State Writing Tests at a Glance

Alabama ACAP Summative ELA Text-Dependent Writing (TDW); ACT with Writing in grade 11

Grades 2–8 (ACAP); grade 11 (ACT with Writing)

One TDW in a separate Writing session: students read a text or set of texts and write an essay that analyzes it, using evidence from the text. In the grade 4 and 8 FAQs, a literary text calls for a narrative and an informational text for informative/explanatory or argumentative writing.

Scoring: Professional readers score each ACAP writing response; all other ELA questions are machine scored. On the ACT, state-contract online essays get one human reader paired with ACT's CRASE engine.

• ALSDE's posted TDW rubrics are labeled "DRAFT September 2021."
• Conventions is scored holistically by the variety, severity and density of errors, with basic errors weighted more.

Read the full Alabama guide → Official source: ALSDE ACAP Summative page

Arizona AASA ELA Writing; ACT Aspire in grade 9 and ACT with Writing in grade 11

Grades 3–8 (AASA), grade 9 (ACT Aspire), grade 11 (ACT with Writing)

One writing prompt per student with a set of related sources, such as articles, charts and graphs: informative/explanatory, or opinion (grades 3–5) or argumentative (grades 6–8). Students write from the sources but answer no comprehension questions about them.

Scoring: Pearson's Intelligent Essay Assessor scores by default. Low-confidence responses go to human scorers, and 10% get a second human score.

• Writing Guides in the test environment remind students of the key pieces of the rubric.
• On the grades 6–8 argumentative rubric, the opposing-claims expectation does not apply to grade 6.

Read the full Arizona guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: ADE AASA assessment page

California CAASPP Smarter Balanced ELA performance task

Grades 3–8 and 11

Students read multiple sources, answer a research question, then write one extended response (the full write). The purpose is assigned at random: narrative (grades 3–8 only), opinion/argumentative, or informational/explanatory.

Scoring: Hybrid: the Project Essay Grade engine plus trained human raters, decided response by response.

• Grammar and spelling count only in Conventions.
• A zero on a trait comes with a condition code, such as Insufficient (including significant copied text) or Off-Purpose.

Read the full California guide → Official source: CAASPP Smarter Balanced assessments

Colorado CMAS ELA prose constructed responses (PCRs)

Grades 3–8 (the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10 and SAT in high school have no essay)

Two PCRs per student, each from one of three task types: Literary Analysis, Research Simulation or Narrative. Students read one or more passages, respond to reading items, then write an extended response.

Scoring: In 2025, PCRs were human scored by Pearson's Scoring Services team.

• In the writing score, Written Expression is multiplied by three "to emphasize the additional importance of the content of the writing."
• Even the narrative task starts from a passage: one short literary or informational text.

Read the full Colorado guide → Official source: CDE CMAS Test Design

Connecticut Connecticut Smarter Balanced ELA (adaptive test only); SAT School Day in grade 11

No state essay

None (one brief write in grades 3–8, no full essay)

No ELA performance task, so no full essay. Writing is measured through short items: one, and only one, brief write of one to three paragraphs, plus revision, language and editing items. The grade 11 SAT has no essay.

Scoring: Most adaptive items are machine scored, and at least one requires hand scoring (CSDE blueprint).

• Connecticut dropped the ELA performance task in 2016.
• Writing and Research are combined into one reporting category, so there's no separate writing score.

Read the full Connecticut guide → Official source: CSDE 2026–27 Assessment Policy Overview

Florida B.E.S.T. Writing

Grades 4–10

One text-based constructed response: students read a set of texts and write an argumentative or expository essay in one 120-minute session.

Scoring: A human-scored sample trains an automated engine that scores most responses.

• Without citation, the highest possible Development score is 2.
• Rubrics differ by grade band (4–6, 7–10) and by mode (argumentative, expository).

Read the full Florida guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: FDOE 2026–27 B.E.S.T. Writing Fact Sheet

Georgia Georgia Milestones ELA

Grades 3, 5 and 8, plus Literature and Composition II

An Extended Writing Task scored on an eight-point, three-trait rubric. Grades 4, 6 and 7 have no extended task; GaDOE posts Peer Revision guidance for those grades instead.

• Very brief responses, even with few or no errors, may not earn the conventions points.
• Students get a Writer's Checklist during testing, but it can't be used as scratch paper.

Read the full Georgia guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: GaDOE Georgia Milestones educator resources

Illinois Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) ELA; ACT with Writing in grade 11

Grades 3–8 (IAR); grade 11 (ACT with Writing)

Two prose constructed responses per student: a Research Simulation Task plus either a Literary Analysis Task or a Narrative Writing Task, assigned at random. Together they make up about half of the ELA score.

