Assessment in the Mathematics Classroom >

Interpreting Evidence of Learning > Analytic Trait Rubrics

An analytic trait rubric divides a product or performance into essential traits or dimensions so that they can be judged separately—one analyzes a product or performance for essential traits. While an analytic trait rubric will be quite specific to the math task you have created for students, it also contains features of understanding that appear on generic rubrics. You want to be able to identify specific understandings, skills and/or processes from the performance task.

Advantages of analytic trait rubrics:

• They help teachers judge complex performances involving several significant dimensions.
• They provide more specific information or feedback to students, parents and teachers about the strengths and weaknesses of a performance. Teachers can use the information provided to target instruction to particular areas of need.
• They are useful for demonstrating day-to-day classroom learning.

Disadvantage of analytic trait rubrics:

• It is time consuming to learn how to create and apply these rubrics.

Sample Analytic Trait Rubric