Modern Foreign Languages/ Kings College London

Criteria for Marking Translations from the Target Language into English
A++
First
90-100

A+
First
80-89

A
First
70-79

With regard to what can be expected from a student/candidate at Level 5

an outstanding translation, which shows an exceptionally high degree of understanding and
stylistic precision. It is hard to see how more could have been demanded within the constraints of
the task.
Grammar and
Extremely high degree of accuracy in translating an extensive range of
syntax
grammatical and syntactical constructions. One or two minor errors at most.
Vocabulary and
Outstanding choice of vocabulary and idiom. Translation reads like idiomatic
expression
English. No word errors.
Register
Outstanding manipulation of register to convey many of the ambiguities and
subtleties contained in the original passage.
Translation
Outstanding translation, which is faithful to the original without being too
technique
literal. No omissions or additions which would change the sense of the
original text.
Spelling and
Exceptionally high degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. Only one
punctuation
or two minor errors, if any.
an excellent translation which shows a very high degree of understanding and stylistic precision.
Grammar and
syntax
Vocabulary and
expression
Register

Very high degree of accuracy in translating a wide range of grammatical and

syntactical constructions. Only a few errors.
Excellent choice of vocabulary and idiom. Translation reads like idiomatic
English.
Excellent manipulation of register to convey many of the ambiguities and
subtleties contained in the original passage.
Translation
Excellent translation, possibly of outstanding quality, which is generally
technique
faithful to the original without being too literal. Virtually no omissions or
additions which would change the sense of the original text.
Spelling and
Very high degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. Only a few errors
punctuation
at most.
a very good translation which shows a high degree of understanding and stylistic precision.
Grammar and
syntax

Vocabulary and
expression

Register
Translation
technique
Spelling and
punctuation

High degree of accuracy in translating a wide range of grammatical and

syntactical constructions. There may be a few minor errors and/or some
problems with the accurate rendering of very complex structures, but these
are largely resolved by credible paraphrase.
Very good choice of vocabulary and idiom. Specialised vocabulary may
present some problems, but these are largely resolved by credible
paraphrase. Translation generally reads like idiomatic English. There may be
a few minor word errors.
Very good manipulation of register to convey many of the key stylistic
features of the original passage.
Comprehensive translation, which is generally faithful to the original without
being too literal. Very few omissions or additions which would change the
sense of the original text.
High degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. Very few (minor) errors.

B
Upper
second
60-69

C
Lower
second
50-59

D
Third
40-49

a good translation which shows a good degree of understanding and stylistic precision.
Grammar and
syntax

Good degree of accuracy in translating a wide range of grammatical and

syntactical constructions. There may be some errors and/or problems with
the accurate rendering of complex structures, but the overall meaning
remains for the most part clear.
Vocabulary and
Good choice of vocabulary and idiom. Specialised vocabulary presents some
expression
problems, but there should be clear and plausible attempts to overcome
these. There may be a few word errors.
Register
Good manipulation of register to convey some of the stylistic features of the
original passage.
Translation
Good translation, which is generally faithful to much of the original text
technique
without being too literal. There may be some minor omissions or additions
which would change the sense of the original text.
Spelling and
Good degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation, although there may be
punctuation
some errors.
a sound translation which shows an appropriate degree of understanding and stylistic
awareness.
Grammar and
Appropriate degree of accuracy in translating key grammatical and
syntax
syntactical structures. There are some recurrent errors and/or recurrent
problems with the accurate rendering of more complex structures, but the
overall meaning generally remains clear.
Vocabulary and
Generally sound choice of vocabulary and idiom. There are occasional gaps or
expression
inappropriate lexical choices. There should be clear attempts to overcome
gaps in knowledge, but these are not always convincing. Some basic word
errors are possible.
Register
Some general awareness of register, but this may be inconsistent and may not
always match the register of the original text.
Translation
Fairly sound translation, which is mostly faithful towards the original text but
technique
tends towards being too literal. There are some omissions or additions which
change the sense of the original text.
Spelling and
Appropriate degree of accuracy in spelling and punctuation, although there
punctuation
may be recurrent errors.
an adequate translation which shows a basic degree of understanding and stylistic awareness.
Grammar and
syntax

