Because it is available via the Internet, online essay scoring extends learning beyond the classroom by enabling students to work independently ­at home, at the library, or in a computer lab. This is a clear case of technology that may change the teaching, learning, and the evaluation process by personalizing the learning experience, by encouraging students to practice, and by providing immediate feedback to students.

Another available program, Critierion Online Writing Evaluation is based-on a natural language processing technology developed by the Educational Testing Service. In use since early 1999 to score essay responses for the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT®), e-rater does not replace a teacher whose judgment is essential to helping students improve their writing ability. However, the program is remarkably competent in scoring essays on specific topics. For example, in a study by Burstein, Kukich, Wolff, Lu, and Chodorow (1998), the agreement rate between e-rater and expert readers on GMAT essays was between 87% and 94 %, an accuracy rate comparable to that between most expert readers. E-rater replicates the scoring process of expert faculty readers by evaluating essays using a scoring rubric (also called a scoring guide).

While researchers have much work to complete before online essay scoring is widely used, the technology holds promise for the future. What once sounded like science fiction is now a valid means of accurately scoring writing samples. With the emerging focus on online learning in education, educators are beginning to use online grading programs to help students improve their writing skills..