Utah's state writing assessment, rubric by rubric
RISE (Readiness Improvement Success Empowerment) is Utah's state assessment program, administered by the Utah State Board of Education. The Writing Performance (WP) component appears as on-demand prompts on the RISE Writing Summative at Grades 5 and 8 and on the RISE Writing Benchmarks at Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Every RISE writing response is scored on two independent rubrics: a Genre rubric (Argument or Informative/Explanatory, scored 1 to 6 with 6 representing strong command above grade-level standard and 4 representing meeting grade-level standard) and the shared Conventions rubric (scored 0.5 to 3 in half-point steps, with 3 representing strong command and 2 representing meeting grade-level standard).
Utah uses a unique convention: the Genre rubric and Conventions rubric scores are not combined into a cumulative writing score. They are reported as separate trait scores. The Conventions rubric is identical across Grades 3-8 and across both genres; only the Genre rubric descriptors change by grade band.
The six Utah RISE writing rubrics
Each Utah RISE writing response is scored on two independent rubrics, a genre-specific Genre trait (Argument or Informative/Explanatory) scored 1 to 6, and the shared Conventions rubric scored 0.5 to 3 (in half-point steps). The same two-trait structure applies across all Grades 3-8 RISE Writing prompts; only the genre descriptors change by grade band.
Students respond to an on-demand argument prompt with a clear claim, supporting evidence, and connections that explain the evidence. Scored on the Argument genre trait (1 to 6) plus the shared Conventions rubric (0.5 to 3).
Students respond to an on-demand argument prompt with a clear claim, logical reasons, and substantial evidence that supports the claim and reasons. Scored on the Argument genre trait (1 to 6) plus the shared Conventions rubric (0.5 to 3).
Students respond to an on-demand argument prompt with a clear claim, logical reasons, substantial evidence, and a distinction of the claim from alternate or opposing claims. Scored on the Argument genre trait (1 to 6) plus the shared Conventions rubric (0.5 to 3).
Students respond to an on-demand informative/explanatory prompt with a clear topic, organized facts, details, examples, or quotes, and links between ideas. Scored on the Informative/Explanatory genre trait (1 to 6) plus the shared Conventions rubric (0.5 to 3).
Students respond to an on-demand informative/explanatory prompt by developing the topic and clarifying relationships among ideas, using relevant facts, details, examples, or quotes. Scored on the Informative/Explanatory genre trait (1 to 6) plus the shared Conventions rubric (0.5 to 3).
Students respond to an on-demand informative/explanatory prompt with an analysis that develops the topic and clarifies the relationship among ideas. Scored on the Informative/Explanatory genre trait (1 to 6) plus the shared Conventions rubric (0.5 to 3).
How RISE scores writing
Every Utah RISE writing rubric scores responses on two independent traits. The Genre trait (Argument or Informative/Explanatory) is scored 1 to 6, where 4 represents meeting grade-level standard. The Conventions trait is scored 0.5 to 3 in half-point steps, where 2 represents meeting grade-level standard. The two traits are scored on separate passes and are not summed into a cumulative writing score per USBE guidance.
Scored 1 to 6. Each score point describes the response's overall purpose and focus, then lists characteristic features (claim or topic, organization, evidence or facts, connections or analysis, word choice). At Grade 6, the Argument rubric adds "logical reasons" and "substantial evidence" as separate characteristics. At Grades 7-8, the Argument rubric adds "distinction of the claims from alternate or opposing claims."
Scored 0.5 to 3 in half-point increments (3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.5). Covers variation of sentence structure, use of punctuation, capitalization, sentence formation, and spelling. Identical descriptors across Grades 3-8 and across both Argument and Informative/Explanatory responses. Score 2 represents meeting grade-level standard.
Per the USBE rubric note, "Rubric scores are not meant to be combined into a cumulative writing score." Genre and Conventions are reported as independent trait scores. The on-demand rubric is designed for first-draft, on-demand responses and should not be used to assess classroom writing that has gone through the writing process.
Common questions about Utah RISE writing
What is the Utah RISE writing rubric?
How many points is each Utah RISE writing rubric worth?
Is the Conventions rubric the same across all Utah RISE writing assessments?
What is the difference between RISE Writing Summative and RISE Writing Benchmark?
When does the RISE Argument rubric require students to address counterclaims?
Is this rubric the official version from USBE?
Where can I find the source documents?
Does EnlightenAI auto-score with these rubrics?
Score Utah RISE writing in EnlightenAI
Train EnlightenAI on any of the six official Utah RISE writing rubrics and start scoring student writing, with consistent per-trait feedback, in a single class period.