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Computers To Mark English Essays

Posted by Soulskill on from the i-fear-the-day-scantron-wakes-up dept.

digitig writes "According to The Guardian, computers are to be used in the UK to mark English examination essays. 'Pearson, the American-based parent company of Edexcel, is to use computers to "read" and assess essays for international English tests in a move that has fueled speculation that GCSEs and A-levels will be next. ... Pearson claims this will be more accurate than human marking.' Can computers now understand all the subtle nuances of language, or are people going to have to learn an especially bland form of English to pass exams?"

7 of 243 comments (clear)

  1. No! That is what they want you to do by Norsefire · · Score: 3, Funny

    Having failed to kill him, SkyNet sent a Terminator back in time to make John Connor fail English.

    1. Re:No! That is what they want you to do by kindigth · · Score: 3, Funny

      After Terminator: Salvation, i'd take it.

  2. Cheatcode by sam0737 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Includes "Edexcel iddqd" should do it.

  3. Re:Context... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah because when it's written we can see the spelling difference between 'flies' and 'flies' and that ruins the joke.

  4. Bland? by nick_davison · · Score: 3, Funny

    "or are people going to have to learn an especially bland form of English to pass exams?"

    Forget bland. I'm waiting for the first student to figure out how to write an exploit that hacks the software from within their essay.

    Whether:

    "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times \'$grade=100;"

    or

    "Johnny, why did your essay contain slightly over thirty two thousand spaces followed by some weird looking codes?"

  5. Re:Don't they already do this? by PCM2 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Funny, cuz your response is exactly what I was going to ask of you. Until, that is, I learned you were just a drunk dude who was trying to sound intellectual. Thanks for being honest. And, cheers.

    --
    Breakfast served all day!
  6. Re:Context... by j-beda · · Score: 3, Funny

    My eight year old son has recently been enjoying this type of thing in the English language. He asked me this one: "What's the difference between chopped meat and pea soup?" - "Most people can chop meat, but nobody can pee soup."

    Hey, HE thought it was funny.