Welcome to the English and Communication Benchmarks, Grades 4 – 12.

The American Diploma Project (ADP) end-of-high school English benchmarks describe the skills needed for success in postsecondary education and work. To provide details on how students could progress toward these benchmarks, Achieve created the English and Communication Benchmarks, Grades 4-12.

The English and Communication Benchmarks, Grades 4-12 address the content included in the ADP benchmarks (reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, media, logic and literature) with increasingly rigorous expectations from grade 4 through grade 12.

Achieve organized the English and Communication Benchmarks, Grades 4 – 12 in grade spans (4 – 5, 6 – 8, 9 – 10, 11 – 12) and by the performances expected of students who are on track to meet the ADP benchmarks by high school exit. In grades 4 – 12, students:

• Acquire Information – Reading, Listening, Viewing
• Communicate Information – Writing, Speaking, Producing Digital Media
• Create ADP Products – Informational/Explanatory Essay, Literary Analysis Essay, Argumentative Essay, Research Essay, Work-Related Texts
• Work in Teams – Work Teams and Group Discussion

These English and Communication Benchmarks, Grades 4 – 12 provide guidance about the essential skills and performances that should be expected of students. They can support states’ efforts in developing standards and curricular materials, as well as provide guidance to educators planning instruction. The scope of the benchmarks and the emphasis on student products have implications as states and districts incorporate the expectations. Specifically, incorporating these expectations into state standards will impact curriculum design – within English classes and/or across the curriculum – and assessment.

For more information on the intended audiences, purposes, organization, content and implications of the English and Communication Benchmarks, Grades 4 – 12, see About the Benchmarks.

To view the English and Communication Benchmarks, Grades 4-12, please select an option below.

• View benchmarks by grade span
• View benchmarks by strands across the grades