A Simple Science Rubric: Not Yet, Getting There, Got It
By Ahmed, founder
You don’t need a complicated grading system to give students useful feedback. A three-level rubric, Not yet, Getting there, Got it, is quick to use and easy for students to understand.
Why three levels?
- Quick to apply. Two minutes per student, or a glance at a notebook.
- Clear. Students can see what the next step is.
- Growth-focused. “Not yet” says the skill isn’t there yet.
A starter rubric
| Looks for | Not yet | Getting there | Got it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Question | A topic, not a question | A question, but hard to test | A clear question that can be tested |
| Fair test | Several things changed at once | One thing changed, others not all kept the same | One thing changed, others kept the same and listed |
| Measurement | Described in words only | Measured once per version | Measured with units and repeated at least three times |
| Results | Data missing or unclear | Data in a table | Data in a table and a graph that’s easy to read |
| Conclusion | Restates the prediction | A claim with some evidence | Claim, evidence from the data and a reason why |
| Explaining it | Can’t explain what they did | Explains the steps | Explains the steps, the result and one thing they’d change |
Use as is or trim to the one or two rows that match the lesson.
How to use it
- Share it before the task, so students know what “good” looks like.
- Pick one or two rows per assignment, not all six.
- Mark with a tick or a highlight rather than writing comments on everything.
- Add one next step: “Next time, repeat your test three times.”
- Let students self-assess first. Compare with yours.
For younger students
Use pictures and three faces or stars. For K to 2, focus on a few rows: question, fair test, measurement and “explaining it.” Ask the child to show you what they did. Observation tells you more than a written product.
Assess thinking, not neatness
Avoid marking spelling, handwriting or artwork in science. Look at the reasoning: did they predict, compare, use evidence and explain?
Conferences and report cards
Keep a simple record: which rows each student has reached. Over a term, you’ll see growth, and it gives parents specific things to talk about.
In our lessons
Every Fieldbook lesson ends with an assessment table in this format, with three rows aligned to the lesson’s goals. Try it with Why do scientists repeat their tests? The free Science Fair Planner includes a judging rubric. Sign up for three lessons free.