Writing rubrics
86 writing rubrics used in US schools, each on a readable page with a printable PDF you can download in one click. Every one lists its criteria and point values and links to the official document it came from.
Free to read and free to print, no account and no email. All 66 PDFs are US Letter, black and white, with a blank scoring sheet at the end. Each rubric is also built into the essay grader, so you can score an essay against one without retyping it.
State assessment rubrics
- NJSLA-A Grades 6–8 Argumentative RubricGrades 6-815 points3 criteriaNJ
- NJSLA-A Grades 6–8 Informative and Explanatory RubricGrades 6-815 points3 criteriaNJ
- NJSLA-A Grades 6–8 Narrative RubricGrades 6-815 points3 criteriaNJ
- NJSLA-A Grade 9 and NJGPA-A Argumentative RubricGrades 9-1215 points3 criteriaNJ
- STAAR Grades 6-8 Extended Constructed Response (ECR) — Argumentative/Opinion Writing RubricGrades 6-85 points2 criteriaTX
- Smarter Balanced Argumentative Performance Task Writing Rubric (Grades 6-11)Grades 6-1110 points3 criteriaSBAC
- NYS Regents Examination in English Language Arts — Part 2 Rubric: Writing from Sources (Argument Essay)Grades 9-126 points4 criteriaNY
- B.E.S.T. Writing Rubric — Argumentation, Grades 4-6Grades 4-612 points3 criteriaFL
- B.E.S.T. Writing Rubric — Argumentation, Grades 7-10Grades 7-1012 points3 criteriaFL
- B.E.S.T. Writing Rubric — Expository, Grades 4-6Grades 4-612 points3 criteriaFL
- B.E.S.T. Writing Rubric — Expository, Grades 7-10Grades 7-1012 points3 criteriaFL
- New York State Grades 3-8 ELA 2-Credit Constructed-Response RubricGrades 3-82 points1 criterionNY
- New York State Grades 4-5 Writing Evaluation Rubric (4-Credit Constructed-Response / Writing from Sources)Grades 4-54 points4 criteriaNY
- New York State Grades 6-8 Writing Evaluation Rubric (4-Credit Constructed-Response / Writing from Sources)Grades 6-84 points4 criteriaNY
- NJSLA-A Grade 3 Informative and Explanatory RubricGrades 312 points3 criteriaNJ
- NJSLA-A Grade 3 Narrative RubricGrades 312 points3 criteriaNJ
- NJSLA-A Grade 9 and NJGPA-A Conventions RubricGrades 9-125 points1 criterionNJ
- NJSLA-A Grade 9 and NJGPA-A Informative and Explanatory RubricGrades 9-1215 points3 criteriaNJ
- NJSLA-A Grade 9 Narrative RubricGrades 915 points3 criteriaNJ
- NJSLA-A Grades 3–5 Conventions RubricGrades 3-54 points1 criterionNJ
- NJSLA-A Grades 4–5 Informative and Explanatory RubricGrades 4-512 points3 criteriaNJ
- NJSLA-A Grades 4–5 Narrative RubricGrades 4-512 points3 criteriaNJ
- NJSLA-A Grades 4–5 Opinion RubricGrades 4-512 points3 criteriaNJ
- NJSLA-A Grades 6–8 Conventions RubricGrades 6-85 points1 criterionNJ
- NYS Regents Examination in English Language Arts — Part 3 Rubric: Text-Analysis (Exposition)Grades 9-124 points4 criteriaNY
- Smarter Balanced Explanatory Performance Task Writing Rubric (Grades 6-11)Grades 6-1110 points3 criteriaSBAC
- Smarter Balanced Informational Performance Task Writing Rubric (Grades 3-5)Grades 3-510 points3 criteriaSBAC
- Smarter Balanced Narrative Performance Task Writing Rubric (Grades 3-8)Grades 3-810 points3 criteriaSBAC
- Smarter Balanced Opinion Performance Task Writing Rubric (Grades 3-5)Grades 3-510 points3 criteriaSBAC
- STAAR English I/II Extended Constructed Response (ECR) — Argumentative/Opinion Writing RubricEnglish I-II5 points2 criteriaTX
- STAAR English I/II Extended Constructed Response (ECR) — Informational Writing RubricEnglish I-II5 points2 criteriaTX
- STAAR Grades 3-5 Extended Constructed Response (ECR) — Argument/Opinion Writing RubricGrades 3-55 points2 criteriaTX
- STAAR Grades 3-5 Extended Constructed Response (ECR) — Informational Writing RubricGrades 3-55 points2 criteriaTX
- STAAR Grades 6-8 Extended Constructed Response (ECR) — Informational Writing RubricGrades 6-85 points2 criteriaTX
- STAAR Short Constructed Response (SCR) — Reading Domain, Generic Item-Specific Scoring FrameworkGrades 32 points1 criterionTX
- STAAR Short Constructed Response (SCR) — Writing Domain, Generic Item-Specific Scoring Framework (Sentence Revision/Combining)Grades 31 points1 criterionTX
- CMAS Grades 6-8 Prose Constructed Response Rubric — Research Simulation / Literary AnalysisGrades 6-87 points2 criteriaCO
- CMAS Grades 6-8 Prose Constructed Response Rubric — Narrative TaskGrades 6-87 points2 criteriaCO
- MCAP ELA Informative/Explanatory Rubric, Grades 6-8 and 106-8, 107 points2 criteriaMD
- MCAP ELA Narrative Writing Rubric, Grades 6-8 and 106-8, 107 points2 criteriaMD
- PSSA Text-Dependent Analysis Scoring Guidelines (Grades 4-8)Grades 4-84 points1 criterionPA
