Grading Rubric Template with Examples
Easy-to-use grading rubric template for teachers to grade essays, presentations, and more.
Copy templates to use them anywhere:
In education, grading serves as a fundamental tool for assessing students' progress and performance. Without a clear and consistent grading rubric, it can be hard to evaluate each student in a consistent manner.
By employing a grading rubric, educators can streamline their assessment practices and ensure equitable evaluation for all learners.
Get the grading rubric template
Grading Rubric
{note}Select scores from the table below
Output below this line
{endnote: trim=left}
Clarity: {=clarity} points: {if: clarity=3}{=clarity3description}{elseif: clarity=2}{=clarity2description}{elseif: clarity=1}{=clarity1description}{else}{=clarity0description}{endif}
Organization: {=organization} points: {if: organization=3}{=organization3description}{elseif: organization=2}{=organization2description}{elseif: organization=1}{=organization1description}{else}{=organization0description}{endif}
Mechanics: {=mechanics} points: {if: mechanics=3}{=mechanics3description}{elseif: mechanics=2}{=mechanics2description}{elseif: mechanics=1}{=mechanics1description}{else}{=mechanics0description}{endif}
Final score: {=clarity+organization+mechanics}/9
{note: preview=no; trim=left}
Score Descriptions - Update to change descriptions of each score
{clarity3description="The central purpose of the student work is clear and supporting ideas always are always well-focused. Details are relevant, enrich the work."}{clarity2description="The central purpose of the student work is clear and ideas are almost always focused in a way that supports the thesis. Relevant details illustrate the author’s ideas."}{clarity1description="The central purpose of the student work is identified. Ideas are generally focused in a way that supports the thesis."}{clarity0description="The purpose of the student work is not well-defined. Central ideas are not focused to support the thesis. Thoughts appear disconnected."}{organization3description="Information and ideas are presented in a logical sequence which flows naturally and is engaging to the audience."}{organization2description="Information and ideas are presented in a logical sequence which is followed by the reader with little or no difficulty."}{organization1description="Information and ideas are presented in an order that the audience can follow with minimum difficulty."}{organization0description="Information and ideas are poorly sequenced (the author jumps around). The audience has difficulty following the thread of thought."}{mechanics3description="There are no more than two misspelled words or grammatical errors in the document."}{mechanics2description="There are no more than three misspellings and/or grammatical errors per page and no more than five in the entire document. The readability of the work is minimally interrupted by errors."}{mechanics1description="There are no more than four misspellings and/or systematic grammatical errors per page or six or more in the entire document. Errors distract from the work."}{mechanics0description="There are five or more misspellings and/or systematic grammatical errors per page or eight or more in the entire document. The readability of the work is seriously hampered by errors."}
Score Calculation - Update to change scale
{if: Mechanics3}{Mechanics=3}{elseif: Mechanics2}{Mechanics=2}{elseif: Mechanics1}{Mechanics=1}{else}{Mechanics=0}{Mechanics=0}{endif}
{if: Organization3}{Organization=3}{elseif: Organization2}{Organization=2}{elseif: Organization1}{Organization=1}{else}{Organization=0}{endif}
{if: Clarity3}{Clarity=3}{elseif: Clarity2}{Clarity=2}{elseif: Clarity1}{Clarity=1}{else}{Clarity=0}{endif}{endnote: trim=left}
| Criteria/Scale | 3: Exceeds Expectations | 2: Meets Expectations | 1: Needs Improvement | 0: Inadequate | Points Earned |
| Clarity (Thesis supported by relevant information and ideas) | {=clarity3description} {formtoggle: name=Clarity3} | {=clarity2description} {formtoggle: name=Clarity2} | {=clarity1description} {formtoggle: name=Clarity1} | {=clarity0description} {formtoggle: name=Clarity0} | {=Clarity} |
| Organization (Sequencing of elements/ideas) | {=organization3description} {formtoggle: name=Organization3} | {=organization2description} {formtoggle: name=Organization2} | {=organization1description} {formtoggle: name=Organization1} | {=organization0description} {formtoggle: name=Organization0} | {=Organization} |
