What is essential to ensure fairness when using rubrics?

• A. Score without reference to criteria.
• B. Change criteria per student.
• C. Using rubrics randomly.
• D. Calibrating with colleagues using sample work.

Answer: (D)

Calibrating rubrics with colleagues using sample work aligns how each criterion and each performance level is interpreted across graders. By jointly reviewing representative student responses, you agree on which level fits which criteria and establish anchor examples that anchor meaning to concrete work. This practice builds a shared standard, helps graders apply the rubric consistently, and improves reliability so that scores reflect actual differences in performance rather than individual judgment quirks.

This fairness comes from reducing subjective variance among graders and making scores comparable across students and evaluators. If you score without a reference, judgments can drift since different raters may have different intuitions about what a level looks like. Changing criteria per student undermines standardization, and applying rubrics randomly lacks any system to ensure consistent interpretation. Calibrating with sample work provides the needed structure to grade fairly.