Grade 8 English Language Arts Computer-Based Practice Test Answer Key The following pages include the answer key for all machine-scored items, followed by the rubrics for the hand-scored items. Item Number Answer Key Reporting Category Standard 1 Part A: C Part B: B Reading 3 2 Reading 3 3 Narrative Essay - See Rubric Writing Language 3,4 1,2,3 4 D Reading 1 5 C Reading 4 6 D Reading 3 7 D Reading 6 8 Text-Based Essay - See Rubric Reading Writing Language 2 2,4 1,2,3 Scoring rubric for Grade 8 Practice Test Item #3: Narrative Essay* Score Point 4 Score Point 3 Score Point 2 Score Point 1 Score Point 0 Written Expression The student response is effectively developed with narrative elements and is consistently appropriate to the task; is effectively organized with clear and coherent writing; establishes and maintains an effective style. The student response is mostly effectively developed with narrative elements and is mostly appropriate to the task; is organized with mostly clear and coherent writing; establishes and maintains a mostly effective style. The student response is developed with some narrative elements and is generally appropriate to the task; demonstrates some organization with somewhat coherent writing; has a style that is somewhat effective. The student response is minimally developed with few narrative elements and is limited in its appropriateness to the task; demonstrates limited organization and coherence; has a style that has limited effectiveness. The student response is undeveloped and/or inappropriate to the task; lacks organization and coherence; has an inappropriate style. Knowledge of Language and Conventions The student response to the prompt demonstrates full command of the conventions of standard English at an appropriate level of complexity. There may be a few minor errors in mechanics, grammar, and usage, but meaning is clear. The student response to the prompt demonstrates some command of the conventions of standard English at an appropriate level of complexity. There may be errors in mechanics, grammar, and usage that occasionally impede understanding, but the meaning is generally clear. The student response to the prompt demonstrates limited command of the conventions of standard English at an appropriate level of complexity. There may be errors in mechanics, grammar, and usage that often impede understanding. The student response to the prompt demonstrates no command of the conventions of standard English. Frequent and varied errors in mechanics, grammar, and usage impede understanding.
*This is a draft rubric and may be updated as necessary. Scoring rubric for Grade 8 Practice Test Item #8: Text-Based Essay* Idea Development Conventions quality and development of Central idea selection and explanation of evidence/ details organization expression of ideas awareness of task and mode sentence structure grammar, usage and mechanics 5 Central idea is insightful and fully developed Skillful selection and explanation of evidence/details Skillful and/or subtle organization Rich expression of ideas Full awareness of the task/mode 3 A variety of sentence structures formed correctly relative to length of essay Consistent control of grammar, usage and mechanics relative to complexity and/or length of essay 4 Central idea is clear and well-developed Effective selection and explanation of evidence/details Effective organization Clear expression of ideas Full awareness of the task/mode 2 Some variety of sentence structures formed correctly relative to length of essay Mostly consistent control of grammar, usage and mechanics relative to complexity and/or length of essay 3 Central idea is general and moderately developed Appropriate selection and explanation of evidence/details Moderate organization Adequate expression of ideas Sufficient awareness of the task/mode 1 Little variety in sentence structure and/or sentence structures formed incorrectly Little to no control of grammar, usage and mechanics relative to complexity and/or insufficient length