This document describes a test of writing proficiency administered to junior Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) and Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) students at Catanduanes State University for the 2012-2013 school year. The test asks students to write an essay on the topic "LOVING: The greatest risk yet the bravest act" and will be assessed based on content, mechanics, organization, vocabulary, and grammar. Scores will be given on a scale of 1 to 4 for each category, with total scores between 0 and 100 used to determine writing proficiency levels of novice, intermediate, advanced, or superior.

1. Catanduanes State University
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Virac, Catanduanes
WRITING PROFICIENCY OF JUNIOR BACHELOR OF SECONDARY
EDUCATION (BSED) AND BACHELOR OF ELEMENTARY
EDUCATION (BEED) STUDENTS INCATANDUANES
STATE UNIVERSITY S.Y.2012-2013
TEST IN WRITING PROFICIENCY
A. Background of the Respondents
Name (optional): __________________________________ Year and Block: _____________
Major (for BSED Students): ________________________
A. Directions:Writean essay on the topic “LOVING: The greatest risk yet the bravest act.” Your
essay will be assessed through the following criteria:
Content 30 points
Mechanics 20 points
Organization 20 points
Vocabulary 15 points
Grammar 15 points
Total 100 points

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3. Appendix B
The Rating Scale and the Writing Assessment Criteria used to Assess Writing
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Raters: Three English Major Students
Items: There are six evaluation categories:
(1) Content - clarity of purpose, critical and original thought, and
use of examples
(2) Mechanics - indentation, capitalization, margining, spacing,
punctuation, spelling and syllabification errors or
run-on sentences
(3) Organization - well organized and very thorough development of
introduction, body, conclusion and supporting details
(4) Vocabulary - use of sophisticated and correct words in sentences
(5) Grammar - manipulates complex sentences for impact
(sentence structure, verb tense, connectors, etc.)
Rating scale: A four-point scale (1, 2, 3 & 4) is used for each of the five categories. Criteria for
four categories will be as follows:
I. Content
- 30 points: enough evidence and reasoning and range of ideas
- 25 points: good level of evidence and reasoning and range of ideas
- 20 points: evidence and reasoning is limited and range of ideas
- 15 points: poor level of evidence and reasoning and range of ideas

4. II. Mechanics
- 20 points: very good mechanical ability Maximum 5 errors
- 15points: few minor mechanical errors 6 to 10 errors
- 10 points: some mechanical errors 11 to 15 errors
- 5 points: Many mechanical errors More than 15 errors
III. Organization
- 20 points: well organized
- 15 points: fairly well organized
- 10 points: loosely organized
- 5 points: ideas disconnected
IV- Vocabulary
- 15 points: very effective choice of words
- 10 points: effective choice of words
- 5 points: fairly good vocabulary
- 3 points: limited range of vocabulary
V. Grammar
- 15 points: almost no errors Maximum 3 errors
- 10 points: few minor errors 4 to 6 errors
- 5 points: some errors 7 to 9 errors
- 3 points: many errors More than 9 errors

5. A summary of assessment criteria according to level of proficiency is presented in the following
table:
Level Level Highlights
Superior
76-100
Can produce informal and formal writing on topics treated both abstractly and
concretely. Can present well-developed ideas, opinions, arguments, and
hypotheses through extended discourse. Can control structures, both general
and specialized/professional vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, cohesive
devices, and all other aspects of written form and organization with no pattern
of error to distract the reader.
Advanced
51-75
Can write routine, informal, and some formal correspondence, narratives,
descriptions, and summaries of a factual nature in all major time frames in
connected discourse of a paragraph in length. Writing is comprehensible to all
native speakers due to breadth of generic vocabulary and good control of the
most frequently used structures.
Intermediate
24-50
Can meet a range of simple and practical writing needs. Can communicate
simple facts and ideas in a loosely connected series of sentences on topics of
personal interest and social needs, primarily in the present. Because of
vocabulary limitations and errors in basic structures, writing is
comprehensible to those accustomed to the writing of non-natives.
Novice
0-25
Can produce lists, notes, and limited formulaic information on simple forms
and documents.
Writing is typically limited to words, phrases, and memorized material.