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MCAS ELA Grades 6–8 Extended Response (ER) Rubric for Written Expression and Conventions

MCAS ELA Grades 6–8 Extended Response (ER) Rubric for Written Expression and Conventions is a 5-point scoring rubric published by Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: it scores informative writing at grades 6-8 on 2 criteria, Written Expression (3 points) and Standard English Conventions (2 points), and scores run from 0 to 5.

Grades 6-85 points total2 criteriaMAState assessment rubrics
Download the printable PDF

2 pages, US Letter, black and white. Free, no account, no email. Includes every performance level and a blank scoring sheet.

How it is scored

  • Written Expression3 pts · 4 levels
  • Standard English Conventions2 pts · 3 levels

Score an essay against this rubric in the grader. Free account, 20 essays.

The full rubric

Written Expression · 3 points

3 points

• effective explanation of ideas • effective selection of evidence to support ideas • effective organization

2 points

• adequate explanation of ideas • adequate selection of evidence to support ideas • adequate organization

1 point

• minimal explanation of ideas • minimal selection of evidence to support ideas • minimal organization

0 points

• does not address the question or incorrectly responds to the question

Standard English Conventions · 2 points

2 points

• appropriate control of a variety of sentence structures relative to the length of the response • appropriate control of grammar, usage, and mechanics relative to complexity and/or length of the response

1 point

• partial control of a variety of sentence structures relative to the length of the response • partial control of grammar, usage, and mechanics relative to complexity and/or length of the response

0 points

• no control of grammar, usage, and mechanics and/or is of insufficient length

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Official document. Rubrics are revised periodically, so check the source before using this for a graded assessment.

Common questions

What does the MCAS ELA Extended Response rubric for Grades 6-8 score?

It scores informative writing at grades 6-8 on 2 criteria: Written Expression (3 points) and Standard English Conventions (2 points). Each criterion has between 3 and 4 performance levels, and every level descriptor is written out on this page.

What is the top score on the MCAS ELA Extended Response rubric for Grades 6-8?

5 points. The criteria are weighted Written Expression (3 points) and Standard English Conventions (2 points), so scores run from 0 to 5.

Who publishes the MCAS ELA Extended Response rubric for Grades 6-8?

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). 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 MCAS ELA Extended Response rubric for Grades 6-8?

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.

How to grade constructed responses for a whole class: short and extended constructed responses, scored consistently across a class set.

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 rubric

Free account, 20 essays.

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