1. A method of customizing an automated essay scoring system, the method comprising: assigning relative weights to a plurality of features for a plurality of benchmark essay responses; determining, based on the relative weights, automated scores for one or more first essay responses to a first prompt; scaling the automated scores based on one or more scoring standards for the first prompt; and assigning a scaled automated score for a second essay response to the first prompt based on the scaled automated scores for the one or more first essay responses.