What is the primary purpose of a rubric?

The primary purpose of a rubric is to help assess the quality of students' work based on defined criteria. Rubrics provide a structured framework that outlines specific expectations and performance indicators for various aspects of an assignment. This clarity allows both educators and students to understand what constitutes successful work, making it easier to evaluate performance in a consistent and objective manner.

By using a rubric, instructors can communicate the key components of an assignment, which aids students in focusing their efforts on important elements that contribute to achieving learning objectives. It also facilitates self-assessment, allowing students to reflect on their own work against the criteria before submission, leading to deeper learning and improvement. In contrast, other options such as assessing performance based on standardized exams or tracking attendance do not align with the rubric's primary function of assessing quality through defined standards.