Having a bank of strengths on hand when you’re marking can really help speed up the process.

It streamlines your feedback, because you don’t have to think of all your strengths from scratch.

They’re ready and waiting for you.

All you need to do is pick two or three out that accurately convey the assessment you’ve made in your mind about the learner’s work.

Here you’ll find a bank of sixty ready-made strengths covering three areas:

• Speaking and Listening
• Language and Vocabulary
• Reading and Writing

You can use these as you find them, or you can tweak and tailor them to your individual learners.

At the Assessment for Learning Knowledge Base you’ll find hundreds more exemplar strengths and targets.

All these together give you a host of possibilities for speeding up your marking, while still ensuring you give high-quality formative feedback to every learner you teach.

Enjoy!

Ready-Made Strengths: Speaking and Listening

1. You are expressing your own point of view clearly and confidently. This is good because it is helping you to articulate and further develop your thoughts. It also means that others can hear your ideas.
2. In class discussions you frequently put forward your own ideas. This helps others learn and also lets you find out what they think about your ideas.
3. There have been many times over the last term where you have made really thoughtful contributions to class discussions and debates. Well done.
4. On many occasions the contributions you have made in class have moved the learning on and helped everybody to better understand the topic. Keep it up.
5. When you speak in class you exhibit a calm confidence. This is a result of your sound understanding of the material we are studying which, in turn, is down to your hard work and application.
6. You are not afraid to speak out in class or to put forward an opinion that differs from what others think. This shows independence and strength of character – two great traits to keep developing.
7. It is noticeable that you think before you speak in class discussions. The result of this is that what you say is clear, logical and thoughtful.
8. Your discussion contributions demonstrate that you think carefully about how to express yourself. This is good because it means your comments communicate accurately what it is you are thinking.
9. Through a combination of confident speaking and thoughtful reasoning you are able to argue persuasively in class discussions and debates.
10. When you speak in class you often put forward persuasive arguments. These are based on a careful use of language and the marshalling of credible and convincing reasons, evidence and examples.
11. I have noticed that during discussions and debates you listen carefully to whoever is talking. This demonstrates a real respect for the speaker and is also a powerful way of developing your own understanding.
12. You frequently model excellent listening. This involves looking at the speaker, paying attention and responding, if appropriate, to what it is they are saying. Well done.
13. The comments you make in discussions demonstrate that you have listened carefully to what has been said. This is because they tend to link directly to what has already been talked about.
14. When you are part of a discussion, it is clear from your comments that you are taking on board that which other people are saying.
15. Throughout the term you have asked really thoughtful questions about the work we have been doing. This suggests that you are listening carefully to what is said in class and then analysing the material as well.
16. There have been a number of occasions where you have asked other learners to explain their points, to give examples, or to clarify what they are saying. This is excellent. It demonstrates that you are listening carefully and then thinking critically about what is being said.
17. Well done for maintaining an open mind during our discussions. I have seen you develop and alter your opinions a number of times, based on what you have heard. This shows that you are prepared to listen to different ideas.
18. You show considerable patience when waiting to speak during discussions. This is good because it shows respect and also suggests that you are listening to others even though there is something you would like to share.
19. It has been clear throughout the term how you have been supportive of others during group, paired and whole-class discussion. Well done, you are helping them to learn and displaying admirable conduct at the same time.
20. Excellent adaptation of your language and presentation style in order to meet the demands of the audience.

