Ever wondered what examiners are looking for when they mark your paper? We’ve tracked down an examiner to answer all your burning questions.

• Will I know the examiner who marks my paper?
  No. Many examiners are full-time teachers as well, but they are not allowed to have any links to the school for which they mark exam papers. So there is absolutely no chance that you will know the people who eventually mark your exam papers.

• Are examiners there to catch you out?
  No, quite the opposite. We are trained to make sure that everyone gets the marks that they deserve.

• Do the exam boards only give out a set number of C grades?
  No, there are no set numbers for any grades at GCSE. Students are awarded the grades that they have earned.

• What about handwriting? Mine gets a bit dodgy when I rush…
  We try to read what we can, but if we can’t read the answer then that may affect your mark. But you should know that we are after good answers, not
  long ones.

• Sometimes my spelling isn’t very good. Will this matter?
  Good spelling, grammar and punctuation will improve your chances of getting a higher grade – some marks depend on them. So, leave yourself some time to read through your paper at the end of the exam to check for any spelling errors.

• What if my paper gets lost?
  It’s very rare that papers get lost. If your paper does get lost, then the exam board will work very hard to try and find the paper, because they know how much effort and hard work you put into completing it. If they don’t manage to locate it, then they have a procedure to follow that is designed to enable you to get the grade you have earned.