I do CCEA History and English Lit and I've always been told that they only mark positively instead of negatively. It's not necessarily better, it's just different. If you don't have enough relevant content you still won't get a good mark. Although my english teacher marked essays by automatically starting them off with full marks, then deducting marks for problems with SPG, fluency, etc. I don't think that is how examiners mark it. They always try and credit you for what you have put down, at least in essay subjects.