Outcome Mastery vs Grade
Clear explanation of the two-layer assessment model used by ILS: the overall Grade (summative) and Outcome Mastery (diagnostic).
Layer 1 — The Grade (fixed)
- Purpose: A single-number summary of overall performance
- Use: Answers "Is this student passing?" and is shown prominently across the UI
Example: An average grade of 66.7 / 100 — shown as THE grade.
Layer 2 — Outcome Mastery (diagnostic)
- Purpose: Skill-level scores for specific outcomes or competencies
- Use: Answers "Which specific skills is this student missing?" and helps detect hidden gaps
Example: - Outcome: Scientific Method = 3.3 / 10 ← problem - Outcome: Data Analysis = 8.3 / 10 ← strong
Why both layers matter
A student can pass overall yet still lack key skills on specific outcomes. Outcome Mastery reveals those gaps so teachers can target remediation before the student advances.
How outcome mastery is calculated
- A submission is graded using a rubric tied to learning outcomes
- Each rubric criterion receives a rating
- The ratings are aggregated to create a score for that submission
- The submission score updates the student's outcome mastery
- The system tracks this score over time to show trends
Reading the numbers
Outcome mastery scores are typically on a 0–10 scale: - Below 4.0: significantly below target (needs intervention) - 4.0–6.9: approaching target (continue practice) - 7.0–10: at or above target (strength)
Why it matters
- Mastery scores allow the system to compare students fairly across different assignments
- They provide the basis for snapshots, trends, heatmaps, and at-risk detection
- Teachers use mastery as a normalized indicator of whether a student is meeting the intended outcome
Last updated: 2026-07-08