What this rubric measures
The LEAP 2025 LAT and RST Writing Rubric, Grade 3 is the official scoring guide used to evaluate student writing on Louisiana LEAP 2025 assessments. It is an Analytic rubric that scores responses across 2 distinct criteria, allowing teachers to give precise, targeted feedback on each area of writing.
All 2 scoring criteria
Click any criterion to expand its score level descriptors. The language below is taken verbatim from the official Louisiana Department of Education LEAP 2025 scoring guide.
1 Reading Comprehension and Written Expression
The student response
- demonstrates full comprehension by providing an accurate explanation/description/comparison;
- addresses the prompt and provides effective development of the topic that is consistently appropriate to the task, purpose, and audience;
- uses clear reasoning supported by relevant text-based evidence in the development of the topic;
- is effectively organized with clear and coherent writing;
- uses language effectively to clarify ideas.
The student response
- demonstrates comprehension by providing a mostly accurate explanation/description/comparison;
- addresses the prompt and provides some development of the topic that is generally appropriate to the task, purpose, and audience;
- uses reasoning and relevant text-based evidence in the development of the topic;
- is organized with mostly clear and coherent writing;
- uses language in a way that is mostly effective to clarify ideas.
The student response
- demonstrates limited comprehension;
- addresses the prompt and provides minimal development of the topic that is limited in its appropriateness to the task, purpose, and audience;
- uses limited reasoning and text-based evidence;
- demonstrates limited organization and coherence;
- uses language to express ideas with limited clarity.
The student response
- does not demonstrate comprehension;
- is undeveloped and/or inappropriate to the task, purpose, and audience;
- includes little to no text-based evidence;
- lacks organization and coherence;
- does not use language to express ideas with clarity.
The Grade 3 LEAP 2025 LAT and RST share a single combined rubric. The construct combines reading comprehension of source ideas with written expression of analysis, organization, and language.
2 Knowledge of Language and Conventions
The student response demonstrates full command of the conventions of standard English at an appropriate level of complexity. There may be a few minor errors in mechanics, grammar, and usage, but meaning is clear.
The student response demonstrates some command of the conventions of standard English at an appropriate level of complexity. There may be errors in mechanics, grammar, and usage that occasionally impede understanding, but the meaning is generally clear.
The student response demonstrates limited command of the conventions of standard English at an appropriate level of complexity. There may be errors in mechanics, grammar, and usage that often impede understanding.
The student response does not demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English at the appropriate level of complexity. Frequent and varied errors in mechanics, grammar, and usage impede understanding.
The Knowledge of Language and Conventions construct uses identical descriptor language across LAT, RST, and NWT and across grade bands. Score points are aligned to the level of complexity appropriate for the grade.
How to score with the LEAP 2025 LAT and RST Writing Rubric, Grade 3.
A practical guide for teachers and norming teams. How to apply each descriptor consistently, the pitfalls that hurt inter-rater reliability, and a workflow for calibrating with colleagues.
Two-construct analytic, scored independently
- Score Reading Comprehension and Written Expression (0 to 3) first, then Knowledge of Language and Conventions (0 to 3). Sum for the rubric total out of 6.
- Both constructs use the same 4-point scale (0, 1, 2, 3) at Grade 3. This is the tightest scale on the LEAP 2025 rubric set.
- LAT and RST share a single Grade 3 rubric. The descriptors apply identically to literary and informational source-based tasks.
What the Grade 3 RC&WE descriptors expect
- Comprehension of source ideas is the first descriptor at every score above 0. A 3 requires an accurate explanation, description, or comparison; a 2 is mostly accurate; a 1 is limited.
- Text-based evidence appears at every score above 0. A 3 has clear reasoning supported by relevant evidence; a 2 has reasoning and relevant evidence; a 1 is limited.
- Organization and language descriptors are part of the same construct. A response can show comprehension but cap at 2 if organization or language clarity is uneven.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Awarding 3 to a response that quotes the source accurately but does not develop a topic. Development of the topic is the second descriptor at every score above 0.
- Counting any text-based evidence as relevant. The rubric expects evidence to support the development of the topic, not just to be present.
- Confusing comprehension with retelling. The 3 descriptor expects an accurate explanation, description, or comparison, not a summary of the source.
Tips for norming with your team
- Anchor with 3 to 5 sample responses scored by your most experienced grader before the session.
- Score the first 5 silently, then compare. Discuss any construct where graders are more than one point apart.
- Re-norm halfway through a long batch. Drift is real, especially on the tight 0 to 3 scales.
Notes for the LEAP 2025 LAT and RST Rubric, Grade 3
Grade 3 LEAP 2025 uses a 0 to 3 scale on both constructs. This is the tightest scale of any LEAP 2025 rubric; Grades 4-5 and 6-10 expand the Expression construct to 0 to 4 by adding additional score-point descriptors and (at Grades 6-10) a style criterion.
LEAP does not administer a Grade 3 Narrative Writing Task. Grade 3 students only receive LAT and RST writing tasks, both scored with this single rubric.
The Knowledge of Language and Conventions construct uses descriptor language that is identical across every LEAP rubric. A response with a few minor errors that does not impede meaning earns a 3 regardless of grade band or task type.
LAT and RST differ in source material only (literary vs. informational), not in scoring. The same rubric and the same descriptor language apply.
See this rubric in action.
EnlightenAI scores student writing on this exact rubric, with per-criterion feedback that mirrors how you grade by hand. The sample response below shows how the rubric applies to a real piece of student writing, scored against every criterion.
How Lily and Mr. Patel show friendship across ages
Lily and Mr. Patel are very different. She is in third grade and he is older than her grandfather. But the passage shows that friendship can grow between people of different ages.
They share what they love
Lily likes to draw, and Mr. Patel likes to garden. In the passage, Lily shows Mr. Patel her drawings of his garden flowers. He tells her the name of every flower she drew. They share what they each love most. That is what friends do.
They help each other
When Lily forgets her lunch at school, Mr. Patel brings it to her. When Mr. Patel hurts his back, Lily helps him water his garden after school. The passage says they 'take turns being the helper.' Friends help each other no matter how old they are.
They listen
Mr. Patel listens to Lily tell long stories about her class. Lily listens to Mr. Patel tell stories about when he was a boy in India. Listening is part of friendship too.
Conclusion
Lily and Mr. Patel share what they love, help each other, and listen. The passage shows that friendship can grow between any two people who are kind to each other, even if one is a child and one is older.
Full comprehension, effective development, relevant evidence
Demonstrates full comprehension with an accurate explanation of how the friendship grows. Three concrete examples (sharing, helping, listening) with relevant text-based evidence (drawings, lunch, take turns being the helper). Effectively organized with clear coherent writing.
Full command of Grade 3 conventions
Capitalization, punctuation, and spelling are correct throughout. Quoted material is punctuated correctly. Sentence formation is varied and accurate at Grade 3 level. A few minor moments do not impede meaning. Earns full credit on the 0 to 3 Conventions scale.
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About the LEAP 2025 LAT and RST Writing Rubric, Grade 3
What is the LEAP 2025 LAT and RST Writing Rubric for Grade 3?
Why is there no Grade 3 LEAP Narrative rubric?
Do LAT and RST use the same Grade 3 rubric?
How does the Grade 3 rubric differ from the Grades 4-5 LAT/RST rubric?
Is this rubric the official version from LDOE?
Where can I find the source document?
Can EnlightenAI score student writing using this rubric?
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