The candidate addresses the assignment fully and uses appropriate language and style.

The candidate exhibits control in the organization of ideas.

The candidate clearly states a main idea and/or point of view, and maintains focus and unity throughout the response.

The candidate develops the response fully by providing ample statements of appropriate depth, specificity, and accuracy.

Usage and choice of words are careful and precise.

Sentence structure is effective and free of errors.

The candidate shows mastery of mechanical conventions (e.g., spelling, punctuation, and capitalization).

The candidate generally addresses the assignment and for the most part uses appropriate language and/or style.

The organization of ideas is generally clear and logical, but there may be occasional ambiguity or partial ineffectiveness.

The main idea and/or point of view of the response is generally clear, and focus and unity are generally maintained.

The response is generally developed through the use of statements of appropriate depth, specificity, and accuracy.

Minor errors in usage and word choice may be evident.

Sentence structure is generally correct, although minor errors may be present.

There may be some errors in the use of mechanical conventions (e.g., spelling, punctuation, and capitalization).

The candidate partially addresses the assignment and may use inappropriate language and/or style.

The candidate may make an effort to organize and sequence ideas, but organization is largely unclear.

The main idea and/or point of view is inconsistent and/or the focus and unity of the discussion are not sustained.

The response includes very few statements that contribute effectively to the development of the response.

Imprecision in usage and word choice is distracting.

Sentence structure is poor, with noticeable and distracting errors.

The candidate makes frequent errors in the use of mechanical conventions (e.g., spelling, punctuation, and capitalization).

The candidate attempts to address the assignment, but language and style are generally inappropriate for the given audience, purpose, and/or occasion.

Any organization that is present fails to present an effective sequence of ideas.

The main idea and/or point of view of the response is not identified.

The candidate fails to include statements that contribute effectively to the development of the response.

Imprecision in usage and word choice interferes with meaning.

Sentence structure is ineffective, and few sentences are free of errors.

The candidate makes serious and numerous errors in the use of mechanical conventions (e.g., spelling, punctuation, and capitalization).

The response is unrelated to the assigned topic, illegible, primarily in a language other than English, not of sufficient length to score, or merely a repetition of the assignment.