Q1. Do examiners get training to mark papers?

Q2. How can I be sure that those marking the papers are marking consistently across all candidates?

Q1. Do examiners get training to mark papers?
Yes they do. Mostly examiners are trained teachers who have a number of years experience and often hold senior positions in schools. As such they will be experienced in marking and used to following marking schemes to the standards required by the examining boards. In some circumstances their official marking period with an examining board might begin by attending a Standardisation Meeting as a reserve marker without any scripts to mark. At the standardisation meeting they will meet with all the other examiners for that paper and will mark the same photocopied scripts as they do, which ensures that all markers mark in exactly the same way. This allows the examiners' work to be monitored by senior examiners and if an examiner is unable to mark their allocation of scripts, through illness or other circumstances, then the reserve examiner can take over. And in other situations some new examiners might need more training and supervision.

But all examiners have their marking scrutinised continuously throughout the marking period, and if anyone does not come up to scratch then their scripts will be re-marked by a senior examiner to ensure that every candidate is marked to the same consistently high standard throughout.

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Q2. How can I be sure that those marking the papers are marking consistently across all candidates?
It's almost exclusively teachers of the subject that mark the papers. All those marking a particular exam paper must attend a standardisation meeting. At the end of the meeting all examiners understand exactly how to apply the mark scheme consistently and accurately.

To ensure that all examiners do apply the mark scheme consistently, senior markers check their marking regularly. Anyone not meeting the required standard will not kept on by the awarding body and a senior marker will remark their scripts. No stone is left unturned to ensure that the marking is consistent at all times and across all examiners on each particular paper.

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