What is the primary purpose of a rubric in assessment?

A rubric serves as a detailed tool to clearly define grading criteria and provide specific feedback on student performance. By delineating various levels of achievement for specific tasks or assignments, a rubric helps both educators and students understand expectations. This clarity enables students to know exactly what is required for success, promoting self-assessment and guiding their learning processes. Moreover, it allows teachers to assess student work consistently and fairly, providing actionable feedback that can help students improve.

While a grading scale for standardized tests might be a part of some assessment strategies, it does not encompass the formative and detailed nature of what a rubric offers. Assessing student behavior during class activities does not align with the student performance assessment focus of rubrics. Lastly, summarizing overall classroom performance overlooks the targeted, task-specific feedback that rubrics are designed to provide. Hence, the primary purpose of a rubric is best captured by the ability to define criteria and deliver specific feedback on performance.