Rubric Generator
Build a printable grading rubric in seconds. Pick a task type and grade band, choose how many criteria you want, and select a 3, 4, or 5 level scale. Edit the criterion names, then print, download a PDF, or export a CSV.
Rubric Settings
Edit any name to override the default. Clear a field to restore the default.
Essay Rubric
High School | 4-level scale | 100 total points
| Criterion | Level Beginning | Level Developing | Level Proficient | Level Distinguished | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis and Focus | Thesis is missing or unclear; the essay has no central claim. | Thesis is present but vague or off topic in places. | Thesis is stated and the essay mostly stays on topic. | Thesis is clear, focused, and arguable; the essay stays on topic throughout. | 25 |
| Evidence and Support | Evidence is missing or unrelated to the thesis. | Some evidence is given, but it is weak or poorly explained. | Adequate evidence supports most claims. | Strong, varied evidence supports each claim with clear explanation. | 25 |
| Organization and Structure | Order is hard to follow; paragraphs do not connect. | Some structure is present, but transitions are weak. | Introduction, body, and conclusion are present and mostly connected. | Clear organization with smooth transitions between paragraphs. | 25 |
| Style and Voice | Word choice is repetitive; tone is unclear or inappropriate. | Word choice is plain; tone is inconsistent. | Word choice is appropriate; tone fits the audience most of the time. | Word choice is precise and the voice is engaging and appropriate. | 25 |
| Total | 100 | ||||
How to Build a Useful Rubric
When to use 3, 4, or 5 levels
3 levels. Best for short formative checks and younger students. Below, Meets, Exceeds gives a clean signal without forcing fine grained calls.
4 levels. The most common choice for graded work. Beginning, Developing, Proficient, Distinguished avoids a middle bucket that everyone defaults to.
5 levels. Useful for portfolio review or peer feedback where you want a wider scale. The 1 to 5 scheme maps well to numeric grade books.
Task types
- Essay. Thesis, evidence, organization, style, conventions, citations.
- Lab Report. Hypothesis, procedure, data, graphs, conclusion, format.
- Project. Topic, research, creativity, craftsmanship, time, reflection.
- Presentation. Content, organization, delivery, visuals, engagement, time.
- Math Problem Set. Accuracy, reasoning, notation, strategy, presentation, verification.
- Science Investigation. Question, design, data, analysis, safety, communication.
- Code Project. Functionality, code quality, algorithms, docs, tests, version control.
- Group Work. Contribution, collaboration, reliability, role, conflict, product.
- Generic Assignment. A flexible starting point for any task.
Tips for writing descriptors
- Describe what students do. Use action verbs like states, identifies, justifies, and analyzes.
- Keep parallel structure across levels so you only have to change a few words.
- Avoid vague words like good or excellent. Use observable behavior instead.
- Match vocabulary to the grade band. Younger students need simpler, concrete language.
- Check that the lowest descriptor still rewards effort. Avoid descriptors that read as failure with no path forward.
Print, PDF, and CSV
Print. Opens your browser print dialog. The page is set to landscape so 4 and 5 level rubrics fit on one sheet.
Download PDF. Generates a clean rubric PDF with the task type, grade band, scale, and total points. The file uses landscape orientation for 4 or more levels.
Download CSV. Exports the rubric as a spreadsheet so you can import it into your gradebook or use it as a grading template.
Share Link. Copies a shareable URL that preserves your task type, levels, criteria, and custom names.