Writing and Using Rubrics in Free Response Questions

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Writing and Using Rubrics in Free Response
Questions

• AP Workshop
• Leesburg, VA

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What is a Rubric?

• A rubric is an educational tool we use to define
  a point system for scoring a question.
• Rubrics are used to promote consistancy in
  grading.

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How and Why does AP use Rubrics

• Rubrics are used to score the free response
  questions at the reading
• The rubrics are developed over time and readers
  are trained to apply them consistently to a wide
  variety of student solutions.

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How are the rubrics developed?

• The exam leaders make an initial rubric after
  looking at some exams
• The question leaders then spend 2 days applying
  the rubric to actual student exams. The rubric
  can be refined many times over this period.
• The question leaders spend another day training
  the table leaders and preparing for the readers
• Once the readers arrive the rubric generally is
  not changed.

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What are the components of a good rubric?

• A clear definition of how the points relate to
  the algorithm
• The ability to be applied to multiple solutions
  fairly
• Clear wording to define when points are to be
  awarded

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How to write your own questions and rubrics

• Start with the concept you want to evaluate.
• Brainstorm based on your and your students
  everyday life what things around you provide a
  framework for the algorithm you want to use.

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How to write your own questions and rubrics

• After brainstorming think again what concept
  are you trying to evaluate and how does that fit
  with the framework.
• OCAT one concept at a time break down the
  problem to the individual tasks

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How to write your own questions and rubrics

• Write your own solution
• Assign points to key parts of the algorithm
• If possible refine the rubric based upon student
  answers.

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Now you try

• Lets choose a topic
• Work in groups to develop a framework for a
  single FR question (writing out only one method)
• Share with the group

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Tips

• Remember that students earn points not lose
  them
• Gift Points what shows more than zero
  understanding?
• Key Minimums What might be a step in the right
  direction without earning any credit for this
  problem (the musts)

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Where to find rubrics

• AP Central
• Search the internet
• Review Books