STAAR Writing Rubric Overview
The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Reading Language Arts includes Extended Constructed Response (ECR) essays in grades 3-8 and English I-II, along with Short Constructed Responses (SCRs) across all grade levels.
Texas uses official rubrics from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for consistent, standards-aligned scoring.
Key Details:
- Grades: 3-8 & English I-II
- Rubric grade bands: 3-5 and 6-English II
- Writing types: Informational; Argumentative/Opinion
- Format: Online by default (paper only for approved exceptions)
- Scoring (ECR): 0-3 Organization and Development of Ideas + 0-2 Conventions = 5 points total.
If Organization and Development of Ideas = 0 → Conventions automatically = 0 - Scoring (SCR): Reading = 2-point (item-specific); Writing = 1-point (generic)
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Official STAAR Writing Rubrics
Grades 3-5 Rubrics
Grades 6-English II Rubrics
STAAR ECR Rubric by Grade Band
The STAAR ECR rubric evaluates extended essay responses using the same 5-point scoring system across all grades, with criteria tailored to each grade band's developmental expectations.
Constructed Response Scoring Guides
TEA publishes detailed STAAR scoring guides each year that include both ECR rubrics and item-specific SCR rubrics for all grades. These comprehensive guides include detailed rubrics, sample responses, and scoring rationales to help teachers apply the rubrics consistently.
2025 Scoring Guides By Grade:
How to Score Essays Using the STAAR ECR Rubric
Texas's STAAR writing rubric uses a 5-point holistic scoring system with two main traits evaluated separately: Organization and Development of Ideas (0-3 points) and Conventions (0-2 points).
Organization and Development of Ideas (0-3 points):
Score Point 3:
- Central idea/argument is clear and fully developed
- Organization is effective with a purposeful structure that includes an effective introduction and conclusion
- Evidence is specific, well-chosen, and relevant (drawn from both texts for paired passages in grades 6-EII)
- Expression of ideas is clear and effective
Score Point 2:
- Central idea/argument is present and partially developed
- An organizational structure is evident but may be uneven or inconsistently effective
- Evidence is limited and may include some irrelevant information
- Expression of ideas is basic
Score Point 1:
- Central idea/argument is evident but not developed
- Organization is minimal and/or weak
- Evidence is insufficient and/or mostly irrelevant
- Expression of ideas is ineffective
Score Point 0:
- Central idea/argument may be evident but severely underdeveloped
- No organizational structure
- No evidence provided or irrelevant evidence
- Expression of ideas is unclear and/or incoherent
Conventions (0-2 points):
Score Point 2:
- Consistent command of grade-level conventions
- Correct sentence construction, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, spelling
- Few errors that don't impact clarity
Score Point 1:
- Inconsistent command of grade-level conventions
- Limited use of correct conventions
- Several errors, but reader can understand the writer's thoughts
Score Point 0:
- Little to no command of grade-level conventions
- Many errors that impact clarity and reader understanding
STAAR Writing Scoring Chart
Important STAAR Scoring Rule: If a response receives a score of 0 in Organization and Development of Ideas, it automatically receives 0 in Conventions as well.
This means the essay must demonstrate at least minimal development to earn any points for conventions.
STAAR Writing Rubric Differences by Writing Type
Argumentative/Opinion Writing focuses on:
- Clearly identifiable argument or opinion statement
- Evidence that supports and develops the argument with relevant text-based support
- For grades 8-English II: Top responses identify and refute counterarguments
- Purposeful organization that includes effective introduction and conclusion
- Logical connections between ideas, paragraphs, and sentences
Evidence requirements for grades 6-English II paired passages:
- Score 3: Evidence must be drawn from both texts
- Score 2: Evidence drawn from at least one text
- Score 1: Often uses only one text with insufficient or mostly irrelevant evidence
Informational Writing focuses on:
- Clearly identifiable central idea or controlling idea/thesis
- Evidence that supports and develops the central idea with relevant text-based information
- Purposeful structure that effectively organizes information for the reader
- Clear, effective expression with specific word choice and well-crafted sentences
Evidence requirements for grades 6-English II paired passages:
- Score 3: Evidence must be drawn from both texts
- Score 2: Evidence drawn from at least one text
- Score 1: Often uses only one text with insufficient or mostly irrelevant evidence
STAAR Short Constructed Response (SCR) Scoring
Short constructed response questions appear across STAAR Reading Language Arts assessments in grades 3-8 and English I-II.
Each SCR is scored using rubrics specific to the question type.
Important note: Reading SCR rubrics are prompt-specific and live inside each grade-level Constructed Response Scoring Guide. There is no single universal SCR rubric PDF—each scoring guide contains the item-specific rubrics for that grade's assessment.
Sample Student Work and Official TEA Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions About STAAR Writing Rubric
Common questions teachers ask about the STAAR rubric. Contact us if you don't see your question answered below.
The STAAR ECR rubric (Extended Constructed Response) is used to score full essays and uses a 5-point scale that evaluates Organization and Development of Ideas (0-3 points) and Conventions (0-2 points). ECR essays appear on every STAAR Reading Language Arts assessment in grades 3-8 and English I-II, requiring students to compose complete essay responses.
The STAAR SCR rubric (Short Constructed Response) is used for brief answers and varies by subject. Reading SCRs use item-specific 2-point rubrics, while Writing SCRs use a generic 1-point rubric. SCR questions appear across all STAAR RLA grades and test specific reading or writing skills with shorter responses. These rubrics live inside each grade's Constructed Response Scoring Guide rather than as standalone documents.
The Texas Education Agency publishes official STAAR scoring guides annually for each grade level (3-8 and English I-II). These guides include the complete STAAR writing rubric, ECR rubrics, item-specific SCR rubrics, and scored student samples. You can access the most recent scoring guides in the "Constructed Response Scoring Guides" section above, organized by year and grade level.
Both the grades 3-5 and 6-English II STAAR ECR rubrics use the same 5-point scoring system (0-3 Organization and Development of Ideas + 0-2 Conventions). The key differences are:
Grades 6-English II rubrics require:
- Evidence drawn from both texts in paired-passage prompts to earn a score of 3 (score of 2 possible with evidence from at least one text)
- Counterarguments identified and refuted in argumentative essays (grades 8-English II)
- More sophisticated vocabulary and sentence complexity
Grades 3-5 rubrics allow:
- Evidence from at least one text in paired passages to achieve top scores (though using both texts strengthens the response)
- Counterarguments are optional in argumentative essays
- Age-appropriate language and sentence structure expectations
Both rubrics evaluate the same two traits—Organization and Development of Ideas and Conventions—but they differ in what defines a strong response:
STAAR Informational Writing Rubric looks for:
- A clear central idea or thesis that informs or explains
- Evidence that supports factual understanding
- Organizational structures like compare/contrast, cause/effect, or problem/solution
STAAR Argumentative/Opinion Rubric looks for:
- A clear claim or opinion statement that takes a position
- Evidence that persuades and supports the argument
- Counterarguments addressed (grades 8-English II)
- Organizational structures that build a logical case
Teachers should select the rubric that matches the prompt type students received.
Yes, the Texas Education Agency provides official Spanish-language STAAR writing rubrics for grades 3-5. These include both the Argumentative/Opinion and Informational writing rubrics translated into Spanish for use in bilingual and dual-language programs. You can find the Spanish rubrics in the "Official STAAR Writing Rubrics" section above under "Grades 3-5 Rubrics."
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