OUR SERVICES
EXAM PAPER MARKING
Although the idea of delegating or outsourcing assessment and moderation of pupil work can be daunting, we aim to simplify the process as much as possible and have put together a list of answers to the most commonly asked questions below.
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, or wish to discuss more specific needs, please get in touch with a member of the team.
HOW DO I GET A QUOTE?
Please send an email to jasmine.fretwell@qa-associates.co.uk or call our office on 01773 748866.
HOW DO I ACCEPT A QUOTE?
You will have received an emailed quotation from our Examinations Manager for our services against an estimated number of answer papers for marking and a possible timescale. Please send an email back accepting the quote, using the quote reference number in your response.
WHEN DO I NEED TO ACCEPT THE QUOTE?
At least fifteen business days before the date you intend to send exam papers to us. Allowing us time to resource the marking. Please telephone if you have a more urgent need.
POSTAGE & DELIVERY?
It is strongly recommended that you deliver papers to us by special delivery as this method is very reliable on delivery times and allows tracking of a parcel containing answer papers. The school/academy is responsible for the cost of postage for the delivery and return of answer papers.. All answer papers will be returned to you by QAA using a ‘sign for’ method of delivery, requiring an on site signature.
WHEN DO QA ASSOCIATES RAISE AN INVOICE?
Our terms of business are strictly 30 days from the invoice date. Invoices are issued as soon as results are dispatched.
ARE QUOTES A FIXED PRICE?
If your actual number of answer papers to be marked is less than 90% of the initial quote, we may adjust the price. This will only be a possibility if you contact our examinations marker five days before the papers are sent to QAA and we write to confirm the new quote.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE THE MARKING RESULTS AND PAPERS BACK?
We will return the results on the marking spreadsheet immediately after the marking period of ten working days.
Papers will be returned to the school/academy as soon as possible. This is normally two working days after results are issued.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SCHOOL DOES NOT SEND THE PAPERS ON THE DAY THEY ADVISED?
The agreed date for receiving your answer papers at our offices has not been met. We will need to extend the target date for results accordingly.
DO I NEED TO PROVIDE A MARKING GUIDE?
You are required to supply a copy of the ‘Marking Guide/Scheme’ for each subject area that you wish us to mark. This should be in provided in either MicrosoN Word or PDF.
HOW DO I TELL YOU WHICH STUDENTS ARE BEING TESTED?
Please supply a list of student names using Microsoft Excel.
The list should have separate columns for the forename and for the family name. Alternatively, provided the candidate number is clearly shown on the answer paper, you may provide an electronic list of candidate numbers where you do not wish to supply names.
HOW DO I SEE THE RESULTS FROM MARKING?
The results of our marking will be shown on the spreadsheet that you have provided and will include a total mark for each question and the total for the answer paper.
Total marks will also be shown on the front cover of the answer paper.
Marks awarded for each part of a quesCon will be shown in the margin on the answer paper.
DO YOU GRADE THE PAPERS?
We will not apply a ‘Grade’ to the total marks awarded as a school/academy may wish to adjust according to any exceptional circumstances appertaining to the school/academy.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE FIND INAPPROPRIATE EXAM CONTENT?
If students are making persistent errors in spelling or grammar, we will make a note on the answer paper and mark ‘SP’.
If a student has made any irrelevant, rude, or inappropriate comments within their answer paper, we will write a comment on the exam paper.
If an issue is raised within an answer paper which prompts us to consider that this presents a ‘risk’ that we feel the school should be aware of, our Examination Manager at QAA will contact you.
WILL YOU MARK TEACHER-DESIGNED PAPERS?
We can offer a marking service for ‘Teacher’ designed question papers if there is an effective Marking Guide/Scheme.
A request for a quotation should be made to our ‘Examinations Manager.’
IS THERE A SUMMARY REPORT?
We can present a short feedback report, typically one side of A4 for each batch of marking (see pricing table). This will contain generic comments on each question. It is not an examiner’s report and is not a report on each student. It is for the school/ academy to interpret the individual results based on school and teacher knowledge.
We can present a short feedback report, typically one side of A4 for each batch of marking (see pricing table). This will contain generic comments on each question. It is not an examiner’s report and is not a report on each student. It is for the school/ academy to interpret the individual results based on school and teacher knowledge.
DO YOU OFFER A MODERATION SERVICE TO VERIFY OUR INTERNAL MARKING IS CONSISTENT?
QAA offer a moderation/verification service where we look at the marks allocated by internal markers at the school/academy and provide an independent result.
It would be usual for 25% of a batch of papers to be moderated in this way.
CAN YOU HELP WITH A STUDENT WHO CANNOT ATTEND SCHOOL FOR MOCKS?
We offer an online marking service for students who may have been affected by Covid 19 and who cannot acend school for their mock exams.
Please contact jasminefretwell@qa-associates.co.uk to discuss your requirements.
HOW DO I SUBMIT PAPERS DIGITALLY TO BE MARKED?
To provide data security, QAA uses Google Workspce. A dedicated folder / drive is provided for a nominated person from the school/academy to load student answer papers. Answer papers will require to be loaded in either a ‘word’ format or ‘PDF’ format.
The drive is then accessed by our admin team and the nominated marker. Only the subject marker can view the paper. If the school requires more than one subject, separate drives are provided for each subject marker to access.