ULD scoring exists for one reason:
To make diagnosis comparable, repeatable, and trackable without changing the ULD axes.
ULD does not rank humans.
ULD measures capability states.
Scoring allows progress to be observed without redefining what Depth, Load, or Transfer mean.
Why ULD Uses Bands Instead of Scores
ULD avoids fine-grained numerical scores because numbers create false precision.
Instead, ULD uses capability bands that reflect real-world performance boundaries.
Bands answer:
- Is the capability absent, unstable, or reliable?
- Does it collapse under real conditions?
- Is it transferable beyond training?
These questions matter more than decimals.
The ULD Band System (Universal)
Each axis (Depth, Load, Transfer) is scored independently using the same band structure.
Band 0 — Absent
- Capability does not exist
- Performance collapses immediately
- Human cannot execute even in simplified conditions
Band 1 — Fragile
- Capability exists only with heavy scaffolding
- Performance collapses when support is removed
- Success depends on cues, templates, or guidance
Band 2 — Stable
- Capability holds under normal conditions
- Performance is reliable in familiar formats
- Errors are detected and corrected
Band 3 — Robust
- Capability holds under pressure
- Performance remains stable as constraints tighten
- Human recovers quickly from disruption
Band 4 — Transferable
- Capability adapts to new contexts
- Human succeeds in unfamiliar formats
- Skill generalises beyond training conditions
These bands are fixed and apply identically to Depth, Load, and Transfer.
Scoring Each Axis Independently
ULD requires independent scoring.
A human may be:
- Depth Band 3
- Load Band 1
- Transfer Band 0
This profile is common and explains why many humans “understand” but still fail.
ULD forbids averaging bands into a single score.
Averages hide bottlenecks.
How to Assign Bands (Operational Rules)
Depth Bands
- Band 0–1: cannot explain or reconstruct without prompts
- Band 2: can explain and rebuild in calm conditions
- Band 3: can explain and rebuild under mild pressure
- Band 4: can reconstruct in new representations or analogies
Load Bands
- Band 0–1: collapses under time or stress
- Band 2: stable in calm, normal conditions
- Band 3: stable under pressure
- Band 4: stable across varied high-load environments
Transfer Bands
- Band 0–1: fails on new formats
- Band 2: adapts after seeing examples
- Band 3: adapts independently
- Band 4: adapts across domains and contexts
Tracking Progress Without Distortion
ULD tracks band movement, not raw performance.
Valid progress looks like:
- Depth Band 1 → 2
- Load Band 2 → 3
- Transfer Band 0 → 2
Invalid progress looks like:
- higher scores without band movement
- temporary gains that collapse under retest
- improvement in one axis masking weakness in another
Retest Rules (Non-Negotiable)
Band assignment is valid only if confirmed by retesting:
- simplify to confirm Depth band
- constrain to confirm Load band
- vary to confirm Transfer band
If retests contradict the band, the band must be revised.
What ULD Scoring Is Not
ULD scoring is not:
- an intelligence ranking
- a grading system
- a comparison between humans
- a prediction of potential
- a permanent label
Bands describe current capability state, not identity.
How Scoring Fits Into the Full ULD System
ULD Overview:
https://edukatesg.com/uld/
ULD Protocol:
https://edukatesg.com/uld-protocol/
ULD Repair:
https://edukatesg.com/uld-repair/
Next layer (real-world grounding):
ULD Examples:
https://edukatesg.com/uld-examples/
If You Are Using ULD Correctly
You track bands, not ego.
You repair bottlenecks, not averages.
You expect bands to move over time.
That is how ULD becomes a stable diagnostic standard.
Next Page
To prevent misinterpretation and show how ULD works in practice:
When ready, say Next and I’ll deliver Page 8: ULD Examples (cross-age, cross-domain, real-world grounded).