Find the weightings first
If analysis is worth 40% and presentation is worth 10%, your effort should reflect that. Students routinely polish the 10% and rush the 40%.
Turn each criterion into a question
Rewrite every rubric line as a question your submission must answer. Then check, at the end, that it does.
Look for the verbs
Describe, compare, evaluate and justify are different tasks with different mark ceilings. A description where evaluation was asked for caps you at a pass.
Check the top band wording
The difference between the top two bands is usually one specific thing. It is written down. Most students never read it.