1. A computer-implemented method of customizing an automated essay scoring system, the method comprising: assigning, using a processing system, relative weights to a plurality of features for a plurality of benchmark essay responses by using approximations calculated from performing regression analysis on essay responses responding to one or more essay prompts on other topics; determining, based on the relative weights, automated scores for one or more first essays responsive to a first prompt using the processing system; transforming the automated scores into scaled automated scores based on comparing statistical information for both human rater scores and the automated scores using the processing system, the scaled automated scores being representative of essay quality or writing competency; 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 using the processing system; wherein transforming the automated scores into scaled automated scores comprises: receiving human rater scores for one or more benchmark essay responses; calculating human rater statistical information based on the human rater scores and automated statistical information based on the automated scores; and automatically adjusting the automated scores using the processing system based on the human rater statistical information and the automated statistical information.