How are the clusters scored?
In Grades 4, 6, and 8, all the responses in the Listening section of the test are scored together as a cluster and receive a single score, as are the responses in the Reading section. For Writing Mechanics, the extended response from the Listening cluster is combined with the extended response from the Reading cluster, which are scored together to receive a single score. The Reading and Listening clusters are each scored using a 04 point rubric at Grade 4 and a 05 point rubric at Grades 6 and 8. Writing Mechanics at all three grades is scored using a 03 point rubric.
