Definition
The specific, measurable standards a learner must meet to demonstrate successful completion of a training task or objective. Performance criteria define the conditions, the action required, and the standard of acceptable performance — for example, the altitude tolerance, airspeed range, or accuracy a maneuver must be flown to.
Plain English
The exact things a student must be able to do, and how well they must do them, to be considered competent at a task.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation instruction, lesson plans, and assessments when an instructor explains how a student’s work or flying will be judged.
Derivation
From Latin criterium, meaning 'a standard for judging.' Performance criteria are literally the standards by which performance is judged.
Why Pilots Care
Meeting performance criteria ensures pilots develop the skills needed for safe and competent operation, and they form the basis for practical test standards.
Intuition Check
Do not read performance criteria as a general impression of how well someone did. In this context, it means stated standards that can be observed and judged.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor reviewed the performance criteria for steep turns before the lesson so the student knew exactly what tolerances were expected.
Example Sentence 2
The practical test standards list performance criteria for each required maneuver.