At the chalk face: It's not in the mark scheme

Ever marked a mock and heard, “But it’s not in the mark scheme…”? 🤔
In this episode of At the Chalkface, Craig and Dave tackle one of the biggest misconceptions in Computer Science assessment — and it might just change how you mark (and teach) forever.

Drawing on real examiner experience, they unpack the truth behind mark schemes, including:

Why mark schemes are not exhaustive (yes, really!)
How students can still gain marks for valid answers not listed
The balance between teaching the spec vs the mark scheme
Why “correct” in Computer Science isn’t always as black and white as you’d hope
And how algorithms like quicksort highlight just how many right answers can exist

💡 Key takeaway:
It’s not about what’s in the mark scheme… It’s about what’s correct.

Whether you’re a specialist or teaching out of your comfort zone, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to approach marking — and student queries — in a whole new way.

👉 If you’ve ever second-guessed a mark or been challenged by a student, this one’s for you.

Get our book: Essential algorithms and data structures: Suitable for all exam boards https://amzn.eu/d/0c50n9rE 

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