RAE grades guide
The following rating scale and accompanying descriptions will be used for the 2001 RAE.
| 5 * | Quality that equates to attainable levels of international excellence in more than half of the research activity submitted and attainable levels of national excellence in the remainder. |
| 5 | Quality that equates to attainable levels of international excellence in up to half of the research activity submitted and to attainable levels of national excellence in virtually all of the remainder. |
| 4 | Quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in virtually all of the research activity submitted, showing some evidence of international excellence. |
| 3a | Quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in over two thirds of the research activity submitted, possibly showing evidence of international excellence. |
| 3b | Quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in more than half of the research activity submitted. |
| 2 | Quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in up to half of the research activity submitted. |
| 1 | Quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in none, or virtually none, of the research activity submitted. |