How they can help

Your Team Leader is your first point of call for any questions that arise while you are marking. Trained to deal with all aspects of marking your particular paper, they will be able to answer questions on marking, interpreting the mark scheme, administrative matters and what to do if you suspect cheating.

Ask a question

Team Leaders' chief area of help will be helping you mark answers that bear little resemblance to the mark scheme.

You'll have covered many aspects of interpreting and marking student written answers during your Standardisation Day. But however great the range of non-standard answers you were shown, there will always be others that you haven't met when you start marking for real.

This is where your Team Leader can help. Don't be afraid to ask if you are unsure how to mark a particular answer. You won't be the only one who gets stuck.

How on earth do I mark this?

Of the many answer interpretation queries your Team Leader will get, the most common type will be how to mark an answer where a different noun was used compared to the mark scheme answer.

For example, if the mark scheme answer was 'lorry', would 'truck' or 'vehicle' be equally valid? Your Team Leader has attended their own mark scheme training and so they'll be able to supply you with the official marking response.

Marking accurately can become extremely difficult when poor spelling obscures the answer. You will often find that saying the oddly spelt answer out loud will reveal its true meaning - words are often spelt as they are spoken.

The old adage of marking what you see, not what you think you see still stands true today. However if you really can't decipher the answer, discuss it with your Team Leader. They'll use their marking experience to let you know how to carry on.

What they'll want from you

It won't be all one-way traffic between you and your Team Leader. They'll need to be certain that you are marking accurately and consistently.

During your first two or three marking days your Team Leader will want you to return a sample of marked scripts, usually between ten to twenty papers.

They use these to check you are interpreting the mark scheme accurately and fairly. Expect a phone call or email a day or so after you sent in your sample scripts to let you know how you've done.

You'll probably be picked up on a few points. All markers need to take note of any amendments to their marking in the light of feedback from the Team Leader - don't be disheartened. Your Team Leader just wants you to know how to mark consistently and in line with other examiners.

Midway through your marking you may have to repeat this process and send in another set of sample scripts. If all is well your Team Leader will ask you to carry on marking as you have been.

If it all goes pear-shaped

The awarding bodies are a pretty understanding bunch. They know that although you accepted this offer to mark, life sometimes throws a spanner in the works.

If, for whatever reason, you find you can no longer carry on marking - you break an arm or your house gets flooded - let your Team Leader know as soon as you can and they will work with the awarding body to make alternative arrangements.