Overview
The Essay Grader API provides AI-powered feedback and scoring for student essays, papers, and written assignments. It analyzes writing quality, structure, grammar, and content to provide constructive feedback that helps students improve their writing skills.
The Essay Grader is listed as an available tool in the Studley AI platform. While the core endpoint structure follows the tools API pattern, full implementation details may vary.
Grade Essay
POST /api/tools/generate
Submit an essay for AI grading and feedback.
Must be set to "essay-grader" for essay grading
The essay submission detailsThe full text of the essay to be graded
The assignment prompt or question (helps AI understand context)
Optional grading rubric or specific criteria to evaluate against
Student’s grade level (e.g., “9th”, “college”, “graduate”)
Subject area (e.g., “English”, “History”, “Science”)
Request Example
{
"toolType": "essay-grader",
"input": {
"essay": "The American Revolution was a pivotal moment in world history. It began in 1775 when tensions between the thirteen American colonies and Great Britain reached a breaking point. The colonists were frustrated with British taxation policies, particularly the Stamp Act and the Tea Act, which they viewed as violations of their rights as English citizens.\n\nThe war lasted eight years and resulted in the formation of the United States of America...",
"prompt": "Discuss the causes and effects of the American Revolution",
"rubric": "Grade based on: thesis clarity (25%), evidence and examples (25%), organization (20%), grammar and mechanics (15%), analysis and critical thinking (15%)",
"grade_level": "11th",
"subject": "History"
}
}
Response
Indicates if grading was successful
The authenticated user’s ID
The grading results and feedbackOverall score (typically 0-100)
Letter grade (A, B, C, etc.)
Detailed feedback broken down by categoryresult.feedback.strengths
List of strengths identified in the essay
result.feedback.areas_for_improvement
List of areas that need improvement
result.feedback.grammar_and_mechanics
Specific grammar and writing mechanics feedback
result.feedback.content_analysis
Analysis of content quality and depth
Scores for each rubric category (if rubric provided)
Specific actionable suggestions for improvement
Overall summary of the essay’s quality
Response Example
{
"success": true,
"toolType": "essay-grader",
"userId": "user_abc123",
"result": {
"overall_score": 85,
"grade": "B+",
"feedback": {
"strengths": [
"Clear thesis statement that addresses the prompt",
"Good use of specific historical examples",
"Logical organization with clear topic sentences",
"Strong conclusion that ties ideas together"
],
"areas_for_improvement": [
"Could benefit from more analysis of the long-term effects",
"Some transitions between paragraphs could be smoother",
"A few minor grammar issues (see details below)"
],
"grammar_and_mechanics": {
"score": 13,
"max_score": 15,
"issues": [
"Line 3: 'were frustrated' - consider more varied verb choice",
"Line 12: Missing comma after introductory phrase"
]
},
"content_analysis": {
"thesis_clarity": {
"score": 22,
"max_score": 25,
"comment": "Strong thesis that directly addresses the prompt. Could be more specific about which effects you'll discuss."
},
"evidence_and_examples": {
"score": 23,
"max_score": 25,
"comment": "Excellent use of specific acts and events. More primary source references would strengthen the argument."
},
"organization": {
"score": 18,
"max_score": 20,
"comment": "Well-organized with clear structure. Topic sentences effectively introduce each paragraph's main idea."
},
"analysis_and_critical_thinking": {
"score": 12,
"max_score": 15,
"comment": "Good analysis of causes. Effects section would benefit from deeper exploration of economic and social impacts."
}
}
},
"rubric_scores": {
"thesis_clarity": 22,
"evidence_and_examples": 23,
"organization": 18,
"grammar_and_mechanics": 13,
"analysis_and_critical_thinking": 12
},
"suggestions": [
"Expand the effects section to include more about economic impacts on both Britain and America",
"Consider adding a paragraph about the global influence of the American Revolution",
"Review comma usage after introductory phrases",
"Include at least one primary source quotation to strengthen your argument"
],
"summary": "This is a well-written essay that demonstrates solid understanding of the American Revolution. Your thesis is clear and your use of historical examples is strong. To move from a B+ to an A, focus on deepening your analysis of the revolution's effects and incorporating more primary source evidence. Your writing mechanics are generally good, with just a few minor issues to address."
