Marking variations blur degree grades

An essay's mark depends on who marks it - study

University lecturers give wildly different marks to students' essays, research has shown - suggesting that degree grades are something of a lottery.

Researchers from the universities of North London and Surrey sent four sample essays to 100 history and psychology lecturers at 24 universities in England and Wales.

They say that they agreed on the standard of the essays only half the time.

"This is quite worrying for students," said Becky Francis of North London's Institute for Policy Studies in Education.

First or fail

The study was prompted by previous research carried out by the same team which found that many students had little faith in the assessment process.

Of the samples sent out, one academic thought a psychology essay was first class and a colleague awarded it a first class/upper second, but three other academics graded it as third class.

Seven assessors judged a history essay to be a fail - but five graded it a 2:1.

"Clearly, that in both disciplines only around 50% of academics could agree on the grade awarded holds worrying implications for students," Dr Francis said.

It "appears to lend credence to their concerns that marking is an inconsistent and subjective process".

No scheme

The internal grading of undergraduate essays is in contrast to the way exams such as GCSEs and A-levels are marked.

Becky Francis: Backs students' concerns

Examiners operate to mark schemes, which tell them how many marks should be awarded for the various areas students cover.

Dr Francis said that arguably university mark schemes were not specific enough, and were more open to individual interpretation.

She said it ought to be possible to achieve greater consistency within university departments, at least, without constructing an overly bureaucratic system.

"There should be consistency because if it depends on the marker you are allocated for the mark you are awarded, that would be very unfair."

External check

Universities are autonomous and there is no national curriculum setting out what subjects should be covered.

"However, the sector has a robust system of external examiners who carry out quality checks and ensure consistency, whether through their involvement in course development, or when looking at sample marked assignments or papers," said a spokesperson for the universities.

But Ms Francis said that was no guarantee.

"The external examiner is only another somewhat subjective academic giving their view."

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education has produced a series of subject benchmarks "designed to make explicit the general academic characteristics and standards of honours degrees in the UK". Resignation

But a spokesman for the agency said these were primarily intended to indicate the sort of skills and knowledge that someone should have.

He said the agency produced a code of practice for external examiners in an effort to ensure consistency.

The agency's former chief executive, John Randall, believed there were too many variations in how universities evaluated first, second and third class degrees.

Mr Randall resigned last August, claiming his efforts to make universities more accountable were being undermined by some of the UK's top institutions.