This rubric is used for all work assessed under MYP science Criterion A: Knowing and understanding.

1. This is the rubric for all work assessed under Criterion A. Click on any hyperlink in the rubric to see an
official MYP definition of the term, as well as our own ‘student-friendly’ definition.
Level Criterion A: “Knowing and Understanding”
General Descriptors for Grades 9-10 (MYP 4-5)
7 - 8 i. ​explain​ scientific knowledge
ii. ​apply​ scientific knowledge and understanding to ​solve​ problems set in familiar and
unfamiliar situations
iii. ​analyse​ and ​evaluate​ information to make scientifically supported judgments.
5 - 6 i. ​describe​ scientific knowledge
ii. ​apply​ scientific knowledge and understanding to ​solve​ problems set in familiar situations
and ​suggest​ solutions to problems set in ​unfamiliar situations
iii. ​analyse​ information to make scientifically supported judgments.
3 - 4 i. ​outline​ scientific knowledge
ii. ​apply​ scientific knowledge and understanding to ​solve​ problems set in familiar situations
iii. ​interpret​ information to make scientifically supported judgments.
1 - 2 i. ​state​ scientific knowledge
ii. ​apply​ scientific knowledge and understanding to ​suggest​ solutions to problems set in
familiar situations
iii. ​interpret​ information to make judgments.
0 The student does not reach a standard identified by any of the descriptors below.
Original by Bradley M. Kremer (​www.mrkremerscience.com​). This work is licensed under a ​Creative Commons
Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License​. As long as it is attributed, you may copy, redistribute, remix,
transform, and build upon this resource in any medium or format, even commercially.

2. A: Knowing
and
Understanding
Level
8 - 7
Level
6 - 5
Level
4 - 3
Level
2 - 1
Level
0
i. Explaining
knowledge
explain
scientific
knowledge
describe
scientific
knowledge
outline
scientific
knowledge
state​ scientific
knowledge
does not reach
a standard
identified by
any of the
descriptors
ii. Solving
problems
apply​ scientific
knowledge and
understanding
to ​solve
problems set
in familiar and
unfamiliar
situations
apply​ scientific
knowledge and
understanding
to ​solve
problems set
in familiar
situations and
suggest
solutions to
problems set
in ​unfamiliar
situations
apply​ scientific
knowledge and
understanding
to ​solve
problems set
in familiar
situations
apply​ scientific
knowledge and
understanding
to ​suggest
solutions to
problems set
in familiar
situations
does not reach
a standard
identified by
any of the
descriptors
iii. Analyzing
and evaluating
information
analyse​ and
evaluate
information to
make
scientifically
supported
judgments
analyse
information to
make
scientifically
supported
judgments
interpret
information to
make
scientifically
supported
judgments
​interpret
information to
make
judgments
does not reach
a standard
identified by
any of the
descriptors
Original by Bradley M. Kremer (​www.mrkremerscience.com​). This work is licensed under a ​Creative Commons
Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License​. As long as it is attributed, you may copy, redistribute, remix,
transform, and build upon this resource in any medium or format, even commercially.

3. Term MYP definition​ on top
Student-friendly definition​ underneath
Analyse MYP definition​: Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure. To identify parts
and relationships, and to interpret information to reach conclusions.
Student-friendly definition​: Take apart and look at how the parts interact. Look for patterns and figure
out what those patterns mean.
Apply MYP definition​: Use knowledge and understanding in response to a given situation or real
circumstance.
Student-friendly definition​: Use what you already know in a new and/or different situation.
Describe MYP definition​: Give a detailed account or picture of a situation, event, pattern or process.
Student-friendly definition​: Tell how something happened (i.e. “first this, then that, then the next
thing”). In experiments, identify the minimum and maximum values of data in experimental results and
recount the overall trends between variables.
Evaluate MYP definition​: Make an appraisal by weighing the strengths versus the limitations.
Student-friendly definition​: Look at how well something worked, whether it’s a hypothesis, method, or
collection of information.
Explain MYP definition​: Give a detailed account including the how and the why.
Student-friendly definition​: Tell how and why something happened and justify it with scientific
evidence and/or reasons.
Interpret MYP definition​: Use knowledge and understanding to recognize trends and draw conclusions from
given information.
Student-friendly definition​: Identify and describe patterns in data, and tell what those patterns mean.
Outline MYP definition​: Give a brief account.
Student-friendly definition​: Briefly describe the major points or concepts.
Solve MYP definition​: Obtain the answers using appropriate methods.
Student-friendly definition​: Get the right answer by using the procedure your teacher taught you.
State MYP definition​: Give a specific name, value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.
Student-friendly definition​: Give a one- or two-word answer. Nothing else is needed.
Suggest MYP definition​: Propose a solution, hypothesis or other possible answer.
Student-friendly definition​: Propose one or more possible ways to solve a problem.
Unfamiliar
situation
MYP definition:​ Refers to a problem or situation in which the context or the application is modified so
that it is considered unfamiliar for the student
Student-friendly definition:​ A problem unlike those we have seen before; a new situation
Original by Bradley M. Kremer (​www.mrkremerscience.com​). This work is licensed under a ​Creative Commons
Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License​. As long as it is attributed, you may copy, redistribute, remix,
transform, and build upon this resource in any medium or format, even commercially.