MPT Grading Rubric

MPT Grading Rubric

MPT grading rubric: Are you struggling with the MPT, but feel like there are no guidelines to let you know what to improve? In this post, we provide you an MPT grading rubric, based on the Washington State Bar Association’s guidelines (which are no longer available online, as of December 2019)!

MPT Grading Rubric

These scores are modified from the Washington State Bar Association’s MPT grading rubric (which is no longer available online, as of December 2019). They show you what is needed to achieve a specific score on an MPT answer.

Score of 6

A 6 answer is a very good answer. A 6 answer indicates that the applicant has a thorough comprehension of the task, the relevant factual and legal materials, and uses them to write a legally supported, well-written responsive product in the time allotted.

Score of 5

A 5 answer is an above average answer. A 5 answer demonstrates that the applicant has a fairly complete understanding of the task, understands most of the relevant materials, and uses them to write a legally supported, reasonably well-written, mostly responsive product in the time allotted.

Score of 4

A 4 answer is an average answer. A 4 answer indicates that an applicant has a fair understanding of the task and understands enough of the relevant materials to incorporate them into a satisfactory, though not completely responsive, product in the time allotted.

Score of 3

A 3 answer is a somewhat below average answer. A 3 answer is inadequate. It shows that the applicant has a limited understanding of the facts, issues, and applicable principles of law and is not able to write a satisfactorily responsive product in the time allotted.

Score of 2

A 2 answer is a below average answer. A 2 answer is significantly flawed and shows that the applicant has only a basic understanding of the task. It shows the applicant failed to grasp most of the relevant facts and law and thus has not produced a useful product in the time allotted.

Score of 1

A 1 answer is a well below average answer. It indicates a failure to understand the task. A 1 answer shows virtually no ability to identify the relevant facts or law in the time allotted.

Score of 0

A 0 answer is appropriate when an applicant does not write an answer at all. It is also appropriate if an answer is completely unresponsive to the question.

What does this mean?

If you examine this standard MPT grading scale as well as what the MPT tests, it shows that in order to achieve a high score on the MPT, you should do all of the following:

• Demonstrate an ability to problem solve by identifying the problem, as well as a proposed solution(s) or strategies to reach those solutions
• Show an ability to identify legal issues and use those issues to formulate, evaluate, and set forth legal arguments.
• Demonstrate an ability to identify relevant facts, evaluate the facts given, and determine a plan of action for fact gathering. If presented cases, you should compare the salient facts of your case with the facts given in the cases.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, keeping in mind who the recipient of the communication is. Strive to write well and write for your audience. So if your audience is a lawyer or judge, your MPT answer should look different than if your audience is a layperson.
• Properly organize your task and complete it within time constraints.
• Recognize and resolve ethical dilemmas, when applicable.

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