- Ohio's State Test Holistic Informative/Explanatory Writing Rubric, Grades 3-5Grades 3-510 points3 criteriaOH
- Ohio's State Test Holistic Opinion Writing Rubric Grades 3-5Grades 3-510 points3 criteriaOH
- Ohio's State Tests Holistic Informative/Explanatory Writing Rubric, Grades 6-HSGrades 6-1210 points3 criteriaOH
- Ohio's State Tests Holistic Argumentation Writing Rubric Grades 6-HSGrades 6-1210 points3 criteriaOH
- Georgia Milestones Grade 7 ELA EOG Writing Rubrics: Four-Point Holistic Rubric, Genre: NarrativeGrades 74 points1 criterionGA
- Georgia Milestones Grade 7 ELA EOG Writing Rubrics: Two-Trait Rubric, Genre: Informational/ExplanatoryGrades 77 points2 criteriaGA
- Georgia Milestones Grade 7 ELA EOG Writing Rubrics: Two-Trait Rubric, Genre: ArgumentativeGrades 77 points2 criteriaGA
- MCAS ELA Grades 3–5 Extended Response (ER) Rubric for Written Expression and ConventionsGrades 3-55 points2 criteriaMA
- MCAS ELA Grades 6–8 Extended Response (ER) Rubric for Written Expression and ConventionsGrades 6-85 points2 criteriaMA
- MCAS ELA Grade 6–8 English Language Arts Essay RubricGrades 6-88 points2 criteriaMA
- MCAS ELA Grade 10 English Language Arts Essay RubricGrades 108 points2 criteriaMA
- Grade 3 Scoring Rubric for Prose Constructed Response Items: Research Simulation Task (RST) and Literary Analysis Task (LAT)Grades 36 points2 criteriaIL
- Grade 3 Scoring Rubric for Prose Constructed Response Items: Narrative Writing Task (NWT)Grades 36 points2 criteriaIL
- Grades 4-5 Scoring Rubric for Prose Constructed Response Items: Research Simulation Task (RST) and Literary Analysis Task (LAT)Grades 4-57 points2 criteriaIL
- Grades 4-5 Scoring Rubric for Prose Constructed Response Items: Narrative Task (NT)Grades 4-56 points2 criteriaIL
- TNReady Grades 4-5 Opinion RubricGrades 4-516 points4 criteriaTN
- TNReady Grades 4-5 Informational/Explanatory RubricGrades 4-516 points4 criteriaTN
- TNReady Grades 4-5 Narrative RubricGrades 4-516 points4 criteriaTN
- TNReady Grades 6-8 Argument RubricGrades 6-816 points4 criteriaTN
- TNReady Grades 6-8 Informational/Explanatory RubricGrades 6-816 points4 criteriaTN
- TNReady Grades 6-8 Narrative RubricGrades 6-816 points4 criteriaTN
- TNReady Grades 9-12 Argument RubricGrades 9-1216 points4 criteriaTN
- TNReady Grades 9-12 Informational/Explanatory RubricGrades 9-1216 points4 criteriaTN
- TNReady Grades 9-12 Narrative RubricGrades 9-1216 points4 criteriaTN
Common Core and general writing rubrics
- Common Core State Standards Writing Rubric — ArgumentGrades 11-1225 points5 criteria
- Common Core State Standards Writing Rubric — Informative/ExplanatoryGrades 11-1230 points6 criteria
- Common Core State Standards Writing Rubric — NarrativeGrades 11-1225 points5 criteria
- 6+1 Trait Writing Model / Scoring ContinuumGrades 3-1230 points6 criteria
- Common Core State Standards Writing Rubric — Argument (Grades 11–12)Grades 11-1225 points5 criteria
- Common Core State Standards Writing Rubric — Informative (Grades 11–12)Grades 11-1230 points6 criteria
- Common Core State Standards Writing Rubric — Narrative (Grades 11–12)Grades 11-1225 points5 criteria
- Rubric for a Narrative Writing Piecegeneral30 points5 criteria
- Six Traits Writing Rubric (adapted from Vicki Spandel's Creating Writers, 6-point scale)all36 points6 criteria
AP rubrics
- AP English Language and Composition FRQ Rubric (Synthesis / Rhetorical Analysis / Argument)Grades 9-126 points3 criteria
- AP English Literature and Composition FRQ Rubric (Poetry Analysis / Prose Fiction Analysis / Literary Argument)Grades 9-126 points3 criteria
- AP History Document-Based Question (DBQ) Rubric (US History / World History / European History)Grades 9-127 points4 criteria
- AP History Long Essay Question (LEQ) Rubric (US History / World History / European History)Grades 9-126 points4 criteria
- AP Seminar Individual Written Argument (IWA) Rubric — Performance Task 2Grades 9-1248 points7 criteria
- 2025 AP® Research Academic Paper Scoring GuidelinesGrades 9-125 points1 criterion
- 2025 AP® Seminar Performance Task 1: Individual Research Report (IRR) Scoring GuidelinesGrades 9-1230 points6 criteria
IB rubrics
- IB Diploma Programme Extended Essay Assessment CriteriaDP34 points5 criteria
- IB MYP Language and Literature Assessment Criteria — Year 5MYP Year 532 points4 criteria
- IB MYP Language and Literature Assessment Criteria — Year 1MYP Year 132 points4 criteria
- IB MYP Language and Literature Assessment Criteria — Year 3MYP Year 332 points4 criteria
- TOK essay assessment instrument (Theory of knowledge guide, first assessment 2022)Grades 9-1210 points1 criterion