OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA) is a leading UK awarding body, providing a wide range of qualifications to meet the needs of candidates of all ages and
... [Show More] abilities. OCR qualifications include AS/A Levels, Diplomas, GCSEs, Cambridge Nationals, Cambridge Technicals, Functional Skills, Key Skills, Entry Level qualifications, NVQs and vocational qualifications in areas such as IT, business, languages, teaching/training, administration and secretarial skills.
It is also responsible for developing new specifications to meet national requirements and the needs of students and teachers. OCR is a not-for-profit organisation; any surplus made is invested back into the establishment to help towards the development of qualifications and support, which keep pace with the changing needs of today’s society.
This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and students, to indicate the requirements of the examination. It shows the basis on which marks were awarded by examiners. It does not indicate the details of the discussions which took place at an examiners’ meeting before marking commenced.
All examiners are instructed that alternative correct answers and unexpected approaches in candidates’ scripts must be given marks that fairly reflect the relevant knowledge and skills demonstrated.
Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the published question papers and the report on the examination.
© OCR 2022
MARKING INSTRUCTIONS PREPARATION FOR MARKING RM ASSESSOR
1. Make sure that you have accessed and completed the relevant training packages for on-screen marking: RM Assessor Assessor Online Training; OCR Essential Guide to Marking.
2. Make sure that you have read and understood the mark scheme and the question paper for this unit. These are posted on the RM Cambridge Assessment Support Portal http://www.rm.com/support/ca
3. Log-in to RM Assessor and mark the required number of practice responses (“scripts”) and the number of required standardisation responses.
YOU MUST MARK 10 PRACTICE AND 10 STANDARDISATION RESPONSES BEFORE YOU CAN BE APPROVED TO MARK LIVE SCRIPTS.
MARKING
1. Mark strictly to the mark scheme.
2. Marks awarded must relate directly to the marking criteria.
3. The schedule of dates is very important. It is essential that you meet the RM Assessor 50% and 100% (traditional 40% Batch 1 and 100% Batch 2) deadlines. If you experience problems, you must contact your Team Leader (Supervisor) without delay.
4. If you are in any doubt about applying the mark scheme, consult your Team Leader by telephone or the RM Assessor messaging system, or by email.
5. Crossed Out Responses
Where a candidate has crossed out a response and provided a clear alternative then the crossed out response is not marked. Where no alternative response has been provided, examiners may give candidates the benefit of the doubt and mark the crossed out response where legible.
Rubric Error Responses – Optional Questions
Where candidates have a choice of question across a whole paper or a whole section and have provided more answers than required, then all responses are marked and the highest mark allowable within the rubric is given. Enter a mark for each question answered into RM assessor, which will select the highest mark from those awarded. (The underlying assumption is that the candidate has penalised themselves by attempting more questions than necessary in the time allowed.)
Multiple Choice Question Responses
When a multiple choice question has only a single, correct response and a candidate provides two responses (even if one of these responses is correct), then no mark should be awarded (as it is not possible to determine which was the first response selected by the candidate).
When a question requires candidates to select more than one option/multiple options, then local marking arrangements need to ensure consistency of approach.
Contradictory Responses
When a candidate provides contradictory responses, then no mark should be awarded, even if one of the answers is correct.
Short Answer Questions (requiring only a list by way of a response, usually worth only one mark per response)
Where candidates are required to provide a set number of short answer responses then only the set number of responses should be marked. The response space should be marked from left to right on each line and then line by line until the required number of responses have been considered. The remaining responses should not then be marked. Examiners will have to apply judgement as to whether a ‘second response’ on a line is a development of the ‘first response’, rather than a separate, discrete response. (The underlying assumption is that the candidate is attempting to hedge their bets and therefore getting undue benefit rather than engaging with the question and giving the most relevant/correct responses.)
Short Answer Questions (requiring a more developed response, worth two or more marks)
If the candidates are required to provide a description of, say, three items or factors and four items or factors are provided, then mark on a similar basis – that is downwards (as it is unlikely in this situation that a candidate will provide more than one response in each section of the response space.)
Longer Answer Questions (requiring a developed response)
Where candidates have provided two (or more) responses to a medium or high tariff question which only required a single (developed) response and not crossed out the first response, then only the first response should be marked. Examiners will need to apply professional judgement as to whether the second (or a subsequent) response is a ‘new start’ or simply a poorly expressed continuation of the first response.
6. Always check the pages (and additional objects if present) at the end of the response in case any answers have been continued there. If the candidate has continued an answer there, then add a tick to confirm that the work has been seen.
7. Award No Response (NR) if:
• there is nothing written in the answer space
Award Zero ‘0’ if:
• anything is written in the answer space and is not worthy of credit (this includes text and symbols).
Team Leaders must confirm the correct use of the NR button with their markers before live marking commences and should check this when reviewing scripts.
8. The RM Assessor comments box is used by your team leader to explain the marking of the practice responses. Please refer to these comments when checking your practice responses. Do not use the comments box for any other reason.
If you have any questions or comments for your team leader, use the phone, the RM Assessor messaging system, or e-mail.
9. Assistant Examiners will send a brief report on the performance of candidates to their Team Leader (Supervisor) via email by the end of the marking period. The report should contain notes on particular strengths displayed as well as common errors or weaknesses. Constructive criticism of the question paper/mark scheme is also appreciated.
10. For answers marked by levels of response: Not applicable in F501
a. To determine the level – start at the highest level and work down until you reach the level that matches the answer
b. To determine the mark within the level, consider the following
Descriptor Award mark
On the borderline of this level and the one
below At bottom of level
Just enough achievement on balance for this
level Above bottom and either below middle or at middle of level (depending on number of marks
available)
Meets the criteria but with some slight
inconsistency Above middle and either below top of level or at middle of level (depending on number of
marks available)
Consistently meets the criteria for this level At top of level
Level of response questions on this paper are 3(d) and 4(d)
11. Annotations available in RM Assessor
Annotation Meaning
Correct response
Incorrect response
Omission mark
Benefit of doubt given
Contradiction
Rounding error
Error in number of significant figures
Error carried forward
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Benefit of doubt not given
Noted but no credit given
Ignore
6
12. Abbreviations, annotations and conventions used in the detailed Mark Scheme (to include abbreviations and subject-specific conventions).
Annotation Meaning
/ alternative and acceptable answers for the same marking point
🗸 Separates marking points
DO NOT ALLOW Answers which are not worthy of credit
IGNORE Statements which are irrelevant
ALLOW Answers that can be accepted
( ) Words which are not essential to gain credit
Underlined words must be present in answer to score a mark
ECF Error carried forward
AW Alternative wording
ORA Or reverse argument [Show Less]