Reference

Marking Criteria Reference

The full rule-set powering Lucas AI's examiner: live criteria per board, how a raw AI score maps to an examiner mark, the analysis engine, adaptive scoring, and the ABRSM & Trinity rule tables built into the system.

Official criteria, in real time

Board

Grade

ABRSM Performance Grade — per piece /30

Grade 5 · per piece /30

Stylistic awareness, accurate intonation, expressive shape.

/6
Pitch & Intonation
Accuracy of notes, secure tuning and consistent intonation across the range.
/6
Tone & Quality
Quality, projection and consistency of sound; control of resonance.
/6
Time & Rhythm
Pulse, rhythmic accuracy and stylistic tempo flexibility (rubato).
/6
Shape & Phrasing
Musical line, dynamic shaping, articulation and structural contour.
/6
Overall Performance & Understanding
Communication, stylistic conviction and musical understanding overall.

Maximum total: 30 marks.

How a score becomes an examiner mark

The AI listens, scores your performance out of 100, then maps that confidence onto the board's actual mark ceiling using 88% strictness for Grade 5. Higher grades demand more for the same evidence.

AI score

55/100

Examiner mark

19.7/30

Below Pass

AI score

70/100

Examiner mark

24/30

Merit

AI score

85/100

Examiner mark

27.5/30

Distinction

Band thresholds for Grade 5: Pass 20 · Merit 24 · Distinction 27 (out of 30).

Output format: every report shows the exact breakdown per piece plus technical work, followed by Total Mark, Grade and Examiner Summary. Exported PDFs carry the same content with a header and footer reading "Aligned to official ABRSM standards".

Analysis engine rules

Every recording is measured against nine independent dimensions, then weighted by the board's published category structure. Grade level controls how strict each dimension is — the same wobble that passes at Initial fails at Diploma.

What we measure

Pitch / Intonation

Rhythm

Accuracy

Articulation

Dynamics

Tone

Security

Phrasing

Style

Adaptive strictness by grade tier

Tier	Error tolerance	What the AI demands
Initial – Grade 3	High	Simple, encouraging feedback; basic accuracy expected.
Grades 4 – 6	Medium	Consistency across the whole piece — no recurring slips.
Grades 7 – 8	Low	Refined control, shaping and stylistic awareness.
Diploma	Zero	Artistic, professional-level interpretation throughout.

Adaptive scoring

Same number, different meaning. A 24/30 reads "approaching distinction" at Grade 3, but "borderline merit" at Grade 8. The mark is the same — the standard it's being measured against is not.

Comments scale with you. Initial – Grade 3 gets encouraging plain-English feedback. By Diploma, the same engine writes in stylistic, technical, professional language.

ABRSM — 100% official rules built in

ABRSM

Total /100Pieces 3 × 30 = 90 · Scales & Arpeggios 10

85–100 Distinction

75–84 Merit

60–74 Pass

<60 Below

Piece marking (each /30)

Technical Accuracy & Control /12 · 40%	Notes, intonation, rhythm, fluency, clean shifts/bowing, even tone "Correct, secure, fully controlled"
Interpretation & Musicality /9 · 30%	Dynamics, phrasing, articulation, style, tempo, markings "Shaped, expressive, right style"
Tone Quality & Production /6 · 20%	Warmth, clarity, consistency, colour, no harshness "Beautiful, controlled sound"
Communication & Conviction /3 · 10%	Confidence, flow, recovery, presence "Engaging, alive performance"

Piece bands (/30)

27–30 Exceptional

24–26 Excellent

21–23 Good

18–20 Satisfactory

<18 Weak

Scales & Arpeggios (/10): Accuracy 4 · Intonation 3 · Rhythm 2 · Presentation 1

9–10 Distinction

7–8 Merit

6 Pass

<6 Below

Trinity — 100% official rules built in

Trinity

Total /100Pieces 3 × 22 = 66 · Technical Work 14 · Supporting Tests 20

87–100 Distinction

75–86 Merit

60–74 Pass

<60 Below

Piece marking (each /22)

Technical Skill & Control /10 · 45%	Accuracy, intonation, rhythm, fluency, control, evenness
Musical Understanding & Interpretation /8 · 36%	Dynamics, phrasing, articulation, style, markings, tempo
Communication & Engagement /4 · 19%	Confidence, character, conveying music, recovery

Piece bands (/22)

19–22 Distinction

16–18 Merit

13–15 Pass

<13 Below

Technical Work (/14): Accuracy 6 · Intonation 4 · Rhythm 3 · Presentation 1

12–14 Distinction

10–11 Merit

8–9 Pass

<8 Below