Examination Marking - e-Marker® Benefits
When moving from traditional paper based marking to electronic marking methods, e-Marker® is proven to bring improvements in both marking quality and the ability to monitor the marking progress.
Paper-based systems can only be improved so far before the limitations of working with one copy of a candidate’s answer become apparent. Second marking is influenced by the first marks already written on the scripts and relies on scripts being sent through the post or markers being in the same place for a period of time.
DRS removes all these limitations, and with e-Marker® you can be assured that scripts are managed securely and safely and that candidates answers are marked with complete anonymity.
But behind all the electronic marking technological innovation, we have never lost sight of the candidate. Every student has their own hopes, dreams and ambitions and it is that simple, yet critical vision that dictates and drives the passion in which we deliver e-Marker®.
Cost savings
Significant savings can be made by simplifying the complex marking process in areas such as:
- script movement
- documentation to support markers
- independent checking of addition, mark-sheet completion and missing scripts.
Many of the exception processes which currently require labour intensive manual intervention are handled through the e-Marker® system, including the matching of additional and unexpected scripts to the data held on records.
Simplifying processes
Processes that could only be supported by marking from central locations can be carried out remotely in marker’s homes without the limitations of having to process paper. Images of candidates’ answers can be electronically distributed anywhere in the country allowing markers to mark wherever they are, and at whatever time they want.
The removal of paper-based processes not only result in reduced costs but they also provide an increase in quality control – such as regular automated sampling of marking, rather then depending upon reviewing papers scripts selected from a marker’s allocation.
Streamlined re-marking techniques
The process appeal scripts module within e-Marker® has proved instrumental in enabling awarding bodies to meet key government targets. Paper scripts do not need to be re-circulated for review and re-marking. The image of the script already exists within e-Marker® and by simply selecting the candidates to be reviewed, the electronic image of the script can be re-marked.
A process that could take up to two weeks to complete is now being processed in less than 24 hours – literally at the click of a button.
Increased security
DRS is ISO27001 certificated and e-Marker® has been developed with security remaining paramount throughout its core. The management of confidential information is vital in the processing of examinations, paper based or electronic and with almost four decades of experience in managing worldwide examination data we fully understand and appreciate the issues associated with this.
We have built in sophisticated procedures and checks for handling question papers and marking schemes within e-Marker®. Processing systems are isolated from any other systems with access control and CCTV monitoring in place.
DRS’ hosting centre is located in a state of the art data centre with multi-layers of security and back-up services. The DRS infrastructure has been designed with fail-over and redundancy incorporated to ensure the maintenance of a continuous service. Service delivery is deployed across a 128-bit encrypted internet link and can support thousands of simultaneous markers.
Candidate anonymity is treated with the highest security throughout, and the way in which e-Marker® handles candidate’s script images means that no marker, no matter what level, can identify a pupil from the application.
Reducing turnaround times
Turnaround times for marking are reduced with e-Marker®.
Auto-marking can be completed within a 10-day window providing the mechanism for a small number of examiners to mark a very large number of items more reliably.
Awarding bodies using the system have reduced their overall processing target by at least a week.
Analysis
Post-hoc analysis can be carried out using a range of 15 standard reports offered in e-Marker®.
Real-time reports can be produced to measure how well an examination performed, what kind of answers candidates gave to questions, how long it took for examiners to mark each item and how closely each examiner met the marking standards as judged by the ‘seeding’ quality control process.
This real-time marking progress and quality, together with regular feeds of marks to enable the assessment of the examination’s performance can be made more quickly than if using the traditional paper based marking approach.