Responding to a message by Sheila, to Charles on ...
SK>Really? I could envision some disagreement as they create the rubric.
SK>But don't they hammer out a rubric, maybe some individual is the lead
SK>grader (in AP this person is called the Chief Reader) and eventually, if
SK>necessary, will dictate the rubric (although that seldom happens). The
SK>Chief Reader is usually someone with 6 to 10 years AP grading
SK>experience. By the time the rubric is decided upon, the grading is very
SK>consistent from that point on. (The rubric is hashed out before any
SK>official grading activities begin. Eventually, some additions must be
SK>made to the rubric during the grading process, as some students will
SK>come up with a solution method that none of the developers of the rubric
SK>anticipated.)
New York State has published a booklet on how to score the Regents 
Exams, and included some examples of how to grade long-answer 
questions.  Points are assigned to different processes within each 
question by the state (e.g., 4 points for writing the equation from 
the word problem, 4 points for solving the equation and 2 points for 
checking the work) and a weight is given to various types of errors 
(10% off for mechanical errors, 50% off for misunderstanding a 
critical concept, etc.), but there is still lots of room for 
subjective interpretation as to why a child made a particular mistake.
Not likely, given the size of the state, that all math teachers can 
get together to appoint a chief reader - and in many schools (mine 
included) there is only one teacher teaching that course.  
The state collects about 20% of the exams each year and reviews 
about half of that 20%.  If they find consistent disagreement with a 
particular school or teacher, they reserve the right to alter the 
grades.  I have had mine reviewed twice and have had no alterations made.
Chuck Beams
Fidonet - 1:2608/70
cbeams@future.dreamscape.com
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