Exam marking support thread

[RainbowSmash]

Is anyone else going through the hell of marking exam papers?!

I actually want to stick pins in my eyes :D

[RainbowSmash]

Ahhhh Cool! Are you doing paper 3? Edexcel?

[summerlovingliz]

315 down, 15 to go!! Deadline 2 days ago but can't do anymore today or I'll die! June has been hell, every yr I say never ever again.......

[FuzzyWizard]

Yep... Ridiculously nervous about getting it right!

[RainbowSmash]

IS this your first year? This is my second. I am doing Edexecel too but paper 1 (medicine) I was soo slow last year but this year much much better, I feel like I know it more, but still get it wrong, like tonight got told I was too harsh, gave a 9 should've given 10. You get used to it lol,

[FuzzyWizard]

First year. I'm not too slow I don't think. I just don't feel confident yet. I was too harsh today i the standardisation meeting but think I've just about got it now.

[lechie]

Fuzzy,

I remember that feeling well - the weight of responsibility, that someone's future career is (partly) in your hands (esp if you mark A level) and you can't afford to get it wrong. But it does get easier. You'll come to a point where you'll just know the mark and can just follow your gut. I've been marking for 10 years now, and can just look at a script and give it a mark... And I'm usually within one or two marks out.

You will get there. It does get easier - and then you'll be marking 2/3/4 sets like the rest of us nutters .

[FuzzyWizard]

Thanks lechie!! I feel reassured now.

[Rosieposy4]

I mark paper 2 and paper 1 at GCSE for a popular exam board for a science based subject. Unit 2 is always open for marking online just before half term so it all goes swimmingly,whereas i am in the middle of unit 1 now and sinking. We have just finished exam week for years 7/10 so that has been marking hell, plus in the middle of rewriting the sow for the new biology A level and i am drowning. Sobs quietly in corner

[MirandaWest]

Time to mark . Have got to 70% now.

[FuzzyWizard]

10% here...

[cricketballs]

I've taken on CA moderation as well as exam marking this year bangs head on table wondering why I thought it would be a good idea

CAs are done (just before deadline); but as they can't be returned to centres until 20th July they are in a pile in my dining room.

Exam deadline is the 1st, at 70%, but got the longer answers still to do

[MrsHerculePoirot]

aaaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh! And breathe....

I am currently trying to mark GCSE maths edexcel/pearson and their online marking system keeps crashing. It went down last weekend and has been on and off all week. I usually spend a whole weekend getting ahead and then am fine to meet my deadlines and do extra. I'll be lucky if I manage to mark any work this year...

Out of interest those of you that are team leaders, do you get invited to do it or do you have to apply? I think I'd be interested in the future...

[margaritasbythesea]

My edexcel Tl said she was invited. I was supposed to be invited by the IBO but instead they just appointed me and left me to find out by myself. Bit of a shock when I logged in!

[MrsHerculePoirot]

Perhaps I am just not good enough!!!!

[cricketballs]

I think it depends on how many previous TLs agree; a colleague of mine did hus first year of marking last year, but due to a severe shortage in the subject has been a TL this year, he has a team who are all 1st time markers

[RainbowSmash]

Epen has been wonky all week, I am at least 100 answers behind because of it. We've had an email to tell out TL if we won't finish. I think I'll be ok, I've hit 70% nearly and deadline is next Monday, I have 400 to do still.

I'm exhausted and am not going in to the pool as I just want it finished!

TL's get invited based on previous accuracy we were told.

[MrsHerculePoirot]

Yes it finally seems ok this weekend. I usually finish a week early, I am just about on target and we finish on Saturday... About 75%.

[elephantoverthehill]

Just keep going. I am not doing it this year but the experience is great to share with students ie 'the marker will have another 40 to do by teatime' so make your answers understandable. I tell my students about one paper in which the candidate told me about how he had split up with his GF! Also I tell them to make the markers life hell by trying to answer every question - we try to give marks, we never take them away- so keep going you brave souls. We love papers that are blank. And I guess you don't have to lug all the parcels up to the PO any more.

[Esker]

I've never marked exams, but am wondering if it would be a useful thing to do in terms of subject knowledge and improving my own practice as a teacher. My subject is English. Would be interested in any opinions on whether exam marking has been helpful to anyone?

[elephantoverthehill]

Yes Esker.Do it. I now have an inside-out knowledge of what is being looked for and the whole mark scheme. I have not marked this year but I marked by year 10 exams in quick time and I can explain the mark scheme to them with no come back at all

[cricketballs]

This is my 3rd year of exam marking, 1st time CA and I can honestly say it's been the most useful CPD I have had. It's does give you an inside view as not only can you forward what is being looked for (Mark schemes on their own are not enough) but IMO the most useful is seeing where students often go wrong

[FuzzyWizard]

The Epen thing does seem odd. I haven't had a single problem with it but hear others have had an absolute nightmare. I'm now at 90% and will hopefully be done tomorrow.

[catslife]

After a month of marking A level papers (Science subject 2 papers), it looks as if I've now finished.
Have marked A level for 10 years now. Can't do GCSE at the moment as dd is taking her GCSEs with same exam board.

[Rosieposy4]

You can catslife, just declare the school she is at as well as where you work and they make sure you don't get them. Having said that if you have done 2 lots of A level i suspect you are totally marked out!