Julie Swan, executive director for general qualifications at the exams watchdog, told a heated session at the Association of School and College Leaders’ annual conference earlier this month that the surge in the number of A level and GCSE papers that were re-graded in 2017 was down to over-generous remarking.
“Many of the questions will allow for two, three examiners to give slightly different marks – none of which would be wrong,” Ms Swan said.
“All of them could be a reasonable application of the marks scheme.
“But what should not have happened is a reviewer saying: ‘they got 17, but I could have given them 18 so I’ll give them 18, even though 17 was fine’.”
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