Abstract: EdSteps is an online resource supporting the teaching and assessment of key skill areas using a continuum of authentic student work demonstrating competencies and abilities across all ages and content areas. The first stage of the EdSteps project created a continuum of writing performance ranging from novice to expert, developed using a paired comparison approach. Many pieces of writing from students were collected, and evaluated in pairs. The results of the paired comparisons were analyzed using a Rasch model, placing all of the student work on a continuum from novice to expert.