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How can I mark my past papers accurately?

I am currently self-studying for a a level chem and maths exams resit, one of my main methods of studying is exam questions and past papers. This is extremely useful but I found that last year I accidentally kept inflating my grades, missed key words in the mark scheme (especially in maths), and I found when doing mini tests in school i got worse grades then I had gotten by myself in the topic or past papers.

I tried to see online if I can maybe pay someone to help me mark each past paper I do but I found that to be extremely expensive (£30 for one paper and I will need to do most likely 100+ papers). I heard tutors can help with marking but im confused if that means they can mark it with me in a tutoring session (e.g 1 hour session) or without me and then let me know where I went wrong.

My next best option is to improve my marking technique, any advice on how to do this? marking chemistry is fairly easy but then edexcel maths feels hard to accurately mark, it feels like it's written in a different language with wierd acroynms and wierd marking notes, i'm willing to put in a couple of hours to master marking properly if it means all my next papers are going to be accurate.

Reply 1

UoL Students

Official Rep

Original post

by DukeAim

I am currently self-studying for a a level chem and maths exams resit, one of my main methods of studying is exam questions and past papers. This is extremely useful but I found that last year I accidentally kept inflating my grades, missed key words in the mark scheme (especially in maths), and I found when doing mini tests in school i got worse grades then I had gotten by myself in the topic or past papers.
I tried to see online if I can maybe pay someone to help me mark each past paper I do but I found that to be extremely expensive (£30 for one paper and I will need to do most likely 100+ papers). I heard tutors can help with marking but im confused if that means they can mark it with me in a tutoring session (e.g 1 hour session) or without me and then let me know where I went wrong.
My next best option is to improve my marking technique, any advice on how to do this? marking chemistry is fairly easy but then edexcel maths feels hard to accurately mark, it feels like it's written in a different language with wierd acroynms and wierd marking notes, i'm willing to put in a couple of hours to master marking properly if it means all my next papers are going to be accurate.

Hello,

Well done on doing past papers and exam questions as this is one of the best ways to revise and prepare for exams through developing your exam technique. I would have advised getting a teacher to mark them but if this is not an option maybe ask a friend or someone. The problem with marking is that it can be so subjective and so difficult to give the same mark as the examiner who will be marking your actual paper, not forgetting that for the real thing there are so many quality checks in the marking process and even then it can still go wrong. When I marked my papers, particularly for essay-based subjects, I was always too harsh, but if you can justify the mark you are giving yourself this may help you get the mark right and learn how to develop your answers.

Charlie
Law LLB Student

Reply 2

Medcalf

Original post

by DukeAim

I am currently self-studying for a a level chem and maths exams resit, one of my main methods of studying is exam questions and past papers. This is extremely useful but I found that last year I accidentally kept inflating my grades, missed key words in the mark scheme (especially in maths), and I found when doing mini tests in school i got worse grades then I had gotten by myself in the topic or past papers.
I tried to see online if I can maybe pay someone to help me mark each past paper I do but I found that to be extremely expensive (£30 for one paper and I will need to do most likely 100+ papers). I heard tutors can help with marking but im confused if that means they can mark it with me in a tutoring session (e.g 1 hour session) or without me and then let me know where I went wrong.
My next best option is to improve my marking technique, any advice on how to do this? marking chemistry is fairly easy but then edexcel maths feels hard to accurately mark, it feels like it's written in a different language with wierd acroynms and wierd marking notes, i'm willing to put in a couple of hours to master marking properly if it means all my next papers are going to be accurate.

Hello,

I appreciate how difficult it can be. If you like I would be happy to take a look at some of your Edexcel Mathematics responses.

Reply 3

mqb2766

Original post

by DukeAim

I am currently self-studying for a a level chem and maths exams resit, one of my main methods of studying is exam questions and past papers. This is extremely useful but I found that last year I accidentally kept inflating my grades, missed key words in the mark scheme (especially in maths), and I found when doing mini tests in school i got worse grades then I had gotten by myself in the topic or past papers.
I tried to see online if I can maybe pay someone to help me mark each past paper I do but I found that to be extremely expensive (£30 for one paper and I will need to do most likely 100+ papers). I heard tutors can help with marking but im confused if that means they can mark it with me in a tutoring session (e.g 1 hour session) or without me and then let me know where I went wrong.
My next best option is to improve my marking technique, any advice on how to do this? marking chemistry is fairly easy but then edexcel maths feels hard to accurately mark, it feels like it's written in a different language with wierd acroynms and wierd marking notes, i'm willing to put in a couple of hours to master marking properly if it means all my next papers are going to be accurate.

Tbh, Id probably just search for a few papers on youtube where they do a marked walk through, try them yourself then watch the walk throughs in parallel with reading the mark schemes / looking at your atttempt and make sure you understand how the marks are allocated for a "typical good solution" and compare them with what youre doing.

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 4

Harik0

Original post

by DukeAim

I am currently self-studying for a a level chem and maths exams resit, one of my main methods of studying is exam questions and past papers. This is extremely useful but I found that last year I accidentally kept inflating my grades, missed key words in the mark scheme (especially in maths), and I found when doing mini tests in school i got worse grades then I had gotten by myself in the topic or past papers.
I tried to see online if I can maybe pay someone to help me mark each past paper I do but I found that to be extremely expensive (£30 for one paper and I will need to do most likely 100+ papers). I heard tutors can help with marking but im confused if that means they can mark it with me in a tutoring session (e.g 1 hour session) or without me and then let me know where I went wrong.
My next best option is to improve my marking technique, any advice on how to do this? marking chemistry is fairly easy but then edexcel maths feels hard to accurately mark, it feels like it's written in a different language with wierd acroynms and wierd marking notes, i'm willing to put in a couple of hours to master marking properly if it means all my next papers are going to be accurate.

What i personally like is to just not give the mark unless I wrote (within a word unless stated otherwise) what the markscheme wants instead of going "it's basically the same thing" or "that's what i meant", similarly, waiting a while before you mark it, like doing paper 1, paper 2, and then marking paper 1, and then paper 3 and then marking paper 2 etc. so that you remember what you were trying to get across slightly less.

For the maths language, they generally have a bit at the start of the markscheme where they explain all the weird stuff they use. It's a good idea to be familiar with that stuff.

Reply 5

Muttley79

Original post

by DukeAim

I am currently self-studying for a a level chem and maths exams resit, one of my main methods of studying is exam questions and past papers. This is extremely useful but I found that last year I accidentally kept inflating my grades, missed key words in the mark scheme (especially in maths), and I found when doing mini tests in school i got worse grades then I had gotten by myself in the topic or past papers.
I tried to see online if I can maybe pay someone to help me mark each past paper I do but I found that to be extremely expensive (£30 for one paper and I will need to do most likely 100+ papers). I heard tutors can help with marking but im confused if that means they can mark it with me in a tutoring session (e.g 1 hour session) or without me and then let me know where I went wrong.
My next best option is to improve my marking technique, any advice on how to do this? marking chemistry is fairly easy but then edexcel maths feels hard to accurately mark, it feels like it's written in a different language with wierd acroynms and wierd marking notes, i'm willing to put in a couple of hours to master marking properly if it means all my next papers are going to be accurate.

Don't pay someone or send anything to anyone on here.

Could you ask your teacher for the student-friendly mark schemes Edexcel produce for Maths?

Otherwise all the symbols are explained at the front of the mark scheme and examiners reports can also be useful to expand on marking.