Rubric Generator
Pick a template or start blank, then edit the criteria, the four performance levels, the descriptor in every cell and the points for each criterion. The rubric previews as you type and prints or copies as a table, ready for a document or learning management system. Free, no sign-up; nothing is uploaded.
How to Use the Rubric Generator
- 1. Choose a starting point. Essay, Presentation, Group Project and Lab Report each load five criteria with four descriptors and points that total 100. Start blank gives three empty criteria. Choosing a template after you have edited the rubric asks for confirmation before it replaces your work.
- 2. Edit everything. Rename the title, the four level headings (for instance 4, 3, 2, 1, or Exceeds, Meets, Approaching, Beginning), each criterion, each descriptor and each criterion's points. Add criterion appends a row, and the minus button removes one while at least one is left.
- 3. Check the preview. The table underneath updates as you type and ends with a Total row that adds up the points column.
- 4. Print or copy. Print sends the title and the table to your printer. Copy as Markdown and Copy as Tab-Separated put the table on your clipboard; paste the tab-separated version into Word, Google Docs, Excel or Sheets and the tabs become cells.
What Is in a Rubric
Carnegie Mellon's Eberly Center describes a rubric as a scoring tool that sets out what you expect from an assignment, built from three parts: the criteria being assessed, such as argument, evidence or clarity; the performance levels, a scale that shows how well a student has mastered each criterion; and the descriptors, the characteristics that define each criterion at each level. The Center notes that rubrics can speed up grading, make graders more consistent, and help students see what is expected and track their progress.
This tool builds an analytic rubric, one where each criterion is judged separately and the results are added up, rather than a holistic rubric that gives a single overall impression. The grid has one row per criterion and four columns for the levels. Each criterion has one points value, which is its weight or maximum, not a separate score for every level.
The Templates
| Template | Criteria and points (total 100) |
|---|---|
| Essay | Thesis & Focus 20, Organization 20, Evidence & Support 25, Analysis 20, Grammar & Mechanics 15 |
| Presentation | Content Accuracy 25, Organization 20, Delivery 25, Visual Aids 15, Time Management 15 |
| Group Project | Collaboration 25, Quality of Work 25, Individual Contribution 20, Meeting Deadlines 15, Presentation of Results 15 |
| Lab Report | Hypothesis & Purpose 15, Procedure & Methods 20, Data & Results 25, Analysis & Conclusion 25, Format & Clarity 15 |
Treat these as drafts. The descriptors are general, so rewrite them to describe your assignment, and change the weights to match what you actually want students to spend time on. If you add or remove a criterion, check that the Total still equals the number of points you grade out of.
Writing Descriptors That Work
- Describe what you can see. "Cites at least four peer-reviewed sources" is easier to grade than "good use of sources".
- Keep levels parallel. Each cell in a row should describe the same feature at a different quality, so a student can see exactly what moves them up.
- Avoid words that only rank. "Better" and "weak" restate the level name. Say what is present or missing.
- Keep a criterion to one idea. "Organisation and grammar" in one row hides two different strengths.
- Try it on real work. Grade two or three samples with the rubric before you hand it out, and fix any cell you cannot decide between.
From Rubric to Grade
The generator does not turn levels into points, because schools do this differently. One common choice is to give each level a share of the criterion's points. Suppose you use 100%, 85%, 70% and 50% for the four levels of the Essay template and a student is rated Good on Thesis, Excellent on Organization, Satisfactory on Evidence, Good on Analysis and Excellent on Grammar.
Example with those shares (your own scale may differ)
Thesis & Focus
Good: 85% of 20 = 17
Organization
Excellent: 100% of 20 = 20
Evidence & Support
Satisfactory: 70% of 25 = 17.5
Analysis
Good: 85% of 20 = 17
Grammar & Mechanics
Excellent: 100% of 15 = 15
Total
86.5 out of 100
To do that sum for a whole class, or to convert rubric scores into a percentage and a letter grade, use the Rubric Score Calculator.
Which Tool Do You Need?
| If you want… | Use |
|---|---|
| To design the rubric: criteria, levels and descriptors | This Rubric Generator |
| To turn a student's rubric scores into points, a percentage and a letter grade | Rubric Score Calculator |
| A form for students to review each other's work | Peer Review Form Generator |
| A quick overall grade from weighted assignments | Grade Calculator |
| Teams made up for a group project | Group Generator |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I create a grading rubric?
- Choose a template or Start blank, then edit the criteria rows, the four level headings, the descriptor in each cell and the points per criterion. The preview and the Total row update as you type. When it reads the way you want, print it or copy it as a table.
- Can I change the number of performance levels?
- No, the rubric always has four level columns. You can rename them freely, for example Exceeds, Meets, Approaching, Beginning, or 4, 3, 2, 1. For a different number of levels, copy the table and add or delete columns in your document.
- Are points set for each level?
- No. Each criterion has a single points value, which acts as its weight or maximum. Decide how levels map to points yourself, for instance by giving each level a share of the criterion's points, and put the numbers in the descriptors or in your grading sheet.
- How do I get the rubric into Word, Google Docs or a learning management system?
- Use Copy as Tab-Separated and paste into Word, Google Docs, Excel or Sheets; the tabs become table cells. Copy as Markdown gives a pipe table for wikis, README files and pages that accept Markdown. Each copy starts with the rubric title, then the table, whose first row is headed Criterion, the level names and Points (in the page language).
- Can I print the rubric?
- Yes. Press Print and only the rubric is printed: the title you typed as a heading above the table, then the table, with the editor hidden. Choose Save as PDF in the print dialog for a file. Landscape orientation usually gives the descriptors more room.
- Is my rubric saved or uploaded?
- No. It exists only on this page in your browser, so reloading clears it. Copy it or print it to keep a version.