This approach is based on the AES system, e-rater. Through this new approach, a user can gain easy accessibility to system components, flexibility in adjusting scoring parameters, and procedures for making scoring adjustments that can be based on only a few benchmark essays. The interactive prototype program that implements this approach allows the user to customize e-rater and watch the effect on benchmark essay scores as well as on score distributions for a reference testing program of the user’s choice. The paper presents results for the use of this approach in customizing e-rater to the standards of different assessments.
