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Online marking of exams 'faulty' | |
(30 minutes later) | |
Increased online marking of exam papers could be linked to rising numbers of inaccurate exam grades, the National Association of Head Teachers says. | Increased online marking of exam papers could be linked to rising numbers of inaccurate exam grades, the National Association of Head Teachers says. |
The association is collecting evidence of inaccurate results and demands for papers to be marked again. | The association is collecting evidence of inaccurate results and demands for papers to be marked again. |
This year, 40% of A-level papers were marked online. One board, Edexcel, says all its papers will be next year. | This year, 40% of A-level papers were marked online. One board, Edexcel, says all its papers will be next year. |
But the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority said technology should make assessment easier. | But the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority said technology should make assessment easier. |
Teachers at Tolworth School, in Surrey, told the BBC they had sent back unprecedented numbers of papers to be re-marked this year as they were shocked at the grades many A-level and GCSE students received. | |
Student Katie Davison thinks she was affected. | Student Katie Davison thinks she was affected. |
She said: "I got two As and a D in the third paper which was completely unexpected and I was not happy with it at all but it means that I can't go to university with that D grade." | She said: "I got two As and a D in the third paper which was completely unexpected and I was not happy with it at all but it means that I can't go to university with that D grade." |
Pattern | Pattern |
Clarissa Williams, the school's head teacher and a member of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "Talking to my colleagues at the NAHT, there are many schools where there are problems; there seems to be a pattern. My own association is gathering that evidence right now." | Clarissa Williams, the school's head teacher and a member of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "Talking to my colleagues at the NAHT, there are many schools where there are problems; there seems to be a pattern. My own association is gathering that evidence right now." |
There's a question whether or not online marking is missing some of the achievements of youngsters John BangsNUT class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7464&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
Former exam marker Margaret Tomkins told the BBC she had found papers could not be marked online with "integrity", and so she had resigned. | Former exam marker Margaret Tomkins told the BBC she had found papers could not be marked online with "integrity", and so she had resigned. |
John Bangs, head of education at the National Union of Teachers, said legitimate questions had been raised and he was concerned. | |
"The information is that examiners are finding online marking quite tough. | |
"They are not able to annotate the scripts by hand, there's a time constraint and you can't take into account youngsters who do quite a lot of writing and don't fill in the standard box that online marking demands. | |
"So legitimately there's a question whether or not online marking is missing some of the achievements of youngsters." | |
The use of technology should not diminish the professionalism of teachers in the exam process, he added. | |
The days of soggy parcels outside the teachers' houses have gone Isabel Nisbet,QCA | |
But the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, which oversees the exams, says online marking is not a problem. | But the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, which oversees the exams, says online marking is not a problem. |
Isabel Nisbet, director of regulations and standards at the QCA, said: "We are about making sure assessment is good - that it's properly done, it's properly checked, it's properly supervised and actually technology should make that easier. | Isabel Nisbet, director of regulations and standards at the QCA, said: "We are about making sure assessment is good - that it's properly done, it's properly checked, it's properly supervised and actually technology should make that easier. |
"The days of soggy parcels outside the teachers' houses have gone and it should be a way to support much greater supervision and checking." | "The days of soggy parcels outside the teachers' houses have gone and it should be a way to support much greater supervision and checking." |
She said online marking supported good quality marking and provided feedback for examiners, and as much care went into the process as on paper. |