| Effective introduction |   | Poor or no introduction | 
| Thorough and systematic investigation of job |   | Superficial | 
| Range of appropriate sources of information used |   | Basic or too few sources of information used | 
| Accurate information |   | Inaccurate information | 
| Pertinent self assessment in relation to the job |   | Poor matching of self to the job's requirements | 
| Critical approach to material |   | Material regurgitated without comment | 
| Perceptive analysis of job and type of employer |   | Poor analysis, lack of awareness of broader issues | 
| Pertinent conclusion |   | Inadequate or no conclusion | 
| Report style and layout, succinct and precise |   | Inappropriate style, prone to waffle | 
| No errors of spelling, typing, grammar and syntax, etc. |   | Many errors |