MCAS writing rubrics
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education publishes 4 MCAS ELA writing rubrics, covering informative writing at grades 3 to 10. All 4 are on this page with their criteria and point values, and each one links to the official document.
Also searched as Massachusetts writing rubric and MCAS essay rubric. Every rubric on this page is reproduced in full, every performance level written out, with a link to the official document.
Every MCAS ELA writing rubric
Grades 3-5 · Grades 6-8 · Grades 10
- MCAS ELA Grades 3–5 Extended Response (ER) Rubric for Written Expression and ConventionsGrades 3-55 points2 criteriaPDF, 2 pp
- MCAS ELA Grade 6–8 English Language Arts Essay RubricGrades 6-88 points2 criteriaPDF, 2 pp
- MCAS ELA Grades 6–8 Extended Response (ER) Rubric for Written Expression and ConventionsGrades 6-85 points2 criteriaPDF, 2 pp
- MCAS ELA Grade 10 English Language Arts Essay RubricGrades 108 points2 criteriaPDF, 2 pp
Score an essay against any of these
All 4 MCAS ELA rubrics are 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.
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Common questions
How many MCAS ELA writing rubrics are there?
4, covering grades 3 to 10. They are scored out of 5 and 8 points, depending on the grade band and the writing mode. Every one is listed on this page.
Who publishes the MCAS ELA writing rubrics?
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Each rubric on this page links to the official document it came from. Rubrics are revised periodically, so check the source before using one for a graded assessment.
Are the MCAS ELA writing rubrics free to download?
Yes. Every rubric here is free to read and free to print, with no account and no email. The PDFs are US Letter, black and white, with a blank scoring sheet at the end.
Can NudgeLearn grade essays against a MCAS ELA rubric?
Yes. All 4 are 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.