Pick a text type and an age band, tick the criteria you’re teaching, and this rubric maker for writing builds two things at once: a student checklist in kid-friendly "I can" language and a four-level teacher rubric. Every criterion is written specifically for that text type, so there’s nothing generic to fix. Curated by experienced teachers. No AI, nothing to sign up for.
How teachers use it
- Co-construct success criteria: open the projector view and step through the criteria one at a time while the class talks about what each level looks like.
- Self- and peer-assessment: students tick the checklist for themselves, swap with a partner, then write two stars and a wish.
- Share a class link: students open your exact checklist on any device, tick it and print it. Nothing is uploaded; the checklist travels inside the link.
- Make it yours: reword any criterion, add your own, reorder them, rename the levels and switch points on or off before you print.
- Moderate consistently: save a rubric for each unit and download the file to share with your team.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free?
Yes. The Success Criteria & Rubric Builder is completely free to use, print and share with your class.
Do students need to sign up?
No. There are no accounts and no logins. Teachers and students just open the page and start.
Which ages is it for?
Four age bands: 5–7, 8–10, 11–14 and 15–18. The criteria truly change between bands, from simple "I can" statements for young writers to voice, nuance and structural choices for older students.
Which text types are included?
Twelve: narrative, persuasive, discussion, information report, explanation, procedure, recount, descriptive, response or review, letter, biography and poetry, with 14 to 18 criteria for each age band.
Does it work on a projector or interactive whiteboard?
Yes. The projector view shows the checklist in large type, one criterion at a time or as a whole list, with the four levels on screen and a built-in timer for partner talk.
Is student writing private?
Yes. Everything happens in the browser. Ticks and feedback stay on the device unless a student prints them. Nothing is sent to us, and there’s no tracking or AI.
Related teaching guides
- Different text types
- The writing process
- Teaching proofreading and editing
- Narrative writing guide
- Information report guide
More free tools for your classroom: see all Classroom Tools.
Want ready-made checklists for every text type? Student Writing Checklists on TpT.