WGU Performance Assessments Explained: How to Pass Written Projects Successfully

A lot of WGU students feel that a written performance assessment is much harder than taking a timed exam. In an exam, students clearly know that they are supposed to answer and how they will get their scores. However, in a performance assessment, they have no idea how to organize their thoughts and meet several academic requirements when they don’t have a clear structure to follow. Students only need to understand the very specific scoring rubric for WGU performance assessments to complete it easily.

In this guide, we are going to explain what a performance assessment is, how rubrics work, the difference between PA vs OA, and a step-by-step approach to complete your assessment even if it is your second attempt. There are also additional academic guidance services which you can check out, such as online WGU exam help.

What Is a Performance Assessment at WGU?

A Performance Assessment (PA) is a project-based assessment that is used to evaluate students’ knowledge and skills. Instead of answering multiple-choice questions, students have to complete a practical assignment that shows their understanding of the course objectives.

Depending on the course, a performance assessment can involve:

• Writing a research paper
• Completing a business case study
• Developing a lesson plan
• Preparing a presentation
• Creating a portfolio or professional report

Even though the above tasks might seem similar to regular coursework, they are formal assessments that show whether you have learned the required skills or not. Every submission is reviewed using a rubric instead of giving students an overall grade. This means that you need to focus on satisfying every rubric requirement instead of simply writing a well-organized paper.

How Performance Assessments Are Scored: Understanding the WGU Performance Assessment Rubric

Since every PA is scored against a detailed WGU performance assessment rubric, it means that every single aspect of the task is judged independently. Students don’t have to worry about losing their overall score because they forgot to meet one requirement.

There are different rubric formats across different WGU programs, so your assessment may include:

• Three-level rubrics
• Four-level rubrics
• Five-level rubrics
• Descriptive competency rubrics

Students are not given partial credit for good efforts. They must meet each rubric’s stated requirement or minimum score to get the credit. Evaluators review each submission against the published rubric and don’t assign an overall score. This is why it is important for students to understand WGU performance assessment scoringso they can avoid unnecessary revisions.

Performance Assessment vs. Objective Assessment (WGU PA vs OA): Key Differences

Both performance and objective assessments evaluate students’ competency, but they do it in different ways. When you understand these differences, it will help you to prepare with the right strategy.

Performance Assessment (PA)

Students must finish a written or project-based assignment as part of a performance assessment. The emphasis is on applying course topics, showcasing practical expertise, and fulfilling all of the rubric’s requirements. If evaluator feedback points out areas that require improvement, the majority of performance assessments allow for revisions.

Objective Assessment (OA)

A proctored exam with multiple-choice or scenario-based questions is called an objective assessment. Students focus more on studying course content and practice exam-style questions since they have a time limit to complete the evaluation.

Because both of these assessment types measure competence differently, students also need to prepare for them in a different manner. For objective assessment, memorizing concepts can be enough, but for performance assessments, students need to organize the task carefully and pay attention to every rubric. Some students also take additional help by searching for take my online exam.

Step-by-Step: How to Pass WGU Performance Assessment

Following a step-by-step approach allows students to prepare for the performance assessments more easily. Instead of writing the first draft and then checking the rubric later, students need to see the criteria beforehand. Here are the steps that students need to follow to reduce the chances of revisions.

1. Start with the Rubric

Read the entire rubric carefully before you start writing. Consider each component as a checklist and determine the facts or proof needed for each section. Throughout the writing process, consulting the rubric helps guarantee that no crucial requirement is missed.

2. Use Course Materials as Your Primary Sources

Use the materials in your course to begin your research. These resources have a direct bearing on the skills being evaluated. Use reputable academic publications, books, or trustworthy websites if further references are required, and ensure sure each source is properly mentioned.

3. Write in Your Own Words

Instead of using duplicated or heavily paraphrased content, your work should demonstrate your own comprehension of the subject. The WGU similarity checker is used to analyze the majority of exams, and many additionally get Grammarly for Education input prior to evaluation. You may guarantee your work is original, improve clarity, and fix citation errors by going over these reports before submitting.

4. Review Before Submitting

After finishing your draft, make one last comparison with the rubric. Verify that all requirements have been met, your citations are correct, and your formatting complies with the evaluation guidelines. Students frequently find minor errors during this final check before they become revision requests.

5. Seek Guidance When Needed

Don’t wait until after submission if you have questions about how to organize your assessment or how to interpret the criteria. Seeking advice early on might help you save time and produce better work. Students might look into WGU exam tutoring services for one-on-one academic support if they want organized help when organizing or revising their submission.

What Happens If You Don’t Pass on the First Try?

If you don’t pass the performance assessment on the first try, then there is nothing to worry about, as you get the chance to revise your work. Unlike objective assessments, you have the chance to resubmit your work. The WGU performance assessment revision resubmit alsodoes not have a mandatory waiting period.

After receiving the evaluation, read every comment and see where the improvement is needed. If the feedback is unclear, then you should contact your instructor after getting a non-passing result and discuss with them how to change and improve your work. Getting feedback to improve your work is common and not a reflection of your overall ability; it is actually a chance for you to improve your skills.

Common Mistakes That Get Performance Assessments Sent Back

Several times, students need to revise their performance assessments because they make common mistakes. Avoiding these mistakes can improve your chances of passing on the first try.

• Relying only on the task instructions instead of checking every rubric requirement.
• Writing general responses that do not fully address the assessment scenario.
• Forgetting to cite course materials or outside sources correctly.
• Submitting without reviewing the similarity or writing-feedback reports.
• Ignoring evaluator comments when preparing a revised submission.

You should take a few extra minutes and do a final review so you are able to prevent these common mistakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a WGU Performance Assessment and an Objective Assessment?

A performance-based assessment is a project-based task that is scored against a rubric, whereas an objective assessment is a proctored exam that can have multiple-choice questions or scenario-based questions.

Can I revise and resubmit a WGU Performance Assessment if I don’t pass?

Yes. You can revise and resubmit your WGU performance assessments if you don’t pass. You need to look at the feedback and make the required improvements.

How are WGU Performance Assessments graded?

WGU performance assessments are graded against detailed rubrics. Evaluators review each requirement and see if you have fulfilled them in your task or not.

What is the WGU similarity checker?

WGU similarity checker is an automated tool that scans students’ performance assessments and looks for similarity with existing published works. This is to help students review their work for plagiarism before submitting it.

How can I avoid having my Performance Assessment sent back for revisions?

If you want to avoid redoing your assessment, then you should make sure that you follow the rubric checklist, ensure you cite all the resources properly, and review your work for originality.

Conclusion

In order to pass a WGU performance assessment, you need to complete your task carefully and follow the rubric. Students need to understand the assessment’s requirements and demonstrate their skills by writing an original and well-organized work. Even if your first submission requires revision, you can still improve your work by following the evaluator’s feedback.

If you want broader support for your classes, then you can explore the service of “take my online WGU class”. You can also visit our FAQs page and Contact Us page if you need more information or guidance.