Test Specifications
Contents
Language Arts Literacy

Writing

New Jersey Registered Holistic Scoring Rubric - GEPA/HSPA - p. 23
In Scoring, consider the grid of  written
language
Inadequate Command Limited Command Partial Command Adequate Command Strong Command Superior Command
Score 1 2 3 4 5 6
Content & Organiza-
tion
(see below)
  • May lack opening and/or closing
  • May lack opening and/or closing
  • May lack opening and/or closing
  • Generally has opening and/or closing
  • Opening and closing
  • Opening and closing
  • .
  • Minimal response to topic; uncertain focus
  • Attempts to focus
  • May drift or shift focus
  • Usually has single focus
  • Single focus
  • Single focus
  • Sense of unity and coherence
  • Key ideas developed
  • Single, distinct focus
  • Unified and coherent
  • Well-developed
  • .
  • No planning evident; disorganized
  • Attempts organization
  • Few, if any, transitions between ideas
  • Some lapses or flaws in organization
  • May lack some transitions between ideas
  • Ideas loosely connected
  • Transition evident
  • Logical progression of ideas
  • Moderately fluent
  • Attempts compositional risks
  • Logical progession of ideas
  • Fluent, cohesive
  • Composi-
    tional risks successful
  • .
  • Details random, inappropriate, or barely apparent
  • Details lack elaboration, i.e., highlight paper
  • Repetitious details
  • Several unelaborated details
  • Uneven development of details
  • Details appropriate and varied
  • Details effective, vivid, explicit, and/or pertinent
  • Usage
    (see below)
  • No apparent control
  • Severe/
    numerous errors
  • Numerous errors
  • Errors/ patterns of errors may be evident
  • Some errors that do not interfere with meaning
  • Few errors
  • Very few, if any, errors
  • Sentence Construc-
    tion
    (see below)
  • Assortment of incomplete and/or incorrect sentences
  • Excessive monotony/ same structure
  • Numerous errors
  • Little variety in syntax
  • Some errors
  • Some errors that do not interfere with meaning
  • Few errors
  • Very few, if any, errors
  • Mechanics
    (see below)
  • Errors so severe they detract from meaning
  • Numerous serious errors
  • Patterns of errors evident
  • No consistent pattern of errors
  • Some errors that do not interfere with meaning
  • Few errors
  • Very few, if any, errors

  • Non-Scorable Responses NR = No Response Student wrote too little to allow relaiable judgement of his/her writing.
    OT = Off Topic/ Off Task Student did not write on the assigned topic/task, or the student attempted to copy the prompt.
    NE = Not English Student wrote in a language other than English.
    WF = Wrong Format Student refused to write on the topic, or the writing task folder was blank.

    Content & Organization
    Usage
    Sentence Construction
    Mechanics
  • Communicates intended message to intended audience
  • Relates to topic
  • Opening and closing
  • Focused
  • Logical progression of ideas
  • Transitions
  • Appropriate details and information
  • Tense formation
  • Subject-verb agreement
  • Pronouns usage/agreement
  • Word choice/meaning
  • Proper modifiers
  • Variety of type, structure, and length
  • Correct construction
    • Spelling
    • Capitalization
    • Punctuation