Arizona's state writing assessment, rubric by rubric
AASA (Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment) is the state's annual summative ELA test. The writing portion asks students to produce one extended written response per grade level, scored on three independent criteria using an analytic rubric.
Arizona adopted the Smarter Balanced four-point argumentative and informative writing rubrics for grades 6 to 8, paired with a two-point conventions sub-scale. The rubrics on this page show exactly where points are gained and lost at each level.
AASA replaced AzMERIT in 2023. The rubric structure stayed similar, but the descriptors were rewritten for tighter inter-rater reliability, and the four-point scale was kept across grades 3, 4, 7, and 11.
The four AASA writing rubrics
Each rubric below is the full official scoring guide with descriptors at every score level. Open a rubric to see every criterion, score band, and what student responses look like at each level.
Source-based opinion writing with one prompt and one optional source. Students state a claim and support it with reasons drawn from the text.
Source-based explanatory writing. Students explain a topic clearly using evidence and details from one or two provided sources.
Source-based explanatory writing with two provided sources. Students synthesize across texts to explain a topic.
Multi-source argument writing. Students take a position and defend it with reasons and evidence from two or three provided sources.
How AASA scores writing
Every AASA rubric scores across three criteria. Organization and Evidence each use a 4-point scale, and Conventions uses a 2-point scale. The three criteria are scored independently, so a response can be strong in one criterion and developing in another.
Clarity of claim, logical sequencing, effective transitions, and a controlling idea that holds across the response. Counterclaims are evaluated starting in grade 7.
Use of source material, depth and quality of analysis, vocabulary appropriate for audience and purpose, and effective style.
Command of sentence formation, punctuation, capitalization, grammar usage, and spelling. Scored on a tighter 2-point sub-scale.
Common questions about Arizona AASA writing
What is the AASA writing assessment?
How is the AASA writing rubric different from PARCC or AzMERIT?
Can teachers use the AASA rubric for classroom grading?
Does EnlightenAI auto-score with these rubrics?
Where can I find the source documents?
Score Arizona AASA writing in EnlightenAI
Train EnlightenAI on any of the four official AASA rubrics and start scoring student writing, with consistent per-criterion feedback, in a single class period.