Oxford postgraduates will soon find themselves scouted by exam boards to mark A-level and GCSE scripts matter of months after sitting their own finals, and just a few years after taking their own A-level exams. Last year’s pilot scheme, which saw Edexcel employ 16 postgraduates as examiners, was so successful that the Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, has approved the wider use of postgraduates this summer. Professional examiners have expressed disappointment at the widespread use of postgraduate students, with no experience of either teaching or marking. Edexcel’s response was “We will use experienced examiners first,” although the board told Cherwell it expected employ around 110 postgraduates this year. The other exam boards are yet to confirm whether they will be using postgraduates this summer, although it seems likely that most will be forced to use them in the future. The Joint Council for General Qualifications, which represents exam boards in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said that the postgraduates performed “above standard.” Spokesman George Turnbull said, “The important thing is that people are appropriately qualified and able to keep to a mark scheme and mark on time to an appropriate standard.” The task of achieving this balance ought to be a familiar one to most Oxford students, but no Oxford postgraduate has so far applied for job as marker. Yet the exam boards are facing more scripts this year than ever before, so those wishing to earn some quick cash after leaving university are likely to find them extremely receptive.
ARCHIVE: 4th week TT 2003
Postgrad Marks
