Using a level of response mark scheme study guide

The two decisions are separate

A reliable assessment begins by separating two questions. First, which level best describes the response overall? Second, where within that level should the mark be placed? A mark should not be chosen first and then used to justify a level. The level is established before the precise mark is considered.

Worked reasoning method

Imagine that a response is being assessed for a project area. Begin at the lowest level. Ask whether the response meets that descriptor. If it does, compare it with the next descriptor. Continue until the response no longer matches the next level. This creates a structured progression rather than an impression based on one sentence or one section.

Next, review the response as a whole. A small weakness should not automatically lower the level if the overall quality still matches the descriptor. Conversely, a single strong feature should not automatically raise the level if most of the response remains at a lower standard. When features are distributed across levels, apply best fit: identify the level that most accurately represents the response overall.

For example, if the response is predominantly level 3 and contains a small amount of level 4 material, place it in level 3. The level 4 material can then influence the mark within level 3, supporting a mark near the top of that level. This is different from assigning level 4 merely because some level 4 content appears.

Selecting the mark

Once the level is fixed, compare the work with the relevant exemplar materials used for standardisation. Decide whether the work is at the same standard as the exemplar, better, or worse. Use that comparison to choose a mark within the selected level. It may be necessary to read through the work again while applying the mark scheme, so that points are clarified and the relationship between level and mark remains appropriate.

Exam application checklist

1. Identify the project area being assessed.
2. Check whether the response contains anything relevant to that area. If it contains nothing relevant, award no marks for that area.
3. Start at the lowest level and test the response against each descriptor.
4. Judge overall quality, not an isolated strength or weakness.
5. Use best fit when different aspects correspond to different levels.
6. Assign the level before selecting a mark.
7. Compare with the appropriate exemplar to decide whether the work is the same standard, better, or worse.
8. Re-read the response if necessary to confirm that the level and mark are appropriate.

Self-check questions

• Have I identified the level before choosing the mark?
• Is my decision based on the whole response?
• Have I treated mixed-level evidence using best fit?
• Have I used stronger material to adjust the mark within the chosen level rather than automatically raising the level?
• Have I checked relevance to the project area?
• Could a further reading of the response clarify the final decision?