• The reading dimension is not scored for narrative tasks.
• Writing checklists accompany each prose constructed response beginning with the 2027 administration.

Read the full Illinois guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: ISBE Illinois Assessment of Readiness

Indiana ILEARN ELA summative

Grades 3–8 (the grade 11 SAT has no essay)

A performance task on its own day: students research a set of up to two passages, answer one short research question, then write an essay or story. Each student gets one genre, and genres vary across students.

Scoring: IDOE describes the performance task as hand-scored. The Checkpoints have no open-ended questions.

• Since spring 2025, Organization and Evidence and Elaboration are scored separately instead of averaged, and rubrics are specific to each grade.
• The writing rubrics and released student samples are on Indiana Learning Lab, which requires a login.

Read the full Indiana guide → Official source: IDOE ILEARN page

Kentucky Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA); On-Demand Writing removed by HB 257

No state essay

None from 2026–27 (grades 5, 8 and 11 through spring 2026)

No essay from 2026–27: HB 257 removed On-Demand Writing and Editing and Mechanics, and spring 2026 was the last administration. Until then, students wrote one essay from a text set: opinion in grade 5, argumentative in grades 8 and 11. The rubric below is the retired one.

Scoring: KDE's 2023–24 technical manual says Pearson-trained human scorers double-scored every on-demand writing response.

• Beginning in 2026–27, every district must adopt and publish a writing program policy.
• In 2025–26, reading forms in grades 4–8 and 10 included one to three extended response items worth 4 points each, and KDE says those tests remain the same.

Read the full Kentucky guide → Official source: KDE Kentucky Summative Assessment page

Louisiana LEAP ELA prose constructed response (PCR); LEAP English I and English II

Grades 3–8; English I and English II

One writing task in Session 1: a Research Simulation Task, Literary Analysis Task or Narrative Writing Task. In English I and II, Sessions 1 and 2 each end with a PCR.

Scoring: Automated scoring used with professionally trained DRC scorers, who build the training set and validate accuracy.

• The grades 3–8 design was shortened starting in spring 2025, from two writing tasks to one.
• A comprehensive ELA exam replaces English I and II beginning in 2027–28; passing is required for the cohort entering in 2026–27 and beyond.

Read the full Louisiana guide → Official source: LDOE LEAP Assessment Guide for ELA, Grades 3–8

Maryland MSTAR ELA (grades 3–8, from spring 2027); MCAP ELA (grade 10)

Grades 3–8 and 10

Text-based prompts that ask students to use evidence from passages. Opinion/argument, informative/explanatory and narrative writing in grades 3–7; argument and informative/explanatory only in grades 8 and 10.

Scoring: Scored after the test by scoring professionals and/or an automated scoring engine.

• MSTAR is multi-stage adaptive, but constructed responses don't affect routing.
• Grade 10 ELA stays on MCAP in 2026–27 and moves to MSTAR in 2027–28.

Read the full Maryland guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: MSDE English Language Arts/Literacy assessments

Massachusetts MCAS ELA

Grades 3–8 and 10

Writing from passage sets, with no narrative writing. From spring 2027, grades 3–5 write two extended responses and no essays, grades 6–8 write one essay and one extended response, and grade 10 writes two essays.

Scoring: Grades 3–8 essays get an automated first score, with humans reading behind 10%. Grade 10 essays get one automated and one human score.

• Each writing question names the writing type and gives the expected length, and the response box has a word counter.
• Grades 6–8 essays are four to five paragraphs, up to 1,200 words; extended responses are one to two paragraphs (one in grade 3).

Read the full Massachusetts guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: DESE MCAS ELA Test Design

Michigan M-STEP ELA; SAT with Essay in grade 11 (spring 2026)

Grades 3–7 (M-STEP); grade 11 (SAT with Essay through spring 2026)

A Passage-based Writing prompt at every M-STEP grade: students read a literary or informational passage and write an essay supported with evidence from it.

Scoring: Machine scored, with a percentage of responses also scored by humans.

• Starting in spring 2027, SAT School Day in Michigan no longer includes the Essay.
• A 2027 Passage-based Writing field test runs in grades 3–7, January 4 to February 5, 2027.

Read the full Michigan guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: MDE Guide to State Assessments

Minnesota Reading MCA-IV (reading only)

No state essay

None

No state writing test. MDE says every Writing strand standard is assessed through classroom assessments, not the MCA. The Reading MCA-IV in grades 3–8 and 10 has 42 scored questions.

• Districts must offer grades 11 and 12 the ACT or SAT on a school day, and no score is required to graduate.
• English learners take WIDA ACCESS, which includes a Writing domain.

