What is a Marking System ?Marking and grading ? and what types are there?
Marking System is a type of approach to evaluating student performance, which involves assigning scores or grades to different aspects of a student’s work, such as essays, projects, or tests, to gauge their understanding and mastery of the subject matter. The marking system is one of the most traditional forms of student assessment. It involves assigning numerical or descriptive scores to specific components of a student’s work. For example, in a written exam, each question may be worth a specific number of marks, and the student’s responses are scored based on their accuracy, clarity, and depth of understanding. These marks are then added together to give a total score, which reflects the student’s performance on the entire assessment. “Effective marking is an essential part of the education process. At its heart, it is an interaction between teacher and pupil: a way of acknowledging pupils’ work, checking the outcomes and making decisions about what teachers and pupils need to do next, with the primary aim of driving pupil progress. This can often be achieved without extensive written dialogue or comments.” The system of assigning marks often comes under scrutiny for its fairness, accuracy, and ability to truly reflect student learning Qualifications currently available in all countries include examples of both mark-based and grade-based approaches to assessment. Mark-based approaches require assessors to assign numerical marks to candidates’ work, assisted by a mark scheme. Grade-based approaches avoid marks altogether, and require assessors to assign grades by evaluating candidates’ work against grading criteria. These are statements that set out the knowledge or skills that must be demonstrated to gain a particular grade (e.g., “Deliver sports/activity sessions using effective communication” in a Sports qualification) Drawbacks of the marking system Subjectivity: Marking can be highly subjective, as teachers may interpret a student’s work differently depending on their personal biases or expectations. Even though there may be rubrics in place, a degree of subjectivity often remains. Measurement errors: Because marking typically involves assessing individual components separately, errors in judgment or inconsistency in marking can occur, leading to unfair scores. Lack of context: Marking systems tend to focus on specific tasks or assignments, without providing a broader picture of a student’s overall progress. As a result, students may not receive a clear understanding of how their learning is developing over time. The main parts of Marking system in Education : 1.Setting up the main Learning Objectives and Outcomes :Clear goals or what the students are expected to learn or achieve. 2.Designing the Assessment Tool :Creating tests, exams, assignments, or practical tasks that measure the learning objectives. 3. Preparing the Marking Scheme / Rubric :A guideline or framework that defines how marks will be allocated (per question or criteria).Ensures consistency and fairness. 4. Administering the Assessment Giving the students the actual test or assignment under exam conditions. 5.Marking the Scripts / Work Reviewing student answers and awarding scores according to the marking scheme. 6. Recording the Marks :Writing down or entering the awarded scores into a record system (e.g., gradebook or database). 7. Moderation / Verification (optional but important) A second check to ensure fairness, accuracy, and no bias in marking. 8. Converting Marks into Grades :Applying a grading scale to convert raw marks into grades (e.g., A, B, C or Distinction, Pass, etc.) 9. Analyzing Performance : Checking patterns in student results, class averages, pass rates, etc. 10. Providing Feedback : Informing students about their performance, mistakes, and areas of improvement. 11. Reporting the Results :Sharing final results with students, parents, or educational authorities (through report cards or transcripts). 12. Archiving Results and Documentation :Safely storing all marks and grades for future reference, official use, or audits and documents others system. Types of Marking Systems In education ,Common types include letter grades (A, B, C, etc.), numerical grades (e.g., percentages), pass/fail, and standards-based grading where achievement is assessed against specific learning objectives. Other systems include narrative reports, norm-referenced grading (comparing students to each other), and mastery grading (assessing if a specific level of knowledge has been reached),These refer to how students’ work is assessed and scored: 1. Numerical Marking System :Marks are given as numbers out of a total score. Example: 78/100 or 15/20. 2. Percentage Marking System Scores are converted to percentages. Example: 80% = 80 marks out of 100. 3. Letter Grade System Marks are grouped into grade ranges. Example:A = 80–100 ,B = 70–79 ,C = 60–69, D = 50–59,F = below 50 4. Grade Point Average (GPA) System Used mostly in higher education,Converts grades into points, then averages them. Example:A = 4.0, B = 3.0, etc. 5. Rubric-Based Marking Marks are based on specific criteria (e.g., grammar, content, creativity).Each part is scored separately and summed. 6. Descriptive Marking :Teachers or Lecturer provide written comments instead of numbers or grades. Example: “Excellent understanding of the topic.” 7. Competency-Based or Mastery Marking Focuses on whether a student has achieved specific skills. Example: “Achieved” or “Not Yet Achieved”. Types of Reporting Systems These refer to how the results are communicated to students, parents, or institutions: 1. Report Cards Traditional way to report term/semester results, Includes marks, grades, teacher comments, and attendance. 2. Transcript Reporting ;Official summary of student performance over a period (e.g., full academic year or program).Used for graduation or higher education applications. 3. Narrative Reports ; Detailed written descriptions of a student’s performance, behavior, and progress.Common in lower primary or special education. 4. Portfolio Reporting ;A collection of student work over time, showing growth and achievements.Used in project-based learning or continuous assessment. 5. Online or Digital Reporting ;Results shared through school management systems, emails, or apps.Fast, accessible, and may include graphs or visuals. 6. Parent-Teacher Conferences ;In-person or virtual meetings where teachers discuss student progress directly with parents. Guidelines for Developing a Multiple Marking and Reporting System 1. Should be guided by the functions to be served 2. Should be developed cooperatively by parents, students, and school personnel 3. Should be based on a clear statement of educational objectives 4. Should be based on adequate assessment 5. Should be detailed enough to be diagnostic and yet compact enough to be practical 6. Should provide for parent-teacher conferences Who makes the decision about what an “A” is? Who makes the decision about what an