Alabama · 3 rubrics
Alabama ACAP Writing Rubrics
ACAP Summative is Alabama's spring state test for grades 2–8. The English language arts test includes a writing task that professional readers score with a rubric; the rest of the ELA test is machine scored.
Alabama rubrics on EasyClass
| Rubric | Grades | Task | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama ACAP Argumentative Writing Rubric: Grade 6 | Grade 6 | Argumentative · Text-Dependent Writing (TDW) essay | 10 points · 3 criteria |
| Alabama ACAP Argumentative Writing Rubric: Grade 7 | Grade 7 | Argumentative · Text-Dependent Writing (TDW) essay | 10 points · 3 criteria |
| Alabama ACAP Argumentative Writing Rubric: Grade 8 | Grade 8 | Argumentative · Text-Dependent Writing (TDW) essay | 10 points · 3 criteria |
About the Alabama rubrics
In grades 3–8 the writing task is text-dependent writing (TDW). Students read one passage or a set of passages and write an essay that uses evidence from them. The source decides the mode: a literary text leads to a narrative, and an informational text leads to an informative/explanatory or an argumentative essay. Each mode has its own rubric with three traits: Purpose/Organization (0–4), Evidence/Elaboration (0–4; Development/Elaboration for narrative) and Conventions (0–2), for 10 points.
The argumentative rubric changes across middle school. Grade 6 scores a clear claim and makes no mention of opposing views. Grade 7 adds acknowledging alternate or opposing claims. Grade 8 asks for counterclaims and the reasons behind them. Each page below covers one grade, links the official Alabama State Department of Education PDF and includes a scored sample essay.
What changed and what’s coming
- Spring 2026 ACAP Summative window: March 16 to April 24, 2026, with grades 2 and 3 testing ELA in the first four weeks (ALSDE memo, December 16, 2024).
- Spring 2027 ACAP Summative window: March 15 to April 23, 2027 (ALSDE memo FY26-2017, January 9, 2026). ALSDE notes that dates are subject to change.
- The current writing rubrics were posted in February 2022 and are aligned to the 2021 Alabama Course of Study for ELA. The files are still labeled "DRAFT September 2021"; we found no newer version as of October 14, 2026.
- EasyClass is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Alabama State Department of Education. Our pages restate the rubrics in our own words and link the official files.
Each page lists the official document it was checked against and the date. How we check rubrics.
Questions about the Alabama rubrics
Which grades write an essay on ACAP Summative?
Every grade from 2 to 8 has a writing task. In grades 3–8 it is a text-dependent essay that can be narrative, informative/explanatory or argumentative, depending on the source text students read.
When is ACAP Summative given?
Each spring. The 2026 window was March 16 to April 24, and the 2027 window is March 15 to April 23, according to ALSDE testing-date memos. Your district sets the exact days within the window.
Who scores the ACAP writing task?
Professional readers score it with the mode's rubric. Each of the three traits gets its own score, and responses that are off-topic, copied, unintelligible or not in English are nonscorable.
Do the grade 6, 7 and 8 argumentative rubrics differ?
Mostly in how they treat the other side. Grade 6 has no counterclaim bullet, grade 7 scores acknowledging opposing claims, and grade 8 scores counterclaims and reasons. The other descriptors are nearly the same.
Where are the official rubrics?
On alabamaachieves.org. Each grade and mode has its own PDF, and every EasyClass page links the one it covers.
Grade a stack of essays tonight.
Pick any rubric above, upload your students’ essays, and check every score before it goes back.