I am writing this a few days before the May 2023 examinations begin. Having worked for many years as an examiner and senior examiner, there is, I will admit, a certain sense of apprehension that always comes with an abrupt increase in my own workload and the recognition that the work of marking exams is incredibly important. Marking exams is also a privilege; it is, I still find, remarkable how students are able to bring so much learning together, compressed into a few weeks. At my own slightly advanced age, I know for sure that I wouldn’t like to do what our students are about to do! If I did, I’m not sure I would be very successful. In any case, my own sense of apprehension in approaching exams is insignificant in comparison with the nervous anticipation our students are currently experiencing. In this examination session, for the first time in this course iteration, students will sit the revised Paper 2 exam, with its revised marking criteria. This week, we have published a student sample that is, in many senses, excellent. The student seems to know their works very well, writes well, and remains focused. And, while many students struggle to write concluding paragraphs that involve anything more than banal regurgitation, this student writes a pithy, evaluative final paragraph that brings the essay to a satisfactory end. A little less positively, the introductory paragraph is too long and detailed, comparing and contrasting could be more manifest, and there is sometimes a sense that the student is not always expressing exactly what they claim to be writing about. All told, it is a strong essay. Pitch perfect is seldom seen. Frankly, it’s not realistic to expect it, and grades of 7 don’t depend on it. It’s an insight worth sharing with students. Best of luck to all of our students, and well done to you – at any rate, if you are teaching in a northern hemisphere school! – for your hard work in getting them across the line. You can find out latest Paper 2 sample here.

David and (the slightly more youthful) Tim