TSIA TSIA Essay Writing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the essay section of the TSIA2 called?
- Extended Response
- Essay Scored Response (ESR) (Correct answer)
- Free-Write Assessment
- Timed Writing Exam
Correct answer: Essay Scored Response (ESR)
The writing component of the TSIA2 is called the Essay Scored Response (ESR), a single extended essay prompt.
Question 2: What type of essay is required for the TSIA2 Essay Scored Response?
- A narrative personal story
- A persuasive or argumentative essay (Correct answer)
- A descriptive creative writing piece
- A research summary
Correct answer: A persuasive or argumentative essay
The TSIA2 ESR requires students to write a persuasive or argumentative essay responding to a given prompt.
Question 3: On what scale is the TSIA2 Essay Scored Response graded?
- 1–10
- 1–8 (Correct answer)
- 1–6
- 0–100
Correct answer: 1–8
The TSIA2 ESR is scored on a scale of 1 to 8 by trained human raters using a holistic rubric.
Question 4: How long do students typically have to complete the TSIA2 essay?
- 15 minutes
- 30 minutes (Correct answer)
- 45 minutes
- 60 minutes
Correct answer: 30 minutes
Students are given approximately 30 minutes to plan, draft, and write their TSIA2 Essay Scored Response.
Question 5: Which of the following criteria is NOT evaluated in the TSIA2 Essay Scored Response?
- Organization and structure
- Development of ideas with evidence
- Grammar and mechanical correctness
- Number of sources cited (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Number of sources cited
The TSIA2 ESR rubric evaluates organization, development of ideas, and language/mechanics — it does not require cited external sources.
Question 6: What minimum essay score must a student achieve for the essay to be considered when determining college readiness?
- Score of 3
- Score of 4
- Score of 5 (Correct answer)
- Score of 6
Correct answer: Score of 5
A TSIA2 essay score of 5 or higher, combined with a writing section score, can contribute to a college-ready determination in the ELA/Writing assessment.
What is the essay section of the TSIA2 called?