Analytic Scoring Scale

For scoring student work on problem-solving problems

by James Olsen

Understanding the Problem	0	no attempt
	1	attempt but little understanding
	2	some understanding, some errors in understanding⁽¹⁾
	3	strong understanding
Planning & Solving	0	no attempt
	2	inappropriate plan and not carried out
	4	good plan, not carried out OR inappropriate plan and student carried out the plan
	5	good plan, carried out, copying or calculation error (wrong answer)
	6	good plan, carried out, correct answer
Extensions/checking/generalizations	0	no attempt (answer only)
	1	Did a (one) look back and extend activity.
	2	Did two or more look back and extend activities.

NOTES:

The "Understanding the Problem" phase refers to the understanding of the knowns, unknowns, and conditions of the problem itself. The student is not required to write anything down in the Understanding phase. In this case, the grader makes an inference about understanding from the work that is shown for the problem.
It is the assumption that students are to write enough to communicate to the grader how the problem was solved (or attempted). (If necessary, students may need to be taught the purpose of assessment devices.)
For extensions, checking, and generalizations the student must show something on the paper to receive a score of 1 or 2. "I just did all those things in my head," is not acceptable.
"Good plan, not carried out" could be major problems in carrying out the plan.
"Good plan" means appropriate plan (would or does lead to an answer). It is not necessarily the best and most efficient plan.

Look Back and Extend activities that may earn a point in the Analytic Scoring Scale:

1. Is the answer reasonable? (Show why it is reasonable.)
2. Check the answer.
3. Solve it another way.
4. Is there another answer? (or show why there is only one answer)
5. Explain why the answer works.
6. Make generalizations.
7. What extensions can be made? Write and/or solve extensions
8. What related problems could be solved? What problems is this related to?

Reporting Form

	Score	Comments
Understanding the Problem
Planning & Solving
Extensions/checking/generalizations

Total:

Converting Analytic Scoring Scale Scores to Letter Grades - It is not recommended that that the teacher take the points earned divide by 11 and convert to a percent, and then to a letter grade. Click here for recommendations.

1. Note: the wording of this scale is for the purpose of clarity to the grader, and NOT the words to be given to the student. If the grader wishes to supply comments to the student, this should be done on an individual basis. A reporting form is provided.