What the grades require

Four moves, in a fixed order — every part of every paper is graded on how many of the four you complete.

5 terms

Cover the right column and check you can say what each one means.

Meaning: Convert the given percentage or ratio into plain words, with a dollar comparison where possible — the Achieved-level move.
Reason: One cause for the trend, drawn from the resource and specific to THIS entity — never a generic "costs went up".
Link: How this measure connects to another measure the paper has given you — the Merit-level move.
Consequence: What happens to the business NEXT as a result — followed one step further than feels necessary, the Excellence-level move.
Recommendation: A clear YES/NO decision, with at least three reasons (one an analysis measure) and both dollar and ratio figures — always the final part.

Identify which of the three groups (profitability, liquidity, stability) the given measure belongs to — that tells you which consequence to reach for.
Check whether an industry-average figure has also been given — if so, the answer needs BOTH a trend comparison and an industry comparison.

Ground every claim in the SPECIFIC figures and narrative given in the resource — a statement that could apply to any business earns nothing here.

Practice for this standard covers the whole topic — flashcards and quiz.