This guide helps instructors download, edit, and customize rubric templates in Turnitin to create consistent grading tools that align with assignment needs.
In this guide
- Downloading a rubric template
- Editing a rubric template
- Custom rubric
- Grading form
- Qualitative rubric
- Weighted non-range rubric
- Weighted range rubric
- Importing your rubric
Downloading a rubric template
- In the Create Rubric modal, select Import Rubric from File. Then select the Next button.
- Select the Download Rubric Template button.
- From the Download rubric template modal, select a rubric template. Then select the Download button.
- When the download completes successfully, a confirmation message Rubric template downloaded successfully appears at the bottom of the screen. The file is available in your browser’s downloads folder.
Editing a rubric template
Once you’ve downloaded the rubric template, you can open and edit it to fit your course requirements.
We recommend using Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets to edit rubric templates. Using Apple Numbers may result in failed imports.
Requirements and limits
Before editing any rubric template, review the following requirements. Some cells in the template should not be modified, as doing so may cause import errors. These fields are identified in the annotated examples, along with their cell locations.
Character limits
Rubric labels must stay within system limits.
| Field | Limit |
|---|---|
| Scale (Column) Titles | 25 characters (including spaces) |
| Criteria (Row) Titles | 25 characters (including spaces) |
If a title exceeds 25 characters, Turnitin will shorten it during upload, which may remove important words.
Maximum rubric size
All added scales and criteria must follow the character limits and formatting rules below.
- Up to 20 scales (columns)
- Up to 50 criteria (rows)
Formatting requirements
Use the formatting guidelines below to ensure your rubric uploads correctly and displays as intended in Turnitin.
Criterion titles
Criterion titles must include one blank line before the description.
To apply the correct format:
- Remove any existing line breaks.
- Enter the criterion title.
- Press Ctrl+Enter twice to add one blank line.
- Enter the criterion description in the appropriate cell.
If the rubric fails to import and all other components are correct (file size, type, etc.), check the formatting of this cell first.
Cell formatting
Do not merge any cells. Merged cells cause rubric import failures. All titles, descriptions, point values, and scale values must remain in individual cells defined by the template structure.
Text formatting
The rubric importer does not support advanced text formatting, such as:
- Bold, italics, or custom fonts
- Font sizes
- Bullet points or numbered lists within cells
- Internal line breaks inside description cells (other than the required blank line)
- Colored text
All text converts to the standard Turnitin rubric formatting when uploaded.
Scales and weights
Scale order
Scale labels and values may be rearranged to match your grading flow. If you prefer the highest scale first, you may reorder levels and their corresponding point values.
For ranged rubrics, list the lower number first (for example, 9–10, not 10–9).
Points for non-weighted rubrics
For all rubric types other than weighted rubrics, the total points available in the rubric should match the assignment’s point total.
- 100-point assignment → rubric must total 100 points
- 50-point assignment → rubric must total 50 points
Weights for weighted rubrics
Weighted rubrics calculate scores using criterion percentages. Follow these requirements:
- Weights must total 100%.
- Weights must be whole numbers.
- Weights do not need to be equal.
- Percentages appear in the weight column next to each criterion.
Adding or removing criteria
To add a criterion
- Identify an existing criterion row (this varies by rubric type).
- Select and copy the entire row or row pair used for that criterion.
- Paste the copied row(s) directly below the existing criteria.
- Update the criterion’s title, description, and scale or point values as needed.
- If using a weighted rubric, recalculate weights to ensure the total equals 100%.
To remove a criterion
- Select the entire row (or row pair) associated with that criterion.
- Delete the row(s).
- For weighted rubrics, adjust the remaining weights to total 100%.
Custom rubric
A custom rubric is a matrix-style rubric with editable scales, point values, and descriptions. Each criterion consists of two rows: one for point values and one for descriptions.
- One row for point values
- One row for descriptions
Template layout
The following example shows the structure of the rubric template after it is downloaded.
Areas you should not modify
These cells are required for the rubric format and should remain unchanged.
| Element | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rubric type and rubric system name | A1–Z1 | Header row used by the system |
| blank | A2–Z2 | Blank row |
| blank | A3 | Required structural cells |
Areas to customize
| Element | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scale titles | B3–E3 | Add or rename scale labels (additional scales appear as F3, G3, etc.) |
| Criterion titles & descriptions | A4/5, A6/7, A8/9, A10/11 | Must follow required title formatting |
| Point values | B4–E4, B6–E6, etc. | Numeric scale values for each criterion |
| Descriptions | B5–E5, B7–E7, etc. | Feedback for each scale |
Example of rubric modifications
This example uses color-coding to indicate which fields must remain unchanged, which areas may be added, and which cells were edited.