Read the full Minnesota guide → Official source: MDE English Language Arts standards page

Missouri MAP Grade-Level ELA; English I and II End-of-Course

Grades 4 and 8 (MAP), English I and II (EOC)

A writing prompt in grades 4 and 8 ELA, scored with genre-specific guides: opinion (grades 3–5), informational/explanatory, narrative, and argumentative (grades 6–8). The English II practice prompt asks students to use and cite two passages.

Scoring: Trained human readers score the grades 4 and 8 writing prompt.

• On the English I and II EOC, writing is 20 of 50 points, scored on Development and Elaboration, Organization and Flow, and Conventions (4, 4 and 2).
• The argumentative guide notes that counterclaims aren't taught until grade 7.

Read the full Missouri guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: DESE MAP Grade-Level Assessment

New Jersey NJSLA-A ELA (grades 3–9); NJGPA-A ELA (grade 11)

Grades 3–9 and 11

One extended-response writing task in a 90-minute session. Depending on grade it is narrative, informative/explanatory, opinion (grades 4–5) or argumentative (grades 6–9 and NJGPA-A).

Scoring: Responses near a cut score that got the lowest score on both rubrics get an additional human scorer.

• The writing unit isn't adaptive, because it has a single task.
• In argument writing, grade 7 acknowledges an opposing claim and grade 8 acknowledges and distinguishes it.

Read the full New Jersey guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: NJDOE NJSLA-A and NJGPA-A FAQ

New York Grades 3–8 ELA Tests; Regents Examination in ELA

Grades 3–8 (short responses), grades 4–8 (4-credit essays), high school (Regents)

2-credit short responses in every tested grade, and 4-credit writing from sources (usually paired texts) in grades 4–8. The Regents has a source-based argument (Part 2) and a text-analysis response (Part 3).

Scoring: Regents Parts 2 and 3 are scored holistically.

• On the Regents Part 2 argument, using fewer than three of the four sources caps the score at 3.
• A two-text 2-credit prompt answered from only one text scores no higher than 1.

Read the full New York guide → Official source: NYSED Educator Guide to the Grades 3–8 ELA Tests

North Carolina English II End-of-Course (EOC) test

English II only (EOG Reading in grades 3–8 has no written responses)

Short constructed responses that can typically be answered in a paragraph or less, scored on item-specific criteria.

• Online responses have a 1,000-character limit.
• EOG Reading in grades 3–8 is all multiple-choice and technology-enhanced items.

Read the full North Carolina guide → Official source: NCDPI EOC English II Test Specifications

Ohio Ohio's State Tests in ELA

Grades 3–8 and ELA II

Extended writing responses: one in grades 3–5, two (one in each part) in grades 6 through ELA II. Informative/explanatory, opinion (grades 3–5) or argumentation (grades 6–12).

Scoring: Machine scored, including the writing section.

• A revised rubric begins in spring 2028: still 10 points, with a 6-point Composition domain and 4-point Conventions.
• On the argument rubric, an addressed opposing claim is expected from grade 7.

Read the full Ohio guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: Ohio DEW FAQs about Ohio's State Tests

Oklahoma OSTP Writing test (grades 5 and 8); ACT with writing in grade 11

Grades 5 and 8 (OSTP); grade 11 (ACT, writing section required)

One paired-passage response that must include information from both passages, in the mode the prompt asks for: narrative, informative or opinion in grade 5; narrative, informative or argumentative in grade 8.

• On the grade 8 rubric, an argumentative 4 includes at least one counterclaim, and evidence at 2 and 1 may come from only one passage.
• The 2024–25 specifications set a 1,500-word limit. No response or a restatement of the prompt scores zero.

Read the full Oklahoma guide → Official source: OSDE Assessment Materials

Oregon OSAS ELA performance task (Smarter Balanced)

Grades 3–8 and 11

One performance task per student: a set of sources on one topic, one research question, then one full write in an opinion/argumentative or informational/explanatory purpose. ODE's posted rubrics include no narrative.

Scoring: ODE's blueprint says the full write is designed for hand scoring. AI scoring is currently available only on the interim performance task.

• Oregon also requires a local writing performance assessment every year in grades 3–8 and at least once in high school.
• ODE says a 3 on the performance task rubric is not designed to describe proficiency.

Read the full Oregon guide → Official source: ODE ELA Assessment page

Pennsylvania PSSA ELA Text-Dependent Analysis (TDA)

Grades 4–8 (grade 3 has short-answer items instead)

Students read a passage or passage set during the test and write an analytical essay drawing on explicit and implicit evidence.

• The TDA is 25 percent of the core ELA points.
• Responses copied solely or almost solely from the passage are non-scorable.

