Rubric Template for Word
Build your rubric online, then download it as a Word file you can keep editing. Start from a blank rubric or one of 60+ ready-made templates, change any cell, and click Download Word. No login, no sign-up, and nothing is saved to our server.
Open the rubric maker → Browse rubric templates ↓
How to get your rubric into Word
- Pick a starting point. Open the rubric maker and choose a template from the menu (essay, lab report, presentation, and more), or start from the blank rubric.
- Edit it. Click any cell to change the text. Use + Criterion to add a row and + Level to add a column.
- Click Download Word. You get a
.docfile named after your rubric. It opens in Microsoft Word, and you can keep editing it there.
Prefer to paste instead? Click Copy and paste into a Word document. The rubric pastes as a real table, not as plain text.
Making the rubric look right in Word
Turn the page sideways. A rubric with four or more levels is usually too wide for a portrait page. The downloaded file is already set to landscape. If you paste the table into another document, go to Layout › Orientation › Landscape.
Repeat the header row on every page. For long rubrics, click the top row, open Table Properties › Row, and check Repeat as header row at the top of each page. On a Mac you can also use Table › Repeat Header Rows. Students will see the level names on every page.
Keep a criterion from splitting across pages. In Table Properties › Row, uncheck Allow row to break across pages. Each criterion then stays together on one page.
Fix missing or faint borders. Select the whole table, open Table Design › Borders, and choose All Borders. Printed rubrics are much easier to read with a clear line around every cell.
Adjust the column widths. Drag the line between two columns, or let Word fit the table to the page: on Windows, right-click the table and choose AutoFit › AutoFit to Window; on a Mac, use Table › AutoFit and Distribute.
Save as .docx. The download is a classic .doc file, so Word may open it in Compatibility Mode. To switch to the current format, use File › Save As and choose Word Document (.docx).
Word, Google Docs, or PDF?
- Word is best if you want to keep editing offline, add your school logo, or attach the rubric to an assignment in Word.
- Google Docs: click Copy in the rubric maker and paste into a Google Doc. The table keeps its rows and columns.
- PDF is best for handing out a final copy that nobody can change. Click Print / PDF and choose Save as PDF.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Word rubric template free?
- Yes. The rubric maker and every template are free to use, with no account and no watermark.
- Which versions of Word can open the file?
- The .doc file opens in Microsoft Word for Windows and for Mac. If Word opens it in Compatibility Mode, use File › Save As and choose Word Document (.docx).
- Can I edit the rubric after downloading it?
- Yes. It is a normal Word table. You can change text, add rows, merge cells, or change fonts in Word.
- Can I make one rubric and change it for each assignment?
- Yes. Keep the downloaded file as your master copy and save a new version for each assignment. You can also reopen the rubric maker, since your latest draft is saved in your browser.