Understanding marks on scripts - Marking stages, marks, and enquiries about results

Oct 23, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret

Understanding marks on scripts explains how candidate work is assessed across multiple marking stages. It covers first-time marking, sampled examiner monitoring, examiner scaling, grade review, and enquiry about results procedures including reviewing-examiner and Principal Examiner checks. The factsheet clarifies when marks or syllabus grades change, which errors or judgements trigger adjustments, and what candidates may see on-screen or on paper, including colour-coded examiner annotations and reports.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Understanding marks on scripts

Stages of marking

When the mark or grade changes after an enquiry about results

What you will see on a candidate’s script (on-screen and on paper)

Use of colour in annotation

Understanding marks on scripts This factsheet will help you to understand: • the different stages of marking • the marks and annotations you see on candidates’ scripts • why a candidate’s mark may or may not change after an enquiry about results. If you want to know more about how we mark scripts, please visit [www.cambridgeinternational.org/exam-administration/results/marking-and-grading/](www.cambridgeinternational.org/exam-administration/results/marking-and-grading/) [What are the stages of marking a script?](What are the stages of marking a script?) All marking, in all marking stages, is done according to the marking standard set by the Principal Examiner, the most senior examiner marking the paper. The Principal Examiner is the person responsible for making sure that the mark scheme is applied correctly. First-time marking (all candidates) This is the mark that the first examiner gave to the candidate’s work on the script. • For many candidates, this mark will lead to their result. • For some candidates, their script may go through one or more of the stages explained below and shown in the diagram below. Sampled for examiner monitoring (if applicable) For each examiner, a sample of their marking is reviewed by their supervising examiner during the marking period. When a supervising examiner reviews a script, they will either confirm the firsttime mark or change the mark if they do not agree with the first-time mark. Examiner scaling (if applicable) We use examiner scaling when our monitoring shows that an examiner’s marking is consistently slightly more generous or severe than the agreed marking standard set out by the Principal Examiner. Examiner scaling applies increases or decreases in marks to all scripts marked by that examiner to correct any generosity or severity. If examiner scaling has been applied to a candidate’s mark, the adjustment does not appear on the front of the script. However, it is reflected in their final mark. Grade review (if applicable) Grade review happens before results are issued and is a targeted re-marking by senior examiners of the scripts of candidates who are most at risk of receiving inappropriate results. Scripts are remarked at grade review if the candidate is close to a grade threshold at syllabus level and also at risk for at least one other reason from our list of reasons to trigger a grade review. Enquiry about results – review of marking service (if applicable) A reviewing examiner marks the script when a centre requests an enquiry about results review of marking service after results are issued. If the reviewing examiner finds that the original marking is wrong, or that the original application of the mark scheme is deemed to be unreasonable, thereviewing examiner will change the mark. This new mark will replace the original mark for the script. Enquiry about results – Principal Examiner review (if applicable) Sometimes after an enquiry about results review of marking has been completed by a different examiner, we send the script to the Principal Examiner for a further review. This happens when the Principal Examiner had marked the script before results were issued. The Principal Examiner sets the marking standard, so we must ask them to check and agree or disagree with any changes to a mark that they had awarded. We may also refer an enquiry about results to the Principal Examiner if we need them to resolve an issue concerning the original mark and the reviewing examiner’s mark. When does the mark or grade change after an enquiry about results? When we review the marking of a paper through our enquiry about results service, we change a mark if: • a clerical error was made in arriving at the total mark • there was an objective error in the original marking, which is not subject to any debate or judgement • there was an unreasonable judgement in the original application of the mark scheme. The diagram on the next page shows th

FAQs

What happens during first-time marking of a candidate’s script?

First-time marking is the mark given by the first examiner to the candidate’s work. For many candidates, this mark leads directly to their result.

When can the mark or grade change after an enquiry about results?

A mark can change if there was a clerical error, an objective error in the original marking, or an unreasonable judgement in applying the mark scheme. Any syllabus grade and available PUM may also be amended accordingly.

What do you see on a candidate’s script when it is requested via enquiry about results?

The first page may be a Candidate Marks Report listing marks at each stage and showing the reviewing examiner’s mark at the enquiry stage. If marked on paper, it lists examiner marks and uses different colours for different examiners.

Oct 23, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret