New York State Regents Examination Rubrics - English Language Arts

New York State Regents Examination Rubrics - English Language Arts

The New York State Regents Examination in English Language Arts uses comprehensive rubrics to evaluate student writing at the high school level. These rubrics serve as essential tools for educators, students, and parents to understand the expectations and standards required for success on this important examination.

Key Components

The Regents ELA exam evaluates two major types of writing:

Part 2: Writing from Sources - Argument (6 Credits)

• Content and Analysis
• Command of Evidence
• Coherence, Organization, and Style
• Control of Conventions

Click here to view the Argument NY Regents ELA Examination Rubrics.

Part 3: Text Analysis Response (4 Credits)

• Content and Analysis
• Command of Evidence
• Coherence, Organization, and Style
• Control of Conventions

Click here to view the Text Analysis NY Regents ELA Examination Rubrics.

Scoring Domains

Each writing task is evaluated across four primary domains:

Content and Analysis

• Assesses how effectively the response conveys complex ideas
• Evaluates the strength and clarity of claims or central ideas
• Considers depth of analysis and textual understanding

Command of Evidence

• Examines use of specific and relevant evidence from texts
• Evaluates proper citation and integration of sources
• Assesses support for analysis and claims

Coherence, Organization, and Style

• Evaluates logical organization of ideas
• Assesses maintenance of formal style
• Considers precision and sophistication of language

Control of Conventions

• Examines command of standard English grammar and usage
• Evaluates spelling, punctuation, and capitalization
• Considers overall writing mechanics

Key Features of Regents Rubrics

• Holistic scoring approach
• 6-point scale for arguments (Part 2)
• 4-point scale for text analysis (Part 3)
• Clear progression across performance levels
• Emphasis on text-based evidence
• Focus on analytical writing skills

Important Scoring Notes

• Essays addressing fewer texts than required can score no higher than a 3
• Personal responses with minimal text reference score no higher than a 1
• Completely copied responses receive a 0
• Responses unrelated to task or illegible receive a 0
• Multiple raters evaluate each response
• Teachers cannot score their own students’ work

Using the Rubrics Effectively

For Teachers

• Review rubrics thoroughly before scoring
• Participate in standardization training
• Use anchor papers as references
• Maintain consistency in scoring
• Document scoring decisions

For Students

• Understand expectations for each score level
• Practice self-assessment using rubrics
• Focus on all four evaluation domains
• Review sample responses at various levels
• Learn from anchor paper examples

Best Practices for Success

• Read and analyze texts carefully
• Develop clear, focused claims
• Support analysis with specific evidence
• Maintain formal academic style
• Organize ideas logically
• Edit for conventions and clarity

Conclusion

The NY Regents ELA Examination rubrics provide a structured framework for evaluating student writing at the high school level. Understanding these rubrics is crucial for both educators and students in preparing for and succeeding on this important assessment. Regular review and practice with these guidelines help ensure fair and consistent evaluation while supporting students in developing strong analytical and writing skills.