Marking The Papers

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By Bobby Gaensler - Professional Officer Mathematical Association of NSW

1. Maths papers are sent to a central location in Sydney and split into separate question boxes.
2. Boxes containing one question are sent to SAE's (Senior Assistant Examiners).
3. Each SAE convenes a meeting with their AE's to establish a marking scheme.
4. After about three 4 hour sessions a skeleton marking scheme is established. This concludes with a trial marking session where approximately 200 questions are double marked by pairs.
5. When the scheme is watertight, markers take a box for marking.
6. A large selection is double marked and errors lead to remarking a box.
7. At the conclusion of marking, some papers are remarked for various reasons, e.g. their HSC rank differs greatly from their school assessment rank.

General Marking Rules

1. Read everything that a candidate has written, including crossed out work and work on back pages.
2. A mark for each part must be written as well as the question total.
3. Instances of (suspected) malpractice, cheating, offensive language or other unusual responses are to be reported.
4. Misplaced scripts and scripts with answers to more than one question have to be redirected.
5. No penalty for transcription errors (provided they do not make the question easier). They can occur from question paper to answer booklet or from work within booklet.
6. Only whole marks are awarded, so small errors (particularly numerical) do not incur a penalty.
7. If in any doubt, go in favour of the student.

So, In Conclusion

Remember that the markers are all teachers - they want to give you marks.

Good luck and very best wishes for your HSC success