exam marking

starshine · Post by **starshine** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:23 am

Dear Etienne

Could please advise how the marking of the 11+ papers is carried out? If you should have a query with the result your child gets can you ask for a recount of the test papers? If this is possible how do you go about reqesting this?

Guest55 · Post by **Guest55** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:16 am

It's done by a computer which 'optically reads' the lines - hence why they have to use an HB pencil.

No humans involved - it does mean if the mark is not clear it will get missed. This method has been used for marking many multiple choice [or multiple guess as teachers like to call it!] papers both now and in the past.

Darren · Post by **Darren** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:26 am

If you feel that this may be incorrect I beleive you can request a Human manual marking of the paper.

I would call your LEA Student services and ask for guidance about this.

I can see your point though. I'd be suprised if some kids don't mark it correctly and get a few wrong when infact it was right,

Jessie · Post by **Jessie** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:46 pm

Sorry if this comes across as a bit dim, but what if your child used a regular pencil that didn't say HB on it...would it still be read okay by the computer? What's the difference between a HB pencil and an ordinary pencil????????

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:38 pm

I'm anxious about this as well as my daughter told me that she wasn't allowed to use the pencil I gave her (which was hb) and the one she was given was very faint on the sheet despite her pressing hard so I'm now worrying about his as well as everything else!

Darren · Post by **Darren** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:48 pm

A HB pencil is usually a must for Optical recognition devices. due to the light reflection factors which determine the correct answer on the sheet. Lighter pencils may not reflect as well,or may cause incorrect readings.

Also I think it is easier to erase than some of the darker pencils.

If she was given a Pencil by the School before testing then I'm sure it was a HB pencil.

Guest55 · Post by **Guest55** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:43 pm

Only an HB pencil gives the correct 'reflective' response to the light - or so I'm told. That's why it's important to write across the space completely [or nearly] - it will also not count any answer if two are marked.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:09 pm

Does this mean if one is rubbed out not very well, it can look as if two have been marked? For some mad reason, for the first time ever, my child guessed all of them first and then worked them out properly, rubbing out the wrong answers. Knowing him, the rubbing out was fairly casually done...
Am having visions of him getting nought on the computer marking system....Should I request manual marking?

Bo Peep · Post by **Bo Peep** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:13 pm

This is rather worrying then isn't it? If this is the case then surely it should be stressed on the pre-exam info that an ordinary pencil will not do and the pencil must be a HB one.

So what will happen if some kids were using an ordinary pencil...would their papers be flagged up (since presumably they would get zero points) and then marked by hand?

Guest55 · Post by **Guest55** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:14 pm

I think you can request 'manual marking' after you get the result but not before - ring up Admissions and let us know what they say!

exam marking

exam marking

HB Pencil