BAC 2015: Examiners’ secrets
As soon as the final tests for bachelor finish, they shut themselves into their houses due to the absolute prohibition to read the dozens of papers in public.
School-leavers are not the only ones to feel stressed as BAC exams are fast approaching. Their teachers are anxiously considering the heaps of papers left for their responsibility. "I have to check 165 papers in ten days, but it's hardly feasible to check one work per hour," says Eric, a professor of philosophy. In total, around four million papers will be examined in about ten days by 170,000 examiners.
"The month of June is a marathon, summarizes Violaine, professor of history and geography in the Hauts-de-Seine. What is hard that is to have to check candidates' writings, watch exams and have classes with my sixth, fifth and third-year students. " Officially, classes end only at the end of June in the secondary school, although some institutions and examination centers are closing early.
About one teacher in two is "requested" for BAC. "Teacher of high school become examiners because they know the programs, says the Ministry of Education. For others, it’s difficult."
The "lucky ones" have very strict guidelines. "We have not the right to examine papers in public and while watching exams, it is forbidden to do something else, Violaine continues. I will spend my nights and my weekend to check 75 papers." On average, each teacher gets between 70 and 150 papers. All for five euros per work.
The "doable" task gets Valerie, Teacher of life sciences, to Paris. According to her, it is not the number of papers that is challenging, but "neither good papers nor bad. Those in-between make it very difficult for the examiner to apply the rating scale. That can take much time to decide."
Marking is often debatable
Handling the candidates' work, we should be as impartial as possible. However, each year critics question the subjectivity of the marking of original works. "On the first day, we scan some random works and eight teachers anonymously check them: differences in scores sometimes vary from 8 to 16," said Eric.
In order to cut short the arguments of the detractors of this exam, harmonization commissions are set up at the end of the sessions. And the harmony here is only the name: "It's very explosive, no one agrees, says Eric. There are those who do not want to increase points and others".
After these commissions, it’s the turn of the jury to hold another meeting. The anonymity of the candidates is removed. The jury can decide, taking into consideration the school academic record, to give "a point or two to reach the BAC," explains Violaine.
Not to alienate your Examiner.
The scales are also subject to debate. The examiners are often suspected of giving marks more than 20 to encourage the weaker candidates. "This is a rumor, ensures National Education. All of our rating scales are about 20 but with a couple of options, a student can have 21 to reach BAC."
If there is no magic formula to coax your examiner - apart from an impeccable work - Valérie willingly gives advice for not to get upset. "It is often said but you have to write and draw schemes legibly using dark ink. Poor quality of writing can be penalized even if teachers make an effort not to go in that direction. After an hour of reading, if, being in doubt, we do not decide in favor of the candidate”.
