When they look at the marking, they are seeing if the mark given is reasonable…if it’s within the band it should be…for example 21-25 out of 25 band. If it’s not, then it will be changed. If however, the examiner sees the first marker gave it 21 but they would have given 23 there is no change as it’s ‘within tolerance’ and within the band it should have been.
This is all the case, but I think some people are too keen to say marks don’t change or to overly emphasise the difference between this and simply re-marking. Yes, if the original mark is within tolerance when checked, nothing changes….but in order to do this checking,t he new examiner is essentially looking to see what they would have given…it’s the only way to judge if it is in the wrong band. It is correct that ‘they aren’t looking for extra marks’. So when some kids or parents say ‘we need to find 3 extra marks’ the examiner isn’t looking to see if they can find extra marks. All they are doing is looking to see if the original marker marked fairly according to the markscheme and placed the marks in the right band, rather than being exactly what they would have awarded themselves. In the end though, it is this review if marking process that results in some marks changing. Many don’t, but some do.
I’d say it’s worth having done when the following conditions all apply;
- the mark is close to the grade boundary above and far from the boundary below
- when a breakdown of marks across the different papers has been gained and where one (or more) papers are surprising in terms of not fitting with how the student felt the exam went and/or is significantly out of step with the other paper or with what the teacher would have expected.
In later years, it’s true that for most people an 8 or a 7 might not make any difference. But what about now and what about having what you have earned if you have earned it? I’m just surprised how blasé people are about their kids possibly being done out of a grade or even more than one grade, that they earned. I suppose people decide it’s a means to an end and as long as it facilitates the move to the next stage, it doesn’t matter. I think it misses the point of having academic pride and having worked hard and being keen to have what you are due for personal satisfaction.