Ready-Made Strengths: Language and Vocabulary

1. Excellent use of the keywords we have been studying. Your work shows that you understand their meaning and how to use them in a sentence.
2. It is clear that you have developed a good understanding of the keywords in the topic. I have indicated where you have used them correctly – which is in the majority of your work.
3. You have made skilled use of technical vocabulary. This is good because it raises the level of your work, making it more formal and more suited to the subject.
4. There is some excellent application of technical vocabulary in your work. It is clear that you understand what these terms mean and when they should be used.
5. Throughout your writing there is evidence that you understand the language of the subject and that you know how to use it correctly. Well done.
6. Thoughtful choice of keywords. This indicates a clear understanding of their correct usage.
7. I have indicated a number of occasions where your choice of language demonstrates particularly careful thought. You have chosen the right words to convey your meaning.
8. It is evident from your work that you are thinking carefully about what language to use and when to use it.
9. Your work shows an extensive vocabulary being put to good use. It makes your writing engaging, persuasive and enjoyable to read.
10. I am impressed by the range of words you have used and have highlighted some examples that are particularly worthy of note.
11. You are writing more academically, which is excellent. It makes your work feel more formal and less like a conversation. Well done.
12. I can see that you are really focussing on developing your style so that it is more academic. You have definitely succeeded in doing this. Your writing is increasingly appropriate to the tasks we are doing.
13. Your work is becoming like that of a historian/scientist/mathematician. You are weaving the conventions of the discipline into your writing. Keep it up.
14. It is clear that you understand how a historian/scientist/mathematician ought to write. I can see that you are applying the conventions of the discipline to your work.
15. This is an excellent piece of work. You have really understood the genre and have used many of the techniques that go with it.
16. I am pleased to see that you have made use of the appropriate dramatic elements in your work, as we discussed. This has made your writing feel much more as if it is of the genre.
17. You have achieved a great deal of clarity through your use of language. Your meaning is communicated simply and clearly. Well done.
18. I can see that you have thought carefully about what language to use. This is because your choice of words puts across very precisely what it is that you are trying to say.
19. Your work contains accurate spelling and punctuation throughout. This means that it communicates more clearly to the reader. It also demonstrates a high level of understanding.
20. You have made use of logical sentence and paragraph structures throughout your work. This helps to ensure your writing is clear and easy to read.

Ready-Made Strengths: Reading and Writing

1. It is clear from your work that you have fully understood the meaning of the text. You have made relevant explanations that are clear and precise.
2. Your answers suggest that you have read the text carefully and understand what the author is trying to say.
3. You have made good use of the information we have been looking at. This is clear from how you have applied it to your own arguments.
4. I can see from your answers that you understand the information. You have applied your knowledge with skill and flair.
5. Your work contains some excellent analysis. You have broken down the text and pulled it apart in order to explain how it works.
6. There is clear evidence here of thoughtful analysis. Your writing explicitly details the various elements that influence the ideas we have been studying.
7. Excellent evaluation. You have presented a range of arguments both for and against, before coming to a conclusion.
8. Your writing shows a careful consideration of the various points, coupled with a considered judgement about which is most persuasive.
9. I am impressed at how you have incorporated the material we have looked at into your own work. This suggests you are thinking creatively about how to make use of it.
10. Well done. You have successfully brought a number of different elements into your work, giving it a sense of purpose and direction.
11. From your answers I can see that you have understood the texts we have been studying. It is clear that you are able to apply yourself to analysis with skill and precision.
12. There is clear evidence in your work of a developed understanding of what the text is saying.
13. I am pleased at how you are developing your answers. You frequently make extra points and give detailed examples to help flesh out your work.
14. On a number of occasions you have developed your answers in greater detail. This is excellent because it demonstrates that you are thinking carefully about the topic and how best to convey your knowledge and understanding.
15. The level of detail in your writing is superb. No stone is left unturned as you seek to explore the ideas and information in depth.
16. The extent of your analysis is impressive. The level of detail with which you explain the key issues suggests that you have an excellent understanding of what they are and how they are structured.
17. Throughout your work you use a variety of evidence and a range of examples. This is good because it shows that you are thinking broadly about the topic.
18. There is a nice range of evidence and examples in your work. This suggests to the reader that you understand the topic in depth.
19. It is clear from your work that you have been able to unlock the meaning in the text. I can see from this that you have read it carefully and analysed what the author is trying to do.
20. I can see from your work that you are able to pick apart the text so as to draw out the variety of meanings that it holds. Well done – this is high-level analysis.