Prescribed criteria

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which of these is a prescribed criterion?

A The client's brief states the app must load a customer's order history in under 3 seconds.

B You decide your app should have a dark mode because you think it looks cool.

2. Where would you look FIRST to find prescribed criteria?

A In the task brief or client requirements document

B In your own list of ideas from a brainstorm

3. Which statement about prescribed criteria is correct?

A The solution will be judged against them.

B You can ignore them if you prefer your own plan.

4. Which is a checkable version of the prescribed criterion 'The system must be easy to use'?

A The system should feel nice and simple for people.

B A new user can complete a booking in 5 clicks or fewer without help.

5. Which is a checkable version of the prescribed criterion 'The program must be fast'?

A The program runs quickly most of the time.

B The search results display within 2 seconds for a database of 1000 records.

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1Prescribed criteria		AThe statement is still vague and has no measurable target, so it cannot be checked as met or not met.
2Criterion: "Must be easy to use"		BBrief: "The app must load in under 3 seconds." -> Prescribed criterion
3Identifying a prescribed criterion in a task brief: look for what the client says the solution must do or be judged on		CSuccess criteria set for you by the task, such as an assessment brief or client, that your solution is judged against
4Turning a prescribed criterion into a checkable statement by adding a measurable target		DA vague prescribed criterion found in a task brief that needs to be rewritten as a checkable statement
5Our own criterion: "I want a blue theme" (listed as a prescribed criterion)		EPrescribed criteria are set by the task or client, not chosen by the student. A student's own choice is a self-determined criterion.
6Checkable statement: "The system should be fast and friendly"		FEasy to use -> A new user completes checkout in 5 clicks or fewer

Definitions

Prescribed criteria

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

Source: assessment _____ or client request

Criteria set by the task are called __________

IF loadTime _ 3 THEN

User 13 or older: IF ___ >= 13 THEN

Each criterion needs a pass or ____ result

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A Source: assessment brief

B Criterion: Loads in 3 seconds

C Test: Loads quickly enough

Question 2

A Set by: the student alone

B Criterion: Export PDF report

C Test: PDF file is created

Question 3

A Brief says: login required

B Criterion: Users must log in

C Source: assessment brief

D Test: Page background is blue

Question 4

A Brief: must work on phones

B Criterion: Has a dark theme

C Test: Opens on a phone screen

Question 5

A Prescribed = set by you

B Example: marking guide item

C Example: client requirement

Answer Key

Prescribed criteria

Section A: Quick Questions

A — The client's brief states the app must load a customer's order history in under 3 seconds.

A — In the task brief or client requirements document

A — The solution will be judged against them.

B — A new user can complete a booking in 5 clicks or fewer without help.

B — The search results display within 2 seconds for a database of 1000 records.

Section B: Match the Pairs

Prescribed criteria → Success criteria set for you by the task, such as an assessment brief or client, that your solution is judged against

Criterion: "Must be easy to use" → A vague prescribed criterion found in a task brief that needs to be rewritten as a checkable statement

Identifying a prescribed criterion in a task brief: look for what the client says the solution must do or be judged on → Brief: "The app must load in under 3 seconds." -> Prescribed criterion

Turning a prescribed criterion into a checkable statement by adding a measurable target → Easy to use -> A new user completes checkout in 5 clicks or fewer

Our own criterion: "I want a blue theme" (listed as a prescribed criterion) → Prescribed criteria are set by the task or client, not chosen by the student. A student's own choice is a self-determined criterion.

Checkable statement: "The system should be fast and friendly" → The statement is still vague and has no measurable target, so it cannot be checked as met or not met.

Section C: Definitions

Prescribed criteria — Success criteria set for you by the task, such as an assessment brief or client, that your solution is judged against. Turn each one into a checkable statement.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

Source: assessment brief or client request

Criteria set by the task are called 
prescribed

IF loadTime < 3 THEN

User 13 or older: IF age >= 13 THEN

Each criterion needs a pass or fail result

Section E: Spot the Error

C — A prescribed criterion must become a checkable statement. 'Quickly enough' cannot be tested. It should name the measure, for example 'Test: Load time <= 3 seconds'.

A — Prescribed criteria are set by the task, such as the client or assessment brief. Criteria set only by the student are self-determined. It should read 'Set by: the client brief'.

D — The test must check the criterion it belongs to. Background colour says nothing about logging in. It should test the login rule, such as 'Test: Wrong password rejected'.

B — A prescribed criterion comes from the brief, and the brief asks for phone support. A dark theme is not in the brief. The line should be 'Criterion: Works on phones'.

A — Prescribed criteria are set by the task, such as the brief or client, not by you. Criteria you set yourself are self-determined. It should be 'Prescribed = set by the task'.