Sharpkop
Here’s how.

We mark the way an examiner does

Against a marking guide based on the memo, one mark at a time, with a reason for every mark you lose. And when we’re not sure, we say so.

Against a marking guide built from the memo

Every question has a marking guide based on the Department of Basic Education memo: the points an examiner gives marks for. We mark each point on its own, so a 5-mark question gives you 5 separate answers about your work.

You see which points you earned and which you missed, so you know exactly what to fix.

Example · the 5 mark points
Uses an exponent law: 3²ˣ − 3·3ˣ − 54 = 0M
Factorises: (3ˣ − 9)(3ˣ + 6) = 0M
3ˣ = 9A
Rejects 3ˣ = −6: a power of 3 is never negativeA
Answer: x = 2A

Like examiners: method, answer, follow-through

Method marks (M) are for the right steps, even if the final answer is wrong. Answer marks (A) are for the right result.

If you make one slip early, we follow it through like examiners do (CA, consistent accuracy), so one mistake doesn’t cost every mark after it.

One slip, followed through
Correct method: sets the derivative to 0M
Slip: 6x − 4 = 0 written as 6x + 4 = 0A
Solves their own equation correctlyCA
Correct method for the y-valueM

When we’re not sure, we say so

Some answers can’t be marked fairly: a blurry photo, working we can’t follow, an approach the guide doesn’t cover. A wrong mark is worse than no mark.

So we show no score, give you the marking guide, and ask you to check your work against it.

What you see
Thinking.
We couldn’t mark this one fairly. Here’s the marking guide. Check your work against it.
No score is shown. For photos, you can retake it.

Report any mark

Every result has “Report this mark”. The report goes to the Sharpkop team, who read it.

If we got it wrong for one person, we’ve probably got it wrong for others, so a fix reaches everyone.

What can happen
The mark standsWe tell you why, with the mark point that decided it.
Your mark changesWe update it and tell you. Your level updates too.
We fix the questionEveryone who got that mark is re-marked, and told.

Where the questions come from

Questions are based on National Senior Certificate papers set by the Department of Basic Education. Sharpkop is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department. Where we changed the numbers in a question, its source line says “Based on”, so you’re never confused by the original memo.

Updated