How to write a fair exam paper and marking scheme

1. Plan the marks before writing questions

Decide how many marks each topic and each kind of thinking deserves: some recall, mostly applying ideas, some analysis. Write this down as a simple grid, then write questions to fill it.

Planning first stops a paper from drifting towards whatever is easiest to ask.

2. Mix question types for what each tests best

Multiple choice questions cover many topics quickly and are easy to mark. Structured questions show working step by step. Essays show whether students can connect ideas and argue.

A paper that uses all three gives a fuller picture than one type alone.

3. Write multiple choice questions that cannot be guessed

Each question has one clearly correct answer and wrong options that are real mistakes students make, such as forgetting a unit or mixing up two terms. Avoid giveaways like one option being much longer than the rest.

Spread the correct answers across A, B, C and D. If most answers are B, students notice.

4. Mark points, not impressions

For every structured and essay part, list the points that earn marks: the formula, the substitution, the answer with its unit. Make sure the points add up to the marks printed on the paper.

A point-by-point scheme lets two teachers give the same mark to the same answer.

5. Make every word count

Use short sentences and the terms from the syllabus. Give all the data needed, in a table if there is a lot of it. Never refer to a diagram that is not printed.

Leave answer space that matches the length of answer you expect.

6. Check the key before printing

Work through the paper yourself, or have a colleague do it without the scheme. Compare their answers with your key; every difference is either a mistake in the key or a question that needs clearer wording. Then check that the marks add up to the total.

How long should an exam paper be?

Allow about one mark per minute for most written papers, a little less for multiple choice. A 50-mark test usually needs about 45 to 60 minutes.

How many options should an MCQ have?

Four options is the usual standard. More options rarely help, because it is hard to write more than three believable wrong answers.

Can I make a paper and scheme quickly?

Yes. PaperForge writes the question paper, marking scheme, OMR sheet and a practice quiz from a short description or your notes, and double-checks the multiple choice key. It costs 1 credit and guests get 2 free credits every day.

How do I stop copying in a crowded exam hall?

Print two versions with the questions and options in a different order, and give them to students sitting next to each other. Keep a separate answer key for each version.