The process of 'marking' is in fact a complex mixture of activities with a range of functions and processes; it will help if you unpick this, and try to revisit some underlying principles. Let's consider some of these functions. As a teacher, you assess to gather information about the standard of pupils' work, perhaps to compare it with national expectations or with other pupils in the school. You may have to publish such information and comparisons to a range of different audiences. Perhaps your colleagues require diagnostic information. Perhaps parents want to know how things are going. Perhaps the