What Are Moderation and Second Marking?
Moderation and second marking are procedures that UK universities and others use to make sure that assessed work is marked fairly and consistently. They are part of academic quality assurance and help protect students from marker bias, mistakes and differences in standards between markers.
Second marking
In second marking, another academic reads and marks your work independently or after seeing the first marker's comments. Methods include:
- Blind second marking: the second marker does not see the first mark or comments, and the two compare and agree a final mark.
- Open second marking: the second marker sees the first marker's mark and feedback.
- Double marking: all work is marked by two people, common for dissertations and final-year projects.
- Sampling: only a selection of scripts is second marked.
When the two markers disagree, they discuss to reach agreement. If they cannot, a third marker may decide.
Moderation
Moderation is a check on the whole set of marks for an assessment, usually by a person other than the marker. The moderator reviews a sample across the range of marks, including borderline cases and fails, to see whether marking criteria have been applied consistently and whether the distribution of marks seems reasonable. If problems are found, marks may be adjusted for the whole batch, or all work may be re-marked.
External examiners
Universities in the UK also use external examiners from other institutions to review samples of assessed work and confirm that standards are comparable nationally. Their reports go to the university and help guide improvements.
What it means for you
- Your mark may be provisional until moderation and exam boards are complete.
- Marks can change as a result, though changes are usually small.
- Feedback comes from the marker and may be agreed with the second marker.
- You usually cannot appeal on grounds of academic judgment, but you can raise concerns about procedure.
Related processes
Moderation is not the same as an appeal or review. Exam boards confirm results at the end of the term or year. Mitigating circumstances are considered separately.
Related terms
See external examiner, mitigating circumstances, HEAR, personal tutor and CATS points.
Frequently asked questions
Will my work be read by two markers?
Possibly. Many universities second mark some or all work, especially high-stakes assessments such as dissertations, and sample others for moderation. Policies vary.
Can moderation change my mark?
It can. If moderators find inconsistent marking in a batch, they may adjust marks for the group or ask markers to re-mark. Individual marks can go up or down.
Is moderation the same as an appeal?
No. Moderation is part of the routine quality process before marks are released. An appeal is a formal request by a student after results.