SAT Essay Rubric

6    100–97%
6-   96–93

5+  92–89
5    88–85
5-   84–81

4+  80–77
4    76–73
4-   72–71
______________

3+  70–68
3    67–65
3-   64–62

2+  61–59
2    58–56
2-  55–51

1   50


The following information was excerpted from the College Board.  Please go there for more information:
http://sat.collegeboard.org/scores/sat-essay-scoring-guide

1. Score of 6

   An essay in this category demonstrates clear and consistent mastery, although it may have a few minor errors. A typical essay:
   
   • Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons and other evidence to support its position
   • Is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas
   • Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate and apt vocabulary
   • Demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure
   • Is free of most errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
   Score = 6 (Example 1)
   Score = 6 (Example 2)

2. Score of 5

   An essay in this category demonstrates reasonably consistent mastery, although it has occasional errors or lapses in quality. A typical essay:
   
   • Effectively develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates strong critical thinking, generally using appropriate examples, reasons and other evidence to support its position
   • Is well organized and focused, demonstrating coherence and progression of ideas
   • Exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary
   • Demonstrates variety in sentence structure
   • Is generally free of most errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
   Score = 5 (Example 1)
   Score = 5 (Example 2)

3. Score of 4

   An essay in this category demonstrates adequate mastery, although it has lapses in quality. A typical essay:
   
   • Develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical thinking, using adequate examples, reasons and other evidence to support its position
   • Is generally organized and focused, demonstrating some coherence and progression of ideas
   • Exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language, using generally appropriate vocabulary
   • Demonstrates some variety in sentence structure
   • Has some errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
   Score = 4 (Example 1)
   Score = 4 (Example 2)

4. Score of 3

   An essay in this category demonstrates developing mastery, and is marked by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
   
   • Develops a point of view on the issue, demonstrating some critical thinking, but may do so inconsistently or use inadequate examples, reasons or other evidence to support its position
   • Is limited in its organization or focus, or may demonstrate some lapses in coherence or progression of ideas
   • Displays developing facility in the use of language, but sometimes uses weak vocabulary or inappropriate word choice
   • Lacks variety or demonstrates problems in sentence structure
   • Contains an accumulation of errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
   Score = 3 (Example 1)
   

5. Score of 2

   An essay in this category demonstrates little mastery, and is flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
   
   • Develops a point of view on the issue that is vague or seriously limited, and demonstrates weak critical thinking, providing inappropriate or insufficient examples, reasons or other evidence to support its position
   • Is poorly organized and/or focused, or demonstrates serious problems with coherence or progression of ideas
   • Displays very little facility in the use of language, using very limited vocabulary or incorrect word choice
   • Demonstrates frequent problems in sentence structure
   • Contains errors in grammar, usage and mechanics so serious that meaning is somewhat obscured
   Score = 2 (Example 1)
   

6. Score of 1

   An essay in this category demonstrates very little or no mastery, and is severely flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
   
   • Develops no viable point of view on the issue, or provides little or no evidence to support its position
   • Is disorganized or unfocused, resulting in a disjointed or incoherent essay
   • Displays fundamental errors in vocabulary
   • Demonstrates severe flaws in sentence structure
   • Contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage or mechanics that persistently interfere with meaning
   Score = 1 (Example 1)
   

7. Score of 0

   Essays not written on the essay assignment will receive a score of zero