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Scoring Guide
In holistic reading,
raters
assign each essay to a scoring category according to its
dominant characteristics. Scores for the Analytical Writing Placement Exam range
from 6 down to 1. The categories below describe the characteristics
typical of papers at each level of competence. These descriptions
take into account that the papers they categorize represent two
hours of reading and writing, not a more extended period of drafting
and revision.
| "6"
paper commands attention because of its insightful development
and mature style. It presents a cogent response to the text,
elaborating that response with well-chosen examples and persuasive
reasoning. The 6 paper shows that its writer can usually choose
words aptly, use sophisticated sentences effectively, and observe
the conventions of written English. |
| "5"
paper is clearly competent. It presents a thoughtful response
to the text, elaborating that response with appropriate examples
and sensible reasoning. A 5 paper typically has a less fluent
and complex style than a 6, but does show that its writer can
usually choose words accurately, vary sentences and observe the
conventions of written English. |
| "4"
paper is satisfactory, sometimes marginally so. It presents an
adequate response to the text, elaborating that response with
sufficient examples and acceptable reasoning. Just as these examples
and this reasoning will ordinarily be less developed than those
in 5 papers, so will the 4 paper's style be less effective. Nevertheless,
a 4 paper shows that its writer can usually choose words of sufficient
precision, control sentences of reasonable variety, and observe
the conventions of written English. |
| "3"
paper is unsatisfactory in one or more of the following ways.
It may respond to the text illogically; it may lack coherent
structure or elaboration with examples; it may reflect an incomplete
understanding of the text or the topic. Its prose is usually
characterized by at least one of the following: frequently imprecise
word choice; little sentence variety; occasional major errors
in grammar and usage, or frequent minor errors. |
| "2"
paper shows
serious weaknesses ordinarily of several kinds. It
frequently presents a simplistic, inappropriate, or incoherent
response to the text, one that may suggest some significant
misunderstanding
of the text or the topic. Its prose is
usually characterized
by at least one of the following:
simplistic or inaccurate word
choice; monotonous or
fragmented sentence structure; many repeated
errors in
grammar and usage. |
| "1"
paper suggests
severe difficulties in reading and writing conventional
English It may disregard the topic's demands, or it may lack
any appropriate pattern of structure or development. It may be
inappropriately brief. It often has a pattern of errors in word
choice, sentence structure, grammar, and usage. |
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