The new contract, worth £40 million will see the introduction of new techniques for the marking of Long Form Answers (LFA). These are typically essay type answers which are written free format in answer booklets. LFAs pose a number of problems when trying to optimise electronic marking because of the need to automatically recognise the location of individual answers. However, DRS has developed a unique process which enables most answers to be segmented automatically without manual intervention. The facilities available to markers using the LFA module have also been radically improved to enable convenient manipulation of on-screen essay images.
Andrew Bird, AQA’s Deputy Director General, comments: “This will ensure that we can keep delivering the best possible technological support to our assessments, to the ultimate benefit of all our learners.”
Tony Lee, DRS Chief Executive added “DRS is proud to be AQA’s partner in the successful delivery of examination marking. We are very much looking forward to continuing our relationship with AQA and to further developing e-Marker® to meet the changing requirements of examination marking.”
01908 423760
