how are our exams marked?

[mandiepop]

out of curiosity, do assessors get assigned specific questions to mark, or do they mark entire papers? because i've heard both!!

[zofromuxo]

Typically an assessor will be given a set of paper to mark. After the 1st Assessor has finished marking them, it  will then be referred to a 2nd assessor to ensure consistency across the board. Which will then determine a student's mark and typically their is some variance in mark allocation, but not a lot.

What happens if they disagree on the mark by a large margin

Assessor 1: Gives Student A 9/10 for Question 1
Assessor 2: Gives Student A 6/10 for Question 1
If this happens, they will deliberate between them on why they gave what they gave and hopefully reach a consensus to a mark they both agree on.
If they don't ,it gets referred to the Chief assessor who will determine the student's mark on that question.

More information on marking can be found here

[Sine]

out of curiosity, do assessors get assigned specific questions to mark, or do they mark entire papers? because i've heard both!!

Ive heard both too, for the subjects ive heard about
Biology marking is done online and an assesor goes question by question i.e marks a question from 50 students then moves onto the next question.
For maths, spec and methods ive heard its done with a hard copy and examiners would go through a paper at once (apparently they mark spec/methods exam 2 in 8 minutes ) - may be outdated

Typically an assessor will be given a set of paper to mark. After the 1st Assessor has finished marking them, it  will then be referred to a 2nd assessor to ensure consistency across the board. Which will then determine a student's mark and typically their is some variance in mark allocation, but not a lot.

What happens if they disagree on the mark by a large margin

Assessor 1: Gives Student A 9/10 for Question 1
Assessor 2: Gives Student A 6/10 for Question 1
If this happens, they will deliberate between them on why they gave what they gave and hopefully reach a consensus to a mark they both agree on.
If they don't ,it gets referred to the Chief assessor who will determine the student's mark on that question.

More information on marking can be found here

Hmm each assesor doesnt know what the other assesor gave for subjects like english if the discrepancy is too much it goes to  3rd assesor/chief examiner

For other subjects if one assesor gives 1/3 and the other gives 2/3 you will just get 1.5/3 for the question and then if the overall mark of your exam is too different it will be referred to a 3rd/chief examiner

[zofromuxo]

Ive heard both too, for the subjects ive heard about
Biology marking is done online and an assesor goes question by question i.e marks a question from 50 students then moves onto the next question.
For maths, spec and methods ive heard its done with a hard copy and examiners would go through a paper at once (apparently they mark spec/methods exam 2 in 8 minutes ) - may be outdated
Hmm each assesor doesnt know what the other assesor gave for subjects like english if the discrepancy is too much it goes to  3rd assesor/chief examiner

For other subjects if one assesor gives 1/3 and the other gives 2/3 you will just get 1.5/3 for the question and then if the overall mark of your exam is too different it will be referred to a 3rd/chief examiner

To be honest, we won't know ever unless we are an assessor.

*The Assessor Manual is CONFIDENTIAL as it contains important administrative and procedural information which all assessors need to be familiar with.

**The marking guide is CONFIDENTIAL as it provides detailed and clear instruction on how each question in an examination should be interpreted and marked.

From the Assessor roles and responsibilities

[Sine]

To be honest, we won't know ever unless we are an assessor.  From the Assessor roles and responsibilities

just going off what assesors have told me in the past ahaha

would be nice if they actually released the marking guide after results are out

[zofromuxo]

just going off what assesors have told me in the past ahaha

would be nice if they actually released the marking guide after results are out

I think we all are going off assessor's word .
But I doubt they'll release the marking guide because people would game the system.

[Sine]

But I doubt they'll release the marking guide because people would game the system.

how so?

[geek123456]

Ive heard both too, for the subjects ive heard about
Biology marking is done online and an assesor goes question by question i.e marks a question from 50 students then moves onto the next question.
For maths, spec and methods ive heard its done with a hard copy and examiners would go through a paper at once (apparently they mark spec/methods exam 2 in 8 minutes ) - may be outdated
Hmm each assesor doesnt know what the other assesor gave for subjects like english if the discrepancy is too much it goes to  3rd assesor/chief examiner

For other subjects if one assesor gives 1/3 and the other gives 2/3 you will just get 1.5/3 for the question and then if the overall mark of your exam is too different it will be referred to a 3rd/chief examiner

Does that mean that if some part of our answer is outside the given space in the theory section for Biology,that part would not be scanned by the computer?

[Bri MT]

Does that mean that if some part of our answer is outside the given space in the theory section for Biology,that part would not be scanned by the computer?

As long as it is clear what question it is answering,  and it is within the margins you're fine
If you need more space you can always get a second q&a book

[exit]

For Chemistry I heard that two examiners go threw the whole papers of each student. Same with maths exam 1.

For Maths Exam 2, an assessor keeps marking the same question over and over again. They get assigned to questions.

[Sine]

Does that mean that if some part of our answer is outside the given space in the theory section for Biology,that part would not be scanned by the computer?

+1 miniturtle
you can write anywhere within the defined margins (box like region in the newer exams) and your assessor will see it