🖋️Marking
Synap's marking features are designed to work with existing marking processes. Learn about the different roles, configurations and marking to deliver audited secure marking
All marking on Synap will follow the same basic steps:
Questions in exam attempts that require manual inputs (non auto marked questions)
Creating a list of markers for each exam (Admins and Educators also need to be in these lists to mark from the attempt management table)
Configure marking including roles, assignment, settings, and other configurations on the exam
Additional Information
For user types who are not just Markers, you'll need to enable the markers inbox page for them
If round robin is not being used for marker assignment, you'll need to assign markers to each attempt/s from the marking management table
Marking configuration stays editable after the exam is published.
Marking considerations and planning
Before you configure marking on an exam it's important to think about the marking process and features you need
Should attempts be marked more than once? - if so then enable double marking to allow provisional markers to play a role in marking attempts before they get to a moderating marker, and set the minimum markers per attempt accordingly. If no then all markers assigned to the attempt will act as a moderating marker.
Where multiple different roles are involved, should markers see the inputs of other markers? - if not then enable marker isolation to ensure the provisional markers are marking blind. Moderating markers will always be able to see the inputs of provisional markers who marked before them.
Should markers know who's attempt they are marking? - if not then make sure candidate concealment is enabled for both provisional and moderating markers, else they'll be able to see candidate information about who's attempt they are marking
How should markers be assigned attempts to mark? - if you want to control exactly who is assigned which attempts you'll want to use manual assignment to allocate attempts, else if you're happy for this to be done at semi random by the system to allocate based on capacity then allow round robin to be used. Once attempts are assigned markers you can modify the assignment from the exam users table.
How should people be marking attempts? - if you have markers who only have the role of marker on platform then they'll only be able to access attempts via the markers inbox. However if you have educators, admins or managers marking attempts then you may need to configure the markers inbox page to show for them.
Candidate concealment configurations do not apply to admins, educators or managers who can access attempts outside of being assigned as a marker.
Moderator only marking
Moderator only marking is the simplest marking set up and the only marking option for all Standard plans.
Moderating markers can provide the complete and final set of marks for an attempt.
If there are multiple moderating markers working on an attempt it is the first moderating marker to complete and submit a full set of marks for an attempt will be used as the final complete set of marks and feedback.
Go to our dedicated guide on moderator only marking to learn more about moderating marking
Moderator only marking - Simple markingDouble & Blind Marking (Provisionals and Moderators)
Double and blind marking features are available on Pro, Business and Enterprise plans
With Synap's Double and Blind Marking features you can deliver exams that adhere to required marking processes, and streamline marking to one place. This feature is available on Pro or higher plans, allows exam creators to establish detailed marking rules and processes at the exam level, fully supporting both double and configurable double-blind marking approaches.
When double marking is enabled, each attempt must be evaluated by provisional markers at least the minimum number of times specified. This ensures that multiple perspectives are considered before final marks are assigned. See below for an example double marking flow
See our step by step guide below for more on Double & Blind marking
Provisional + Moderator marking (Double & Blind)Marking Roles
On exams with double marking enabled, marking is split into 3 distinct roles, generally these roles will be performed by different users however depending on your process you may have the same person taking on multiple roles (eg an admin or manager could be a provisional or a moderating marker).
Provisional marker
Markers responsible for assessing attempts initially. Their marks and other inputs are not final and require validation by moderating markers.
When advanced and resolution marking are configured, If all provisional markers inputs align within an agreement threshold, they may be accepted automatically.
If they cannot mark a response they can escalate it when escalation marking is enabled.
Moderating marker
Markers who review provisional marker inputs on exams, and determine the final marks, and feedback for questions in an attempt. They can adjust or confirm initial assessments before an attempt is finalised.
If provisional markers are not being used (standard plans / no double marking) then the moderating marker acts as the only role involved in marking.
They can be configured to escalate responses when escalation marking is enabled.
Advanced Roles : Escalation, Bakcreader, Auditing markers
Escalation markers handle cases where provisional or moderating markers are unable to assess an attempt due to specific customisable reasons. They can either:
Accept the escalation and finalise the marks themselves.
Reject the escalation, returning it to the normal marking workflow.
Backreader is the highest level of moderation. They can override marks set in the moderation step or the system, making them the final authority on an attempt’s scores.
