H. Marking

The examiners should provide each marker with the marking scheme approved by the Examining Board.  Note that minor edits may have been made by examiners during the setting and checking process in consultation with the setter/marker. Letters to markers in previous years are commended; the following points must be made:

Marking Schemes: The examiners have seen and approved the marking schemes; it is the responsibility of markers to use the approved marking scheme discarding earlier drafts. Markers should apply the schemes consistently. However, it may become clear while marking that the allocation of marks should be changed. If such a change is made, markers are asked to ensure that this done so consistently, and to inform the examiners of the change.

Mark Ranges in FHS papers: In all papers questions will be marked out of 25. In A2 the best four answers will count; for the remaining papers the best two answers will count. 

Marking: The examiners will want to review at least some of the scripts during the classification process. They will not want to re-mark (since they cannot do so consistently across all candidates). They need to see quickly where marks have been gained. They will also want to be sure that a candidate's work has been taken into consideration. Markers are therefore asked:
 
  • indicate on the mark sheets, using whole numbers, the available marks awarded for each part of a question.
  • Include the total mark awarded for each questions in the highlighted sections of the marksheet, enter the integral numerical mark for each question, taking care to distinguish between an attempt scoring zero marks (enter “0”) and a non-attempt (enter “-”).
  • not write comments in the questions section, but, if necessary write on the second tab of the mark sheets provided.
Mark sheets will be supplied.
 
In entering into the electronic mark sheets the integral numerical mark for each question care must be taken to distinguish between 0 marks for an attempt and - for a non-attempt.
 
Reports: Assessors will provide the examiners with a brief report on the performance of the candidates on each paper (or part-paper) to assist them in their deliberation on calibration; in particular assessors are invited to suggest where class boundaries could be drawn. Model examples of helpful reports are available.