Getting Started   >   Dealing with Exams   >   Grading

When grading exams, you want to find a balance among the following three universal virtues: Accuracy, Consistency, and Efficiency.

Accuracy. This is the most obvious goal, from a pedagogical standpoint.

• Before grading, briefly look at ten or fifteen exams to get a better feeling for common mistakes, and consider the corresponding partial credit points you'll award.
  
• You may want to assign parial credit points based on your answers to the following: What is the question looking for? Is it more computational or conceptual? Which steps are the most important?
  
• While grading, write comments to (i) correct student errors and (ii) clarify possibly ambiguous marks you've given.

Consistency. This is half about fairness, and half about keeping yourself out of trouble.

• Once you've assigned partial credit points to responses you believe will be common errors, be sure to write them down. Then refer to your rubric often, making small refinements as you go.
  
• When an unforeseen error arises (which it will!), write down the points you award it. It's likely you'll see that error again before you're done.

Efficiency. It takes millions of years for the mud-derived sedimentary rock shale to metamorphose into slate. Grading an exam should not take this long.

• Grade only one or two problems at a time.
  
• Refer to your expanding rubric often.
  
• Don't get bogged down, especially when trying to decipher a student's confused scribblings. Remember that it's their job to communicate the solution to you.