- Red: cells that should not be removed or modified
- Green: areas where additional scales or criteria may be added
- White: cells containing content that was edited in the example
Grading form
A grading form is a list-style assessment tool containing criterion titles and reusable comments. When used online, a point field appears automatically.
Template layout
Areas you should not modify
| Element | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rubric type and rubric system name | A1–Z1 | Header row used by the system |
| blank | A2–Z2 | Blank row |
Areas to customize
| Element | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Criterion titles | A3–A6 | Criterion titles do not require a line break because descriptions appear in neighboring cells |
| Criterion descriptions | B3–B6 | Descriptive feedback for each criterion |
Example of rubric modifications
- Red: cells that should not be removed or modified
- Green: areas where additional scales or criteria may be added
-
White: cells containing content that was edited in the example
Qualitative rubric
A qualitative rubric is a matrix-style rubric without numerical scoring. Criteria and scale descriptions provide structured feedback.
Template layout
Areas you should not modify
| Element | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rubric type and rubric system name | A1–Z1 | Header row used by the system |
| blank | A2–Z2 | Blank row |
| blank | A3 | Required structural cells |
Areas to customize
| Element | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scale titles | B3–E3 | Add or edit performance level labels |
| Criterion titles | A4–A7 | One title per row |
| Criterion descriptions | B4–E7 | Descriptive feedback for each scale and criterion |
Example of rubric modifications
- Red: cells that should not be removed or modified
- Green: areas where additional scales or criteria may be added
- White: cells containing content that was edited in the example
Weighted non-range rubric
A weighted rubric uses criterion weights to determine how much each criterion contributes to the overall grade. Each scale level has a point value, and each criterion represents a percentage of the final grade.
- Criterion weights must total 100%.
- The maximum grade value equals the highest scale value entered.
- A scale’s numeric value represents the maximum point value for that level.
Template layout
Areas you should not modify
| Element | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rubric type and rubric system name | A1–Z1 | Header row used by the system |
| blank | A2–Z2 | Blank row |
| blank | A3, B3 | Required structural cells |
Areas to customize
| Element | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scale titles | C3–F3 | Enter or rename performance levels (additional scales appear as G3) |
| Criterion titles & descriptions | A5–A8 | Enter or modify criterion titles and descriptions following formatting rules |
| Criterion weights | B5–B8 | Enter percentage weights (total must equal 100%) |
| Descriptions for each scale | C5–F8 | Enter feedback for each criterion/scale combination |
Example of rubric modifications
- Red: cells that should not be removed or modified
- Green: areas where additional scales or criteria may be added
- White: cells containing content that was edited in the example
Weighted range rubric
A weighted range rubric uses criterion weights and scale point ranges to determine how much each criterion contributes to the overall grade. Each scale level is assigned a point range, and each criterion represents a percentage of the final grade.
- Criterion weights must total 100% (whole numbers only).
- The maximum grade value equals the highest scale value entered.
- A scale’s numeric range defines the score range for that level.
Template layout
Areas you should not modify
| Element | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rubric type and rubric system name | A1–Z1 | Header row used by the system |
| blank | A2–Z2 | Blank row |
| blank | A3–B4 | Required structural cells |
Areas to customize
| Element | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scale titles | C3–F3 | Add or rename scale labels (additional scales appear as new columns) |
| Scale point ranges | C4–F4 | Define the point range for each scale level |
| Criterion titles & descriptions | A5–A8 | Enter or modify criterion titles following formatting rules |
| Weights | B5–B8 | Assign a whole-number percentage to each criterion (weights must total 100%) |
| Criterion descriptions per scale | C5–F8 | Enter descriptive feedback for each criterion/scale combination |
Example of rubric modifications
- Red: cells that should not be removed or modified
- Green: areas where additional scales or criteria may be added
-
White: cells containing content that was edited in the example
Importing your rubric
After you’ve finished customizing your rubric template, you can import it back into Turnitin to use for grading.
To import your rubric, view the Importing section of the Managing rubrics and grading forms guide.
Learn more
For additional guidance, instructors can refer to these resources to learn more about rubric creation, grading workflows, and form customization.