Assessing Students Examination Papers: Marking Scheme

Assessing Students Examination Papers: Marking Scheme
Pol 2204, 3314, 4301, 4313

As a means of teaching and acquainting my students with study and writing skills, in the last three academic sessions, I wrote and passed to all the classes I handled papers on “How to write group semester paper in large classes”, “How to make pattern notes from Texts”; “Study Guidelines for Effective Performance by my Students”; and “Writing Examination: A communicative Approach”.

A communicative approach of writing including in examination has certain aspects which are: scope and layout, style, presentation, use of English, and Technical Content. In examination the technical content implies the relevant points and substance on the questions students are attempting. The presentation is the organization and structuring of the points in a particular way to show the understanding and an articulation of the question student is responding. This can be aided by creating a scope and layout. This is like a framework within which a student situates an answer to the question. This can be done by starting with an introduction and closing, with a conclusion. Both style and use of English refer to student communicative ability in written English language which includes use of words, choice of words and concepts to capture the issue/s one is writing about as well as the accuracy in expressions used. And also the acknowledgement of the texts used in answering the examination questions. Students are not to reproduce what they have read from texts or got from class room lectures.

Accordingly, for purpose of assessing students examination questions I allot marks for each question as follows:
a) Scope and layout - 10% of the marks allotted for each question
b) Style - 10% of the marks allotted for each question
c) Use of English - 10% of the marks allotted for each question
d) Technical Content - 40% of the marks allotted for each question
e) Presentation - 30% of the marks allotted for each question

For a very strict adherence to these criteria you could refer to my assessment of Pol 4301 examinations which even the external examiner recognized and endorsed.

M.M. Yusif
October, 2005.