Using the Turnitin Rubric Tool: Align Criteria to Clearly Defined Performance Levels and Associated Grades

Using the Turnitin Rubric Tool: Align Criteria to Clearly Defined Performance Levels and Associated Grades

Sunday, July 12, 2026

Image by Maginific

Well-designed rubrics address this challenge by making assessment expectations explicit, helping students understand how their work will be evaluated while promoting fairness and transparency throughout the marking process.

Turnitin's Rubric Tool 

Turnitin's Rubric Tool allows lecturers to design structured marking guides that can be attached directly to assignments (within the Turnitin platform and in iKamva). By embedding rubrics into the assessment process, lecturers can communicate expectations clearly, provide consistent marking across large classes; and deliver richer, criterion-based feedback that supports student learning.

Designing Meaningful Assessments Aligned to Rubrics

Meaningful assessment extends beyond assigning a single overall mark. It provides students with detailed information about different aspects of their performance, allowing them to recognise both their strengths and the areas that require further development. The Turnitin Rubric Tool enables lecturers to assess multiple dimensions of an assignment independently. These may include the following criteria 

• Content knowledge

• Critical thinking

• Academic writing

• Referencing

• Organisation and structure

• Presentation and formatting  

Each criterion can include clearly defined performance levels and associated marks, allowing lecturers to evaluate student work in a structured and transparent manner. This approach provides a more comprehensive picture of student achievement while ensuring that assessment aligns with the learning outcomes of the module. 

Rubric and Feedback Tools 

Effective feedback plays a vital role in student learning. Rather than simply informing students of the mark they achieved, lecturers are also able to add feedback in relation to the mark. Using Turnitin's Rubric Tool, lecturers can assess assignments directly within the marking interface by selecting the appropriate performance level for each assessment criterion. As the rubric is completed, marks are calculated automatically, ensuring accuracy and consistency throughout the marking process. 

Students are able to view:

• Their overall mark.

• Scores for each assessment criterion.

• Areas where they performed well.

• Specific aspects that require further development.

• The relationship between the assessment criteria and the feedback provided.

Detailed feedback encourages reflection, supports continuous improvement, and helps students develop the academic skills required for future assessments. 

Reusable Rubrics

One of the key advantages of Turnitin's Rubric Tool is its flexibility. Lecturers can create multiple rubrics for different modules, assignments, or assessment types; and reuse them across future courses. This not only saves time but also promotes consistency in assessment practices within and across departments. Reusable rubrics also make it easier to standardise marking criteria for modules taught by multiple lecturers or tutors, helping to ensure that students are assessed fairly regardless of who marks their work.

Getting Started: Create a Rubric in Turnitin 

We offer training on how to effectively use the Turnitin Rubric Tool. Contact the CIECT team (ictskillstraining@uwc.ac.za) to arrange a session to add your rubric to an assignment on Turnitin.