Read the full Pennsylvania guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: PDE PSSA ELA Test Design

South Carolina SC READY ELA Text-Dependent Writing (TDW); EOCEP English 2

Grades 3–8 (SC READY); English 2 (EOCEP)

One TDW: students read a passage or passages and respond to a prompt drawing on the text. Narrative in grades 3–4, argumentative in grades 5–6, and argumentative or informative in grades 7–8.

• The TDW replaced the Text-Dependent Analysis (TDA) item starting in 2024–25.
• English 2 uses a two-trait rubric: Trait 1 scored 1–4 and Trait 2 (usage, conventions, mechanics) 0–2.

Read the full South Carolina guide → Official source: SCDE SC READY Writing Component

Tennessee TCAP ELA

Grades 3–8, English I and English II

Written responses to passages in the mode the prompt names: opinion/argument, informational/explanatory or narrative. Grades 6–8 and the EOC tests have a written response in each of the first two subparts; grade 3 writes paragraphs from a passage and personal experience.

Scoring: In a 2024–25 pilot, every student got a human first read and Pearson's Intelligent Essay Assessor did the 10% second reads.

• Spring 2027 adds an embedded writing field test: one extra writing subpart with one extra prompt at each grade.
• Rubrics are applied holistically, not as a checklist. Counterclaims are acknowledged in grades 6–8 and refuted in grade 8.

Read the full Tennessee guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: TDOE TCAP Writing Rubrics

Texas STAAR Reading Language Arts (RLA)

Grades 3–8, English I and English II

An extended constructed response at every tested grade: an informational or argumentative essay (opinion in grades 3–5) about a reading selection, plus short constructed responses.

Scoring: Two scores are added together. An automated scoring engine has been used since December 2023, with humans reviewing at least a quarter of responses (Texas Tribune).

• A 0 in Development and Organization of Ideas means a 0 in Conventions.
• From grade 8 through English II, a score of 3 requires counterarguments identified and refuted.

Read the full Texas guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: TEA 2026 Grade 8 RLA Constructed-Response Scoring Guide

Utah RISE Writing

Grades 5 and 8

One on-demand essay, argument or informative/explanatory, based on evidence from a set of passages. Grades 3, 4, 6 and 7 take RISE ELA with no summative writing test.

• On the writing rubric, 4 means meeting the grade-level standard; on conventions, 2 does.
• On the grades 7–8 argument rubric, 5 and 6 distinguish the claim from opposing claims, while 4 and below may not acknowledge them.

Read the full Utah guide → Official source: Utah RISE Writing Rubrics

Virginia Grades 5 and 8 Reading SOL (Integrated Reading and Writing); End-of-Course Writing SOL

Grades 5 and 8 (IRW), high school (EOC Writing)

IRW: students read an informational passage, answer six multiple-choice or technology-enhanced items, then write in response to a prompt on the same passage. EOC Writing: revising and editing items plus a short paper on a persuasive prompt, on separate days.

Scoring: EOC short papers get at least two readers, and composing counts twice (16 of the 24 points).

• Untimed, but it must be finished in one school day, with a 6,000-character limit and spell check.
• A Checklist for Writers appears as an exhibit on the prompt screen.

Read the full Virginia guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: VDOE English Assessment Resources

Washington Smarter Balanced ELA

Grades 3–8 and 10 (optional in 11 and 12)

A performance task: students read a set of sources on one topic, answer one research item, then write a full essay (the full write) for the purpose the task names. Grades 6–8 and high school also have one Write Brief Text item.

Scoring: Since spring 2025, a hybrid model combines automated scoring with expert human review.

• On the argumentative rubric, addressing an opposing view begins in grade 7.
• A grade 10 ELA score of 2548 is one graduation pathway; the State Board has proposed dropping the pathway requirement in the 2027 legislative session.

Read the full Washington guide → Official source: OSPI Smarter Balanced ELA Assessment

Wisconsin Forward Exam ELA; ACT with writing in grade 11

Grades 3–8 (Forward), grade 11 (ACT with writing)

Two one-paragraph short writes of about 10 to 20 minutes each: one with a short passage and one stand-alone. The mode isn't announced and can differ between the two, and evidence from the passage isn't required.

Scoring: AI scoring by DRC, trained on responses double-scored by expert raters. Unscoreable responses go to human scorers, and DRC staff scored 20% in the first year.

• There is no Writer's Checklist; the prompt states the expectations.
• Spelling errors don't affect the score as long as the words can be deciphered.

Read the full Wisconsin guide → Free student checklist (PDF) Official source: DPI Forward Exam Short Write FAQs