examiners pioneer e-Marker® technology

AQA:Layout 1
09/01/2009
10:02
Page 1
examiners
pioneer e-Marker®
technology
DRS e-Marker® offers a variety of modular and scalable electronic marking
methods for awarding, assessment and professional bodies. Designed to add
value, reduce time to announce results and improve accuracy and reliability of
examination marking, e-Marker® harnesses the power of real-time, award
winning image capture readers, specialist bureau services and sophisticated
software delivered across the internet, to securely capture item-level responses
and marks from examiners.
AQA’s research department has been exploring whether the introduction of
electronic marking has enhanced the quality of marking. A short
piece of research was conducted investigating the
impact of electronic marking on enquiries
after results, using data on the number of
remark requests and their outcomes for
externally assessed GCSE components in
June 2005 compared with 2006. Generally
speaking the number of requests to remark
has increased and continues to do so, but
their findings suggest that electronically
marked components had reduced the
proportion of outcomes where a grade had
been changed at a statistically significant level.
1 Danbury Court | Linford Wood | Milton Keynes | MK14 6LR
+44 (0)1908 666088 | enquiries@drs.co.uk | www.drs.co.uk
Since 2004, AQA has increased
the number of scripts marked
using e-Marker® as follows:
2.5
Million
2005
4
Million
2006
5
Million
2007
7.5
Million
2008
No of scripts (mil)
Following a successful pilot with DRS in 2003, the Assessment and Qualifications
Alliance (AQA) appointed DRS as its technology partner and introduced electronic
marking in order to improve marking standards. In 2004, AQA used the e-Marker®
technology to electronically capture the marks from approximately 300,000 GCSE
scripts. Over 300 examiners marked the scripts at home, entering the marks directly into
their PCs and transferring the marks awarded straight into AQA’s processing system.
This is now the equivalent of
95 per cent of AQA’s GCE and
GCSE summer exams.
20,000 ‘home based’ and
centre markers have submitted
marks at up to 100 per second
over the DRS infrastructure,
using e-Marker®.
V0109
AQA:Layout 1
09/01/2009
10:04
Page 2
examiners
pioneer e-Marker®
technology
Andrew Bird, AQA Deputy Director General comments:
“The technology streamlines the process for
examiners: it releases them from many of the
administrative functions of the conventional system and
allows them to concentrate on the key task – accurate
and efficient marking. The technology also allows us to
conduct enhanced checking and quality control, which
has a direct impact on the accuracy of the marking
process. Security is also increased as we are using
bank standard systems. All this is excellent news for
teachers, examiners and students.”
With better access to electronic marking
technologies, including imaging techniques, AQA
examiners and markers can mark scripts
efficiently and effectively without the logistical
problems faced with paper script marking.
AQA has seen the benefits of:
• greater accuracy of marking and quality control
• improved speed of mark transmission
• improved management data
• improved post examination data analysis
• more future study information for students.
1 Danbury Court | Linford Wood | Milton Keynes | MK14 6LR
+44 (0)1908 666088 | enquiries@drs.co.uk | www.drs.co.uk
V0109