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FCAT Writing

• FCAT Reading & Mathematics • FCAT Science • FCAT Writing • FCAT Norm-Referenced Test • Interactive FCAT District and School Reports

FCAT Writing measures student writing achievement in grades 4, 8, and 10. Beginning in 2000, the Florida Writing Assessment Program (FWAP), also known as Florida Writes, was called FCAT Writing, and writing summary scores were reported for all curriculum groups combined. The test required students to write responses to assigned topics in a single testing period. In 2006, a multiple-choice portion was added to the assessment, and the test was renamed FCAT Writing+. The test was administered in two sessions, and student Achievement Levels were calculated by combining performance on the prompt portion and the multiple-choice portion of the test. In 2009, the multiple-choice items were removed from the statewide writing assessment; therefore, the test name was changed back to FCAT Writing, and Achievement Levels are no longer reported for the statewide writing assessment.

When reviewing FCAT Writing essay results from 2010 and beyond, comparisons to previous years' writing scores should be avoided. This caution is given for three reasons. First, in spring 2010 and spring 2011, each essay was scored by one rater. In previous years and in 2012, two raters were used and the scores were averaged allowing for half-point scores, such as 4.5; whereas in 2010 and 2011, no half-point scores were possible. Second, beginning in 2010, each student within the same grade level was required to write an essay using the same writing purpose, which is also called the mode (narrative, expository, or persuasive). In previous years, with the exception of grade 10 in 2008, there were two modes assessed at each grade level with half of the students responding to each mode. For example, the 2010 Grade 4 FCAT Writing required all students to write a narrative essay. In 2009, half of the students wrote a narrative essay, and half of the students were required to write an expository essay. Third, in 2012, scoring decisions included expanded expectations regarding the following: (1) increased attention to the correct use of standard English conventions, and (2) increased attention to the quality of details, requiring use of relevant, logical, and plausible support, rather than contrived statistical claims or unsubstantiated generalities.

For more information on how FCAT Writing essays are scored, go to http://fcat.fldoe.org/rubrcpag.asp to view scoring rubrics.

2012 Scores

2012 FCAT Writing Prompts and Sample Essays

  • State and District Scores for All Curriculum Groups

  • School Scores for All Curriculum Groups

2011 Scores

Statewide Comparison of Writing Scores (PDF, 69KB)
FCAT Writing Trends: 2001-2011 (PDF, 61KB)
Description of the 2011 FCAT Writing Prompts

  • State and District Scores for All Curriculum Groups
  • School Scores for All Curriculum Groups

2010 Scores

Note: Changes in scoring procedures were implemented in 2010. For more information, see above.

Statewide Comparison of Writing Scores (PDF, 40KB)
Description of the 2010 FCAT Writing Prompts

  • State and District Scores for All Curriculum Groups
  • School Scores for All Curriculum Groups

2009 Scores

Statewide Comparison of Writing Scores (PDF, 56KB)
FCAT Writing 2009 State Summary Report

FCAT Writing Average Essay Scores 1993-2009 (PDF, 32KB)
FCAT Writing 1999-2009 Percent Scoring at and Above 3.5 and 4 (PDF, 53KB)
2009 FCAT Writing Prompts

2008 Scores

Statewide Comparison of Writing Scores (PDF, 52KB)
FCAT Writing+ 2008 State Summary Report

FCAT Writing Average Essay Scores 1993-2008 (PDF, 35KB)
FCAT Writing+ 1999-2008 Percent Scoring at and Above 3.5 and 4 (PDF, 51KB)
2008 FCAT Writing Prompts
FCAT Writing+ Achievement Levels (2007-2008) (PDF, 49KB)

2007 Scores

Statewide Comparison of Writing Scores (PDF, 2MB)
FCAT Writing+ 2007 State Summary Report (PDF, 87KB)
FCAT Writing Average Essay Scores 1993-2007 (PDF, 27KB)
FCAT Writing+ 1999-2007 Percent Scoring at and Above 3.5 and 4 (PDF, 43KB)
2007 FCAT Writing Prompts
FCAT Writing+ Achievement Levels (2007-2008) (PDF, 49KB)

2006 Scores

Statewide Comparison of Writing Scores (PDF, 54KB)
FCAT Writing+ 2006 State Summary Report (PDF, 68KB)
FCAT Writing Average Essay Scores 1993-2006 (PDF, 31KB)
FCAT Writing+ 1999-2006 Percent Scoring at and Above 3.5 and 4 (PDF, 42KB)
2006 FCAT Writing Prompts

2005 Scores

Statewide Comparison of Writing Scores (PDF, 62KB)
2005 FCAT Writing Prompts

2004 Scores

Statewide Comparison of Writing Scores (PDF, 179KB)
2004 FCAT Writing Prompts

2003 Scores

2003 Press Kit Information
Statewide Comparison of Writing Scores (PDF, 34KB)
2003 FCAT Writing Prompts

2002 Scores

2001 Scores

2000 Scores

1997 - 1999 Scores

Note about Excel files: Some of the Excel tables have more than 1 sheet, one for each grade level.  To see another sheet click on one of the tabs at the bottom of the Excel screen.  They are labeled Grades 3 - 10.