}
}
Quick Grade
POST /api/tools/generate
Get a quick assessment without detailed rubric scoring.
Set to true for faster, less detailed feedback
Request Example
{
"toolType": "essay-grader",
"input": {
"essay": "[Essay text here...]",
"quick_mode": true
}
}
Response Example (Quick Mode)
{
"success": true,
"toolType": "essay-grader",
"userId": "user_abc123",
"result": {
"overall_score": 85,
"grade": "B+",
"summary": "This essay demonstrates good understanding of the topic with clear organization and solid examples. Main areas for improvement: deeper analysis and smoother transitions.",
"top_suggestions": [
"Expand your analysis in the second half",
"Work on paragraph transitions",
"Consider adding more specific evidence"
]
}
}
Grading Criteria
The Essay Grader evaluates essays based on multiple dimensions:
Content Quality (40%)
- Thesis & Argument: Clarity and strength of main argument
- Evidence: Use of relevant examples and supporting details
- Analysis: Depth of critical thinking and interpretation
- Relevance: How well the essay addresses the prompt
Organization & Structure (25%)
- Introduction: Effectiveness of opening and thesis presentation
- Body Paragraphs: Logical flow and topic sentence quality
- Transitions: Connections between ideas and paragraphs
- Conclusion: Strength of closing and synthesis
Writing Quality (25%)
- Grammar: Sentence structure and grammatical correctness
- Mechanics: Punctuation, spelling, and capitalization
- Style: Word choice, tone, and voice
- Clarity: Ease of understanding and readability
- Formatting: Adherence to required format (MLA, APA, etc.)
- Citations: Proper attribution of sources
- Length: Appropriate essay length for assignment
Best Practices
For best results, include the assignment prompt and any grading rubric when submitting essays for feedback.
Providing Context
The more context you provide, the more accurate and helpful the feedback:
{
"toolType": "essay-grader",
"input": {
"essay": "[Full essay text]",
"prompt": "The specific assignment question or prompt",
"rubric": "The grading criteria from your teacher",
"grade_level": "11th",
"subject": "English Literature",
"word_count_requirement": "1000-1200 words",
"citation_style": "MLA"
}
}
Iterative Improvement
Use the Essay Grader for multiple drafts:
- First Draft: Get comprehensive feedback on structure and content
- Revised Draft: Focus on specific areas flagged in initial feedback
- Final Draft: Polish grammar and mechanics
Comparison with AI Tutor
| Feature | Essay Grader | AI Tutor |
|---|
| Primary Use | Grade written work | Conversational tutoring |
| Input | Complete essays | Questions and prompts |
| Output | Scores and detailed feedback | Explanations and study materials |
| Best For | Improving writing quality | Learning new concepts |
Error Responses
{
"error": "Error message"
}
Common Errors
| Status | Error | Solution |
|---|
| 400 | ”Missing required fields: toolType and input” | Include both toolType and input in request |
| 400 | ”Essay text is required” | Ensure input.essay is provided |
| 401 | ”Not authenticated” | User must be logged in |
| 500 | ”AI service not configured” | Contact support |
| 500 | ”Failed to generate feedback” | Try again or check essay format |
Rate Limits
Fair usage policies apply. Excessive requests may be rate limited.
Recommended usage:
- Students: Up to 10 essay gradings per day
- Teachers: Contact support for increased limits
Future Enhancements
Planned features for the Essay Grader:
- Plagiarism detection
- Multiple language support
- Style guide specific feedback (AP, Chicago, etc.)
- Comparison with exemplar essays
- Writing progress tracking over time