Auditing markers conduct internal reviews after marks have been finalised. They cannot modify marks but can provide feedback, commentary, or quality assurance insights.
Finalising marker
The finalising marker is responsible for finalising the marks on an attempt, making it ready for release. This role can be assigned to an admin, educator, or manager and is configurable via global or specific permissions for an exam. The finalising marker ensures that all marks are thoroughly reviewed and validated before release. Whilst not a specific marker role this tends to be an admin, manager or educator
Use the guide below to learn more about the advanced roles for Backreading, Escalation and Auditing marking
Configuring Marking
On the exam go to the marking page to configure specific marking and markers for each exam.
Marker lists
Create lists of each marking role for your exam, add users in one by one or entire user groups. Users can assume two roles if they are in both lists. Marker lists stay editable even after an exam is scheduled so if one of your markers is away or you need to remove them from the exam, then just remove them from the list and save.
Markers inbox and marking page
The markers inbox page is where provisional or moderating markers will go to mark attempts assigned to them. The inbox is easy to use and navigate, there is a tab for all the open attempts and a tab for all the completed attempts. Markers can search for attempts by id or exam name, and by default the inbox is ordered by attempt submission, showing the longest waiting first.
Candidate and question marking
From the markers inbox, markers are given a choice on how to mark the attempts assigned to them.
Candidate = Marks each candidates attempt and full set of questions
Question marking = Marks across multiple candidates by groups by question
Note: Question marking is still grouped by the attempt assigned to markers, and they will still need to submit a full set of marks for all questions in all attempts assigned to them.
From the marking inbox page, markers can mark attempts via the pencil icon to open the marking page. From here they can mark the attempts.
From the marking page, all responses that require marking will show as blue with an unmarked status which will update to marking once inputs have been started then marked once completed. Once all of the blue status's are gone all the required questions for marking are completed.
To help with marking on exams with auto marked and manual marking questions, markers can use the quick navigation bar to go straight to unmarked responses.
For provisional markers any candidate feedback they leave is only suggested feedback and is not shown to users unless a moderating marker accepts those marks.
Provisional and moderating markers can save throughout their marking process and exit the marking page at any time to return to later. Once they've finished marking they then need to submit their marks using the button at the top of the page. After submission they will not be able to go back and change any of their inputs. The attempt will then progress onto the next step which may be for more provisional marking, the moderating markers or the finalising marker.
📍Markers who are only of the user type Marker will only have the markers inbox page enabled. No other pages are available to add for users of this type. If markers are also admins, educators or mangers you may need to enable the markers inbox from your portal settings for that user type.
Enabling the markers inbox
For more details about marking attempts, feedback and internal comments and a specific guide for markers using the platform see our docs on how to mark an attempt below.
Mark/Score attemptsManage and assign markers
When double marking is enabled, the marker assignment method can be selected.
Round Robin: Implement round robin assignment to distribute attempts randomly and evenly among markers, ensuring balanced workloads. Marker assignment can be overridden by an admin, manager or educator (with the right permissions).
Provisional markers: are assigned when an attempt has been submitted
Moderating markers: are assigned when all provisional marking has been completed
Manual Assignment: Use manual assignment for greater control, allowing exam creators or managers to handpick markers for specific attempts. When enabled no markers will be assigned to attempts automatically.
To assign or reassign markers to an attempt go to the exam users table, select one or more attempt, and use the assign marker button to select and assign specific markers for an attempt.
From the assign marker modal, select the provisional or moderating markers required for the attempt/s, you can also remove already assigned markers.
All attempts must now be assigned to a marker in a marking list, to self assign add your admin account to a marking list and then assign an attempt.
Viewing marks from attempt management tables
Once an attempt can have its marks viewed at any point during the marking progress, all markers who were assigned the attempt, or admins/managers/educators who can view the attempt will be able to view the marking page.
From the exam users table select the attempt to view and use the view marks button
From the view only marking page, inputs from all markers can be viewed. Provisional marker comments and marks will show in a response history, and moderating marker final marks are shown as the final inputs.
When viewing attempts, inputs can no longer be changed or updated by any users. If you need to update marks or grades at this point this is done from the results override options, more below
🏇Override attempt scores, comments & historyLast updated
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