Vocabulary and
expression

Register
Translation
technique
Spelling and
punctuation

Basic level of accuracy in translating key grammatical and syntactical

constructions. There are many recurrent (basic) errors and/or frequent
problems with the accurate rendering of simple and more complex
structures. Several errors may be serious enough to impede the meaning of
the text.
Basic and/or inaccurate choice of vocabulary. Contains frequent gaps,
inappropriate lexical choices and/or incorrect paraphrase. Shows some basic
attempts to work around gaps in knowledge, but these are usually
unconvincing, and/or there may be many word errors that sometimes hamper
understanding.
Adequate choice of register overall but frequently inappropriate or highly
inconsistent.
Basic translation, which is often unfaithful and/or overly literal in its
rendering of the original text. There are frequent omissions and/or additions
which change the sense of the original text.
Basic level of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. There are many errors.

F+
Fail
33-39

an incomplete or inaccurate translation, which shows a limited degree of understanding and

stylistic awareness.
Grammar and
Limited level of accuracy in translating key grammatical and syntactical
syntax
constructions. Due to a difficulty in rendering even basic linguistic structures
and/or many (basic) errors several passages of the translation may be
unintelligible.
Vocabulary and
Limited and often inaccurate choice of vocabulary. Translation contains many
expression
serious gaps and/or inappropriate lexical choices and/or word errors so that
several passages of the translation may be unintelligible. There are few
attempts to work around gaps in knowledge.
Register
Limited sense of register.
Translation
technique

F
Fail
20-32

Inadequate translation, which is often unfaithful and/or overly literal in its

rendering of the text. There are serious omissions and/or additions which
impede the sense of the original text.
Spelling and
Limited level of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. There are frequent
punctuation
(basic) errors.
a mostly incomplete or inaccurate translation, which shows a very limited degree of
understanding and stylistic awareness.
Grammar and
Very limited accuracy in translating key grammatical and syntactical consyntax
structions. Due to an extreme difficulty in rendering even basic linguistic
structures and/or a very high number of errors the translation is largely
unintelligible and/or contains such erratic grammar that long passages are
incorrect.
Vocabulary and
Very limited and mostly inadequate level of vocabulary. Translation contains
expression
a high number of serious gaps and/or inappropriate lexical choices and/or
word errors that meaning is often unintelligible. There are very few attempts
to work around gaps in knowledge.
Register
Very limited sense of register.
Translation
technique

FF
Fail
0-19

Very inadequate translation, which is mostly unfaithful and/or overly literal

in its rendering of the text. There are often serious omissions and/or
additions which render the sense of the original text almost unintelligible.
Spelling and
Very limited level of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. There are very
punctuation
frequent basic errors throughout.
an (almost) entirely incomplete or inaccurate translation, which shows no or hardly any degree
of understanding and stylistic awareness.
Grammar and
Extremely limited or no accuracy in translating key grammar and syntactical
syntax
constructions. Due to the inability to render even basic linguistic structures
and/or an extremely high number of (basic) errors the translation is (mostly)
unintelligible or contains such erratic grammar that hardly anything is
correct.
Vocabulary and Inadequate level of vocabulary overall. Translation contains numerous gaps
expression
and/or inappropriate lexical choices and/or such a high number of word
errors that meaning is (almost) completely unintelligible. There is no or
hardly any attempt to work around gaps in knowledge.
Register
Extremely limited or no sense of register.
Translation
Extremely inadequate translation, which is (almost) entirely unfaithful
technique
and/or literal in its rendering of the text. The work displays no or hardly any
knowledge and understanding of translation processes. There are numerous
omissions and/or additions which render the sense of the original text
(almost) unintelligible.
Spelling and
Extremely limited level of accuracy in spelling and punctuation. Dominated
punctuation
by errors.

Kings College London/Modern Foreign Languages, September 2016