Re-marking paper over JobBridge question costs €8k

The cost of re-marking Leaving Certificate papers in which JobBridge was belatedly accepted as the answer to a question will be around €8,000.

The State Examinations Commission hired 15 people for two days each to re-assess how 4,300 students had answered the question in last June’s higher-level home economics exam.

After issues raised by some who had appealed the result, it was decided to accept JobBridge as the answer to a question asking for the name of, and details about, a statutory job-creation initiative.

The SEC also told the Irish Examiner that its inclusion as a possible answer had been discussed by senior examination staff before the marking scheme was distributed to those who correct papers last summer, and it was decided then that JobBridge would not be accepted as a correct response.

It was an part of an optional question on the exam and worth 10 marks out of 400 — or 2.5% of available marks — with two marks given for naming an initiative, and four for each of two points of detail supplied.

The issue was also raised, among many other issues,with an advisory team who convened after random sample scripts had been marked.

But it was only after the issue was further raised by students who appealed results they received that the matter was reviewed.

“It was evident that this was not a black and white issue, and, on balance, the decision was made to accept JobBridge” the SEC told the Irish Examiner.