Do You Know Your Marking Style? Find Out Here

Every teacher has their own marking style. In this blog, we’re going to be taking a look at the different types there are out there.

Your decided marking style will vary depending on which age group or even which subject you’re teaching. Do any of the marking styles below match yours, or do you assess work in a different way? Let us know in the comments below.

Different Coloured Pens

Some teachers prefer to just use the one pen but sometimes using a variety of coloured pens can make your marking more understandable for your students. Using a traffic light system is popular too; red’s usually for incorrect answers, orange for advice and green for correct answers.

Stamps or Stickers

If you’re teaching younger age groups, stamps and stickers are popular too! Children love to collect and be rewarded with them. They’re much more likely to work harder if they know they could be awarded one.

Comments

When it comes to making comments against students’ work, some prefer to write a lengthier comment at the end of the piece of work, whilst others may make small notes throughout.

If it’s a small piece of work, a comment at the end is better, but if the work’s lengthy, then small notes can be more beneficial to the student and also to you when deciding the final mark.

Symbols

You can also create different symbols that can mean different things for your students. By all means, use the classic tick and cross for questions that are right or wrong, but you could also use symbols like plus and minus signs if they should have expanded more or less on their answer.

If you work from a symbol style, you can create a poster to let your students know what each icon means, ensuring the marking system is efficient, rather than hard to understand.

Whatever your marking style, feedback to students is vital so that they can develop and improve upon their work. Do you mark your work alternatively or have any tips? Share them in the comments below.