§ Mr. Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the qualifications, the age limits and the maximum number of scripts per marker laid down for Scottish certificate of education examiners; and whether any of these rules have been relaxed in the current year.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThe qualifications for appointment as markers of Scottish certificate of education examination scripts and the duties of the post are matters for the Scottish Examination Board. The board stipulates that applicants for appointment as markers must have at least three years relevant experience of presenting pupils for the Scottish certificate of education or three years examining experience in tertiary education in Scotland. There is no minimum age limit for appointment but a maximum limit of 70 years is generaly applied. The maximum number of scripts per marker varies from year to year and from subject to subject. Each year every applicant is informed of his maximum script allocation early in the appointment process.
The board has not relaxed its experience or age criteria this year except in the case of 2 experienced markers who were retained by the board although marginally over the age limit. In most subjects, the maximum script allocation in 1985 increased by comparison with 1984 but in no subject has the maximum allocation increased by more than 25 scripts.