| Mechanics (Correctness of grammar and spelling) | {=mechanics3description} {formtoggle: name=Mechanics3} | {=mechanics2description} {formtoggle: name=Mechanics2} | {=mechanics1description} {formtoggle: name=Mechanics1} | {=mechanics0description} {formtoggle: name=Mechanics0} | {=Mechanics} |
Output below this line
{endnote: trim=left}
Clarity: {=clarity} points: {if: clarity=3}{=clarity3description}{elseif: clarity=2}{=clarity2description}{elseif: clarity=1}{=clarity1description}{else}{=clarity0description}{endif}
Organization: {=organization} points: {if: organization=3}{=organization3description}{elseif: organization=2}{=organization2description}{elseif: organization=1}{=organization1description}{else}{=organization0description}{endif}
Mechanics: {=mechanics} points: {if: mechanics=3}{=mechanics3description}{elseif: mechanics=2}{=mechanics2description}{elseif: mechanics=1}{=mechanics1description}{else}{=mechanics0description}{endif}
Final score: {=clarity+organization+mechanics}/9
{note: preview=no; trim=left}
Score Descriptions - Update to change descriptions of each score
{clarity3description="The central purpose of the student work is clear and supporting ideas always are always well-focused. Details are relevant, enrich the work."}{clarity2description="The central purpose of the student work is clear and ideas are almost always focused in a way that supports the thesis. Relevant details illustrate the author’s ideas."}{clarity1description="The central purpose of the student work is identified. Ideas are generally focused in a way that supports the thesis."}{clarity0description="The purpose of the student work is not well-defined. Central ideas are not focused to support the thesis. Thoughts appear disconnected."}{organization3description="Information and ideas are presented in a logical sequence which flows naturally and is engaging to the audience."}{organization2description="Information and ideas are presented in a logical sequence which is followed by the reader with little or no difficulty."}{organization1description="Information and ideas are presented in an order that the audience can follow with minimum difficulty."}{organization0description="Information and ideas are poorly sequenced (the author jumps around). The audience has difficulty following the thread of thought."}{mechanics3description="There are no more than two misspelled words or grammatical errors in the document."}{mechanics2description="There are no more than three misspellings and/or grammatical errors per page and no more than five in the entire document. The readability of the work is minimally interrupted by errors."}{mechanics1description="There are no more than four misspellings and/or systematic grammatical errors per page or six or more in the entire document. Errors distract from the work."}{mechanics0description="There are five or more misspellings and/or systematic grammatical errors per page or eight or more in the entire document. The readability of the work is seriously hampered by errors."}
Score Calculation - Update to change scale
{if: Mechanics3}{Mechanics=3}{elseif: Mechanics2}{Mechanics=2}{elseif: Mechanics1}{Mechanics=1}{else}{Mechanics=0}{Mechanics=0}{endif}
{if: Organization3}{Organization=3}{elseif: Organization2}{Organization=2}{elseif: Organization1}{Organization=1}{else}{Organization=0}{endif}
{if: Clarity3}{Clarity=3}{elseif: Clarity2}{Clarity=2}{elseif: Clarity1}{Clarity=1}{else}{Clarity=0}{endif}{endnote: trim=left}
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How to use this grading rubric
When using this rubric, you'll be presented with a table showing each category in the rubric and different possible scores.
Use the checkboxes inside of the table to select the score for each catgegory. The selected scores will automatically total themselves.
The snippet's output will be only the selected scores as well as the reason for that score. The table itself will not be output by the snippet.
Customizing the rubric
This snippet contains a grading rubric that could be used for a variety of assignments. It can be customized in any way to your needs.
Different ways to customize this rubric include:
- Changing or adding to the categories being evaluated.
- Updating the criteria and descriptions for the different scores.
- Have the output include recommendations for how the student can improve their score in each category.
- Use student's name in the feedback. The cursor command is great for adding that personalization.
- Add form fields for further customization to each individual student.
Note: The rubric in this example was taken from an article on NC State University's teaching resources site.
