful Diverse Sustained Skilful Effective | The cand idate has ach ieved a l l of the keyword descr iptors in the lower band and some of those above . | Advanced Comprehensive Perceptive Exciting
In-depth Fully resolved Risk-taking | The cand idate has ach ieved a l l of the keyword descr iptors in the lower band and some of those above . | | Highly skilled Inspired
Intuitive Sophisticated Insightful Powerful Daring Unexpected
Outstanding | | | 0
marks | 1 – 12 marks | 13
14
15
marks | 16 – 24 marks | 25
26
27
marks | 28 – 36 marks | 37
38
39
marks | 40 – 48 Marks | 49
50
51
marks | 52 – 60 marks | 61
62
63
marks | | 64 – 72 marks | *Please note that as of November 2023, the Level 1 key word descriptor 'Crude' has been changed to 'Rudimentary'

FAQs

How do examiners decide which performance band matches a candidate’s work?

Examiners make a holistic judgement using the descriptors in the taxonomy to identify the performance band that matches most closely.

What happens when a candidate’s work falls between two performance bands?

The candidate must meet all keyword descriptors in the lower band and some in the band above; examiners then use a best-fit professional judgement to choose the most appropriate band.

How is a mark assigned after a performance band is established?

Centres use the assessment grid to decide a mark within the established performance band, after reading “Applying the Assessment Grid” in the specification.

What keyword descriptor change took effect as of November 2023?

The Level 1 keyword descriptor “Crude” was changed to “Rudimentary” as of November 2023.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Pentious