Rubric B-2: Spot Patterns, Close Gaps, and Drive Mastery with the EPiC™Key Assessment

Data tells a story—if you know how to read it. In Rubric B-2: Analyzing Whole Group Data, part of the EPiC™ Key Assessment Implementation series, teacher candidates go beyond numbers on a page to uncover what the data truly reveals about student learning. This rubric challenges candidates to dig into formal and informal assessment results, spot trends that matter, and connect those findings directly to instructional decisions. It’s not just analysis for analysis’s sake—it’s the process of turning patterns into actionable strategies that move an entire class closer to mastery.

📽️ Watch: Tips for Rubric B-2 – Analyzing Whole Group Data

✓ Organize Data for Clarity

Tip: Present assessment data in clear tables or graphs that show performance by each learning target or objective.

Example: Use charts that break down student achievement by rubric levels—such as Beginning, Developing, and Proficient—to make patterns easy to spot.

✓ Identify Learning Patterns and Gaps

Tip: Look for trends across the whole group and within specific subgroups.

Example: Pinpoint where students share common misconceptions, need targeted practice, or are ready for advanced challenges. Consider the underlying causes of these patterns.

✓ Connect Patterns to Instructional Needs

Tip: Clearly explain how the patterns and gaps in learning relate to mastery of learning targets.

Example: If a significant portion of students missed a step in a multi-step problem, connect this directly to the need for reteaching or skill reinforcement.

✓ Align Analysis with Standards and Learning Targets

Tip: Ensure every part of the analysis ties back to the identified standards and objectives. 

Example: Show how the data-driven insights address the instructional needs of all students, including those with different learning profiles.

✓ Use Multiple Graphs or Charts for Depth

Tip: Represent each learning target with its own clear, labeled graph or chart.

Example: Avoid overloading a single graph; instead, use multiple visuals to make specific insights easier to interpret.

✓ Reflect on Instructional Implications

Tip: End the analysis by explaining how the findings will influence future teaching strategies.

Example: Discuss adjustments to lesson pacing, targeted interventions, or enrichment activities based on the data.

✓ Collecting Strong Evidence

• Use visuals that clearly represent whole group performance.

• Show direct connections between data patterns and instructional decisions.

• Include examples that demonstrate responsiveness to both strengths and needs.

• Keep all data presentation clean, accurate, and easy to read.

By analyzing whole group data with purpose, teacher candidates can move from simply recording results to making informed instructional choices. When patterns and gaps become a roadmap for action, every student benefits—and progress toward mastery becomes measurable and attainable.