Scoring and Criteria Flashcards

Which of the following best describes what a score of 4 on the AWA indicates?

Answer: A competent essay that addresses the task with minor flaws

A score of 4 represents a 'competent' response that adequately addresses the task with only minor weaknesses.

How do AWA raters handle essays that contain factual errors about the real world?

Answer: Factual errors are noted but do not heavily penalize the score unless they undermine the argument

AWA raters focus on argument quality; factual inaccuracies matter only when they significantly weaken the logical foundation of the essay.

What distinguishes a score of 5 from a score of 6 on the AWA?

Answer: A score of 5 shows strong reasoning with minor lapses, while a score of 6 is outstanding with minimal flaws

A 6 is 'outstanding' with insightful analysis and virtually no flaws, while a 5 is 'strong' but may have minor lapses in clarity or development.

On the AWA, what is the primary role of the e-rater (automated scoring engine)?

Answer: It serves as a second opinion alongside one human rater

ETS uses the e-rater as a second rater; if its score closely agrees with the human rater's score, the two scores are averaged.

If a test taker submits a blank AWA response, what score will they receive?

Answer: NS (No Score)

ETS assigns an 'NS' (No Score) designation when no response is provided, which is different from a scored 0.

Which writing quality carries the MOST weight in AWA holistic scoring?

Answer: Critical thinking and quality of argument

AWA holistic scoring prioritizes the depth and quality of critical analysis and argumentation above stylistic features.

How long does each AWA task allow for writing?

Answer: 30 minutes

Test takers are given 30 minutes to complete each of the two AWA tasks (Analyze an Issue and Analyze an Argument).