2. HN BUSINESS HND GRADED UNIT 3
Marking the Examination

3. General Marking Guidelines : 1
[Come before the suggested solutions in the exemplar assessment]
Refer to the table in the Graded Unit specification [describes the level of performance associated with each of the three grades]
Candidates should apply knowledge and draw reasoned conclusions or make judgements on the basis of this application

4. General Marking Guidelines : 2
Answers should be related to the case study
Candidates should make use of 6 mandatory Units used in the Graded Unit specification – other Units may be relevant
Marking is a matter of judgement

5. Suggested solutions
Give guidance on allocation of marks within each question eg 1 mark for each relevant point; maximum of 6 marks
Development points – ones which extend or justify an initial point eg examples from case study; reasons; draw comparisons; refer to relevant concepts
Highlight relevant concepts which could be used

6. Give an indication of what a response could contain.
Suggested solutions
Give an indication of what a response could contain.
Are not intended to be comprehensive but often have much more than a response needs to gain a high mark.

7. Making an assessment decision: 1
This means making sure that marks are awarded for points which are valid in the context of an examination at SCQF level 8.
A broad knowledge of the scope, defining features and main areas of a subject/discipline
Detailed knowledge in some areas
Use a range of routine skills, techniques, practices and/or materials associated with a subject/discipline, a few of which are advanced or complex
Critical analysis, evaluation and/or synthesis of ideas . . .
Critically evaluate evidence based solutions
Convey complex information

8. Making an assessment decision: 2
Need to be more demanding at Level 8 than Level 7
Importance of reasons and justification
Recognition that in any situation there may be benefits and drawbacks; advantages/disadvantages – relative size may vary
Understanding that there may be a number of different consequences of something
Acknowledgement that a particular result may depend on a particular set of circumstances
Coherence and structure of answer

9. Making an assessment decision: 3
Remember graded boundaries – 5/10 = C; 6/10 = B; 7/10 = A and look for:
Direct responses to the question asked
Words like ‘whereas’, ‘on the other hand’
Answers which move coherently from one point to another
Answers which deal with more than one discrete point
Answers which give examples etc to support and explain points
Answers which indicate that candidates have studied a Level 8 course in Business

10. Making an assessment decision: 4
Do not credit repetition
Avoid making assumptions about what the candidate is trying to say
Do not give marks for vague statements
Do not give marks for generalisations or assertions
Do not credit ’name dropping’ without explanation
Avoid crediting unjustified speculation
Do not credit simplistic statements which would be acceptable at lower levels

11. Let’s do some marking!