How should marks be allocated according to assessment guidelines?

Marks should be allocated based on the specific requirements of each question, taking into account the aims of the assessment. This ensures that the marks reflect the complexity, depth of understanding, and significance of each question in relation to the overall goals of the assessment. For example, more challenging questions or those that require higher-order thinking may warrant a higher mark allocation, while simpler questions may receive fewer marks. This approach aligns assessments with educational objectives, encouraging students to engage meaningfully with the material.

Allocating marks equally to all questions would disregard the varying levels of difficulty and importance, ultimately undermining the assessment's integrity. Likewise, giving more marks to subjective questions may not accurately reflect the learning outcomes, as objective questions can also assess critical thinking and understanding effectively. Furthermore, tying marks solely to student attendance fails to evaluate knowledge or competencies, which is crucial for a fair assessment process. By allocating marks based on the assessment's aims, educators can better measure students' true understanding and mastery of the subject matter.