New York's state writing assessment, rubric by rubric
The New York State Grades 3-8 English Language Arts Tests are the state's annual summative ELA assessment, administered by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). The writing portion uses extended-response (4-point) tasks that ask students to read one or two passages and produce a coherent essay grounded in textual evidence.
NYSED publishes three Writing Evaluation Rubrics, one for Grade 3, one for Grades 4-5, and one for Grades 6-8. All three share the same four criteria (Content and Analysis, Command of Evidence, Coherence/Organization/Style, and Control of Conventions) and the same 0 to 4 score scale, with descriptor language calibrated to grade-band expectations.
These rubrics also govern the 2-point short-response questions used in Session 2 of the test. New York's high school Regents English Language Arts assessments use a separate Text Analysis rubric not included in this bundle.
The three NY State writing rubrics
Each rubric below is the full official Writing Evaluation Rubric for its grade band. NYSED uses the same four criteria across grades 3, 4-5, and 6-8 (Content and Analysis, Command of Evidence, Coherence/Organization/Style, and Control of Conventions), with descriptor language calibrated by grade band.
Extended-response essay scored holistically on four criteria. Grade 3 prompts use an individual text. Students write a coherent essay using textual evidence to support their analysis.
Extended-response essay scored holistically on four criteria. Grades 4-5 prompts pair two texts. Students synthesize textual evidence across both sources to support analysis.
Extended-response essay scored holistically on four criteria. Grades 6-8 prompts pair two texts. Students produce a coherent essay with insightful analysis and sustained, varied evidence.
How Regents scores writing
Every NY State Writing Evaluation Rubric is holistic across four criteria, Content and Analysis, Command of Evidence, Coherence/Organization/Style, and Control of Conventions. Scorers assign a single 0 to 4 score that best matches the response as a whole. Descriptor language is calibrated by grade band, with Grade 3 differing from Grades 4-5 and 6-8 in expectations for source synthesis and analytic depth.
The extent to which the essay conveys ideas and information clearly and accurately to support analysis of topics or text(s). Grade 3 expects comprehension and analysis of a single text. Grades 4-5 and 6-8 expect insightful analysis of paired texts.
The extent to which the essay presents evidence from the provided text(s) to support analysis and reflection. Grades 4-5 and 6-8 additionally require that evidence be varied and sustained throughout the response.
The extent to which the essay logically organizes complex ideas, concepts, and information using formal style and precise language. Includes linking/transitions, domain-specific vocabulary, and a concluding statement appropriate to the grade band.
The extent to which the essay demonstrates command of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. Errors that hinder comprehension lower the score even when analysis is otherwise strong.
Common questions about New York Regents writing
What is the New York State Writing Evaluation Rubric?
How many points is each NY State writing rubric worth?
How is the Grade 3 rubric different from Grades 4-5 and 6-8?
What happens if a Grades 4-8 student only references one of the two paired texts?
Is the NY State rubric the same as the Regents Text Analysis rubric?
Is this rubric the official version from NYSED?
Where can I find the source documents?
Does EnlightenAI auto-score with these rubrics?
Score NY State writing in EnlightenAI
Train EnlightenAI on any of the three official NY State Writing Evaluation Rubrics and start scoring student writing, with consistent per-criterion feedback, in a single class period.