As you begin to work with the writing scores, the link to the state site might help:
http://gadoe.org/ci_testing.aspx?PageReq=CITestingWA5
In addition to many support pieces online at the state site the interpretive guide is at:
http://gadoe.org/DMGetDocument.aspx/Grade%205%20Interpretive%20Guide%202007.pdf?p=6CC6799F8C1371F68E544085B735F99715EE593C232B8AD3165788DD363A6BA2&Type=D
Guidelines are as follows:
Each paper is scored by two raters. Raters who score the student compositions are trained to understand and use the standardized scoring system. The raters score each paper independently. Each of the four domains of effective writing is evaluated. Although these domains are interrelated during the writing process, a strength or area of challenge is scored only once under a particular domain. Scores in each domain range from 1 to 5 (5 being the highest score). The total weighted raw scores range from 10 (1’s in all four domains) to 50 (5’s in all four domains). A score of "1 to 5" is assigned to each domain by each rater.
These scores represent a continuum of writing that ranges from inadequate to minimal to good to very good. Points on the continuum are defined by the scoring rubric for each domain. Each score point itself represents a range of papers. Domain scores are combined to obtain a total score for each student. In combining the domain scores, the Content score is given a weight of 40%; the other domains of Organization, Style, and Conventions are given a weight of 20% each. The total score is then converted to a three-digit scaled score. There are three performance levels represented: Does Not Meet (100-199), Meets (200-249), and Exceeds(250+).
Because the 100-250+ is a scale score - there is not an absolute formula to which we have access for calculating the conversion from the 1-5 scores to the scale score. That is done at the state level and is weighted differently based on the performance on the various prompts.
