Topic outline
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Example Candidate Responses - Guidance for Cambridge consultants
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Video transcript
Example Candidate Responses – consultant guidance
You have accepted a contract to select candidate scripts and provide examiner comments for an Example Candidate Responses project.
This video gives guidance to you as a consultant, on how to, access Basecamp, select and download scripts, and provide useful examiner comments.
To complete the commission, you will need the Examiner Template, the Script Request Table, and pdf copies of the selected scripts. These documents will be available to you on Basecamp.
It is also useful to make sure you have carefully read the Brief which details the work that is required.
1. Basecamp
All required documents will be available on Basecamp, a project management tool which puts everything you need in one place and makes it possible to upload large files securely. It is similar to Kiteworks which you may have used before. We will not send files via email or as hard copies.
If you don’t have a Basecamp account, we will set you up on the system and you will receive an email (from Basecamp) with instructions on how to choose a password and access the files.
If you already have an account, you will receive a notification that files have been uploaded to Basecamp.
Once you are logged in to Basecamp, click on the project you have been assigned to.
All the documents you will need are in the ‘Docs & Files’ folder on the project page. You can download all the files by clicking on the three dots in the top righthand corner, and selecting ‘Download this folder’. The files will be downloaded in a zip folder.
Click on the zip folder to open, and save all the files on your computer – ready for you to start working on the project.
2. Script selection
While you are marking during the examination series, make a selection of suitable scripts for the Example Candidate Responses project, as detailed in the Brief. This is not the same list you may be asked to submit for the Training team.
Make sure you select scripts from just one variant only and identify responses for each whole question and not whole scripts or part questions. More information about what you need to select is given in the Brief.
There should be a clear mark difference between the levels of responses you select and avoid any controversial or boundary marks.
For scripts which are available on ‘RM Assessor’, make a note of the Response/Display number which is a 10 digit number beginning with 6, and complete the ‘Script Request Table’.
For scripts or candidate work which is not available on RM Assessor, make a note of the centre and candidate number, and complete the ‘Script Request Table’.
When you have your completed Script Request Table send it to your contact in Cambridge.
Log in to Basecamp and go to the ‘Docs & Files’ folder. Click on the green button in the top left-hand corner of the folder.
Select ‘Upload new file’ and browse to the file on your computer. Then upload the document to Basecamp.
After a few days, you will receive notification (from Basecamp) that the pdf copies of the scripts are available.
3. Pdf scripts
When you get notification that the scripts are available, log in to Basecamp and go to the ‘Docs & Files’ folder.
The scripts you requested will be in a folder. Click on the three dots in the top right-hand corner and select ‘Download this folder’.
The scripts will be downloaded in a zip folder.
Click on the folder and save the files to your own computer. It is important to download the files to your computer before you start working on them.
You will need Adobe Reader or Professional which is free to download from the Adobe website.
4. Examiner comments
In the Examiner Template document, you will write the numbered examiner comments on how the candidate has gained marks, as well as comments on how the answer could be improved.
For each question (not each response) you will provide a short list of common errors and guidance for candidates – you may refer to the relevant Examiner Report for the series to find any relevant information.
As you start to write the numbered examiner comments in the Examiner Template, you will need to add the corresponding numbers to the pdf scripts. To do this you will need Adobe Reader or Professional.
To add the numbers to the pdf scripts, right click on the pdf document to open the files with Adobe Reader or Professional. If you open them with the browser, you will not be able to annotate the scripts.
Once you have opened the script in Adobe, go to ‘Tools and comments’.
Click in the script where you would like to make a comment or highlight a point of interest. A box will open so that you can add the number of the comment – you do not need to add the comment here, just the number.
In the Examiner Template, in the Examiner comment column, write the number as well as your comment. You will also insert the marks for each part question, as well as the total marks for the whole question.
When you have completed writing the numbered examiner comments, for each candidate response you will then provide comments on how the answer could be improved, with clear reference to the mark scheme.
For each question, you should also provide a list of general common mistakes candidates made answering the questions and guidance for candidates on how to avoid them. These comments will focus on general mistakes and not refer to the scripts you have selected.
To check you are on track, we would like to see a sample of your work including one level per question (for example high for question 1). You will send the sample by the deadline on the Brief, and when you have received feedback you can then complete the commission. Feedback may ask you to adapt or change something, and consider this while you complete the task. This part of the commission is very helpful to make sure that your final submission completes the task successfully.
To upload your completed Examiner Template, and the numbered pdf scripts to Basecamp go to the project area on Basecamp, click on the green button, and upload the files.
You may zip the files before uploading to Basecamp or create a new folder in Basecamp and upload the files to that folder.
If you have any problems please get in touch with your contact in Cambridge who will be happy to help out.
Thank you for working with us on these projects – it is much appreciated.