Rubric Templates: Free Analytic and Single-Point Rubrics
These are free rubric templates for the three types teachers use: analytic, single-point and holistic. Download all three, then see the same 5th grade essay scored each way.
Which rubric should you use?
All three name the criteria. They differ in how much they describe, and how long they take to make and to mark.
| Feature | Analytic | Single-point | Holistic |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it scores | Each criterion at every level | Each criterion against one standard | One overall score |
| Feedback | Detailed, per criterion | Written comments | Little detail |
| Time to make | Longest | Quick | Quick |
| Time to grade | Slower | Depends on comments | Fastest |
| Easy for students to read | Long tables get skipped | One column to read | Yes |
| Best for | Graded projects and essays | Drafts and feedback | Quick or final scoring |
Analytic rubric template and example
An analytic rubric scores each criterion separately and describes every level, so students can see exactly why they got their score.
Criteria
- Claim
- 4 Exemplary:
- Clear, specific opinion that frames the essay
- 3 Proficient:
- Clear opinion stated in the introduction
- 2 Developing:
- Opinion is there but unclear or changes
- 1 Beginning:
- No clear opinion
- Reasons and evidence
- 4 Exemplary:
- Three reasons, each backed by a fact or example
- 3 Proficient:
- Two reasons, each backed by a fact or example
- 2 Developing:
- Reasons with little or no support
- 1 Beginning:
- No reasons given
- Organization
- 4 Exemplary:
- Logical order, linking words, strong conclusion
- 3 Proficient:
- Logical order with linking words and a conclusion
- 2 Developing:
- Some order; few linking words or no conclusion
- 1 Beginning:
- Ideas are hard to follow
- Conventions
- 4 Exemplary:
- Errors are rare and never affect meaning
- 3 Proficient:
- A few errors that do not affect meaning
- 2 Developing:
- Errors sometimes make it hard to read
- 1 Beginning:
- Errors often make it hard to read
Aligned to CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1. Score out of 16, or weight the criteria that matter most for this task.
Single-point rubric template and example
A single-point rubric describes only proficient work. You write comments on the left for what still needs work and on the right for where the student went further. Students read one column instead of a wall of text, and your feedback is about their work, not a box they landed in.
Criteria
- Claim
- Not yet (comments):
- Your opinion only appears at the end.
- Proficient:
- States a clear opinion in the introduction
- Reasons and evidence
- Proficient:
- Gives two reasons, each backed by a fact or example
- Beyond (comments):
- Your third reason, about cost, was the most convincing.
- Organization
- Proficient:
- Uses a logical order, linking words and a conclusion
- Conventions
- Not yet (comments):
- Check capital letters in your second paragraph.
- Proficient:
- Has only a few errors, none that affect meaning
The comments are an example of what you might write for one student.
Holistic rubric template and example
A holistic rubric gives one overall score, with one description per level. It is the fastest to mark, so it suits quick checks and final scoring, but it tells a student little about what to fix.
Score
- 4
States a clear opinion, supports it with three well-chosen reasons and evidence, flows logically and has almost no errors.
- 3
States a clear opinion with two supported reasons, is organized with a conclusion, and has a few errors that do not affect meaning.
- 2
Has an opinion, but reasons are thin or unsupported, the order is loose, and errors sometimes get in the way.
- 1
Has no clear opinion or reasons, is hard to follow, and errors often get in the way.
How to write a rubric in six steps
Start from the task and the standard. Write down what students must show.
Choose the type. Analytic for graded work, single-point for drafts and feedback, holistic for quick scoring.
Pick three to five criteria. Only what matters for this task, and only what you can observe.
Choose the levels. Four works for most tasks. Use the same labels all year.
Write the proficient descriptor first, then describe what is stronger and weaker in parallel language.
Test it on real work. Score three pieces, ideally with a colleague, and fix any descriptor you disagree on.
Write descriptors students can use
Vague words like "good" and "excellent" do not tell a student what to do next, and counting errors rewards the wrong thing. Describe what the work does.
Fixes
- Evidence
- Vague:
- Good use of evidence
- Specific:
- Each reason is backed by a fact or example
- Conventions
- Vague:
- Three or fewer spelling errors
- Specific:
- Errors do not affect meaning
- Organization
- Vague:
- Excellent organization
- Specific:
- Ideas follow a logical order, with linking words
- Effort
- Vague:
- Tried hard
- Specific:
- Leave effort off the rubric; comment on it instead
Make the task in Chalkie
A rubric needs a task to go with it. Chalkie makes the writing lesson and the planning worksheet, aligned to your state standards on Pro, so students know what proficient looks like before they start.
5th grade writing worksheets made in Chalkie: a paragraph builder, an essay planner and a pacing task.
Frequently asked questions
What are the parts of a rubric?
Three parts: the criteria (what you are assessing), the performance levels (such as 1 to 4), and the descriptors (what work looks like at each level for each criterion).
How many levels should a rubric have?
Three to five. Four levels is the most common choice in rubric templates. Use fewer levels for younger students, and keep the same scale all year.
What is a single-point rubric?
A rubric that describes only proficient work for each criterion, with space on either side for comments on what to improve and where the student went further. Mary Dietz named it, and Jarene Fluckiger published on it in 2010.
How do you grade with a single-point rubric?
Mark each criterion not yet, proficient or beyond. If you need points, give 2, 3 and 4, then total them. Many teachers use it for drafts and switch to an analytic rubric for the final grade.
Can AI make a rubric?
Yes. MagicSchool, Brisk, Eduaide and ChatGPT can draft a rubric from your task and standard. Check that every descriptor is specific and observable before you use it.