General Marking SPaG Marking Guide
Capital
Letters
Apostrophes
Spellings
What to look for
Capital letters should only be used for:
 Beginning of sentences
 Names of people or places
 Names of days and months (not seasons)
 For the word ‘I’
 Titles
 Initials
Apostrophes should only be used for:
 Contractions, to show that a letter has
been missed out (don’t, I’ve)
 Possession, to show that something
belongs to someone (the teacher’s chair)
 It’s = it is
 Its = belonging to it
Apostrophes should not be used for plurals
Identify any incorrectly spelt words in the students’
work.
Annotation
Circle the incorrect use of a lower case letter
(when it should be a capital) and vice versa.
If there are many errors, focus on 3 words per
piece of work. These may be subject specific terms
or key words for the topic.
Put
Put
CL (capital letter) in the margin.
Circle the incorrect use of an apostrophe or the
whole word if it is missing an apostrophe.
Put a
P (punctuation) in the margin.
Underline the word that is spelt incorrectly.
SP (spelling) in the margin.
The student should be able to use a dictionary to
find the correct spelling and write it out 3 times.
For students with dyslexia, and for words with
difficult beginnings, teachers will need to correct
the spelling.
Extended Writing SPaG Marking Criteria
SPaG
Mark
4
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3
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2
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1

Criteria (Exam Board)
Learners spell and punctuate with consistent
accuracy.
Learners use rules of grammar with effective control
of meaning overall.
Learners use a wide range of specialist terms as
appropriate.
Learners spell and punctuate with considerable
accuracy.
Learners use rules of grammar with general control
of meaning overall.
Learners use a good range of specialist terms as
appropriate.
Learners spell and punctuate with reasonable
accuracy.
Learners use rules of grammar with some control of
meaning and any errors do not significantly hinder
meaning overall.
Learners use a limited range of specialist terms as
appropriate.
The learner writes nothing.
The learner’s response does not relate to the
question.
The learner’s achievement in SPaG does not reach
the threshold performance level, for example errors
in spelling, punctuation and grammar severely
hinder meaning.
Pupil-Friendly Language
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My spelling and punctuation is always accurate.
My sentences all make sense. My grammar is
always correct.
I can use a wide range of terminology appropriate
to the task.
My spelling and punctuation is mostly accurate.
My sentences generally make sense. My grammar
is usually correct.
I can use some terminology appropriate to the
task.
My spelling and punctuation is sometimes
accurate.
My sentences don’t always make sense, but you
can still understand what I am trying to say.
I need to use appropriate terminology in my work.
I haven’t written anything.
I need to relate my ideas to the question.
My spelling, punctuation and grammar errors
mean that it is hard to understand what I am trying
to say.