Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 528: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will confirm a newspaper report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13415/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. Notwithstanding this, I have made inquiries with the SEC on the matter raised by the Deputy and I am advised as follows.

The revision of draft marking schemes is a normal part of the process which applies to every subject. Each year, following the examinations, the chief examiner and his or her advising team prepare a draft marking scheme for each subject. A meeting of the relevant examiners is convened, and the draft marking scheme is explained and discussed at this marking conference. The effectiveness of the marking scheme is then tested by putting it into action on a random sample of candidates' work. When this process is completed the final marking scheme is prepared.

Changes may be made to the draft scheme in the light of feedback from examiners, advice from advising or senior examiners, or certain trends associated with the spread of the grades. The review of the marking scheme that applies to every subject after the initial sampling is a normal part of the marking process. This is one of the ways to ensure quality control, ensuring that there is uniformity both in the scheme and among the various markers.

In the case of higher level Irish in the leaving certificate in 2005, the review of the draft marking scheme highlighted the need for a number of changes, and a diagnostic test was carried out on some exam scripts before a final decision was taken regarding the definitive marking scheme. All examiners had 50 scripts marked at this stage and many had more than that number completed. The final marking scheme was applied to all candidates, requiring the remarking of the scripts marked earlier, and the examiners were paid the standard fee for this in line with normal practice. Marks were awarded on the basis of the criteria in the final marking scheme.

The leaving certificate examination operates in a transparent manner which is to the forefront of international practice. Marking schemes are published, and candidates are given the opportunity to view their scripts before deciding whether to appeal their grade. There is also provision for a comprehensive appeals process. With regard to leaving certificate Irish at higher level in 2005, 0.9% of candidates scored at grades E, F and no grade. This compares with a figure of 0.6% in 2004, 1.4% in 2003 and 0.7% in 2002.