6+1 Trait Writing Model / Scoring Continuum
6+1 Trait Writing Model / Scoring Continuum is a 30-point scoring rubric published by Education Northwest: it scores general writing at grades 3-12 on 6 criteria and scores run from 6 to 30.
2 pages, US Letter, black and white. Free, no account, no email. Criteria and point weightings only, with a blank scoring sheet.
How it is scored
- Ideas5 pts · 5 levels
- Organization5 pts · 5 levels
- Voice5 pts · 5 levels
- Word Choice5 pts · 5 levels
- Sentence Fluency5 pts · 5 levels
- Conventions5 pts · 5 levels
Score an essay against this rubric in the grader. Free account, 20 essays.
What each criterion measures
This rubric is published by Education Northwest (formerly Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory / NWREL) and its level descriptors are their copyright, so we summarise the structure here rather than reprinting it. The criteria and their weightings are above; the full wording is in the official document linked below.
- Ideas is worth 5 of the 30 points, scored across 5 levels.
- Organization is worth 5 of the 30 points, scored across 5 levels.
- Voice is worth 5 of the 30 points, scored across 5 levels.
- Word Choice is worth 5 of the 30 points, scored across 5 levels.
- Sentence Fluency is worth 5 of the 30 points, scored across 5 levels.
- Conventions is worth 5 of the 30 points, scored across 5 levels.
Source
Education Northwest (formerly Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory / NWREL). Official document. Rubrics are revised periodically, so check the source before using this for a graded assessment.
Common questions
What does the 6+1 Trait Writing rubric for Grades 3-12 score?
It scores general writing at grades 3-12 on 6 criteria: Ideas (5 points), Organization (5 points), Voice (5 points), Word Choice (5 points), Sentence Fluency (5 points) and Conventions (5 points). Each criterion has 5 performance levels. The level descriptors are the publisher's copyright, so this page shows the criteria and point totals and links to the official document for the wording.
What is the top score on the 6+1 Trait Writing rubric for Grades 3-12?
30 points. The criteria are weighted Ideas (5 points), Organization (5 points), Voice (5 points), Word Choice (5 points), Sentence Fluency (5 points) and Conventions (5 points), so scores run from 6 to 30.
Who publishes the 6+1 Trait Writing rubric for Grades 3-12?
Education Northwest (formerly Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory / NWREL). The official document is linked in the Source section of this page. Rubrics are revised periodically, so check the source before using this for a graded assessment.
Can NudgeLearn grade essays with the 6+1 Trait Writing rubric for Grades 3-12?
Yes. This rubric is built into the NudgeLearn essay grader. Upload an essay, typed or handwritten, and it comes back with a score on every criterion and the reasoning written out. The teacher stays the grader: review it and change any score before it goes back to the student. A free account covers 20 essays.
Grading against this rubric
The essay grader is measured on 78 real student essays that Texas released with official examiner scores: nine in ten came back within one point of the examiner. That study used the STAAR rubrics, not this one. The accuracy study: method, numbers and limits.
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Score an essay against this rubric
This rubric is built into the essay grader. Upload an essay, typed or handwritten, and get a score on every criterion with the reasoning written out. You can change any score before it goes back to the student.
Grade an essay against this rubricFree account, 20 essays.