Hi Emily: For practical or skill based activities, I have found success using a simple rating scale, something like: 0 = Unstaisfactory performace 2 = Satisfactory performance 3 = Superior/Outstanding/Well above average This can be applied to individual components or steps in a procedure, or used as an overall rating. What I like is the student either clearly has the requesite skills or they don't. There's also a rating for exemplary performance. When essential or critical steps are involved it's hard for me to see a rating of say, "C-". They etheir got it or they don't, or they've mastered it. Just one way of looking at it. Regards, Barry