Inside the OCR NEA: Practical Strategies for Marking

Join us for a practical and confidence-boosting session focused on accurately marking the OCR A-level Computer Science NEA. Whether you’re new to NEA marking or looking to refine your approach, this event will help you apply the assessment criteria consistently, avoid common pitfalls, and feel secure in your judgements.

This session is designed to demystify the marking process and support teachers in making fair, evidence-based decisions aligned with OCR expectations.

In this session, we will:

• Unpick the OCR NEA mark scheme

  Explore the assessment objectives in detail, clarifying what examiners are really looking for at each level and how marks are allocated.

• Apply the criteria to real examples

  Work through anonymised NEA extracts to practise marking analysis, design, development, and evaluation sections accurately and consistently.

• Identify common marking errors

  Highlight frequent misconceptions and over-/under-marking issues, including where centres often misinterpret “complexity”, “independence”, and “technical challenge”.

• Align evidence to marks

  Learn how to confidently justify marks using student evidence, ensuring decisions are robust for internal standardisation and moderation.

• Support standardisation within departments

  Share strategies for internal moderation, cross-marking, and developing a shared understanding of standards across teaching teams.

Why Attend?

The NEA represents 20% of the A-level Computer Science qualification, and accurate marking is essential for fairness, credibility, and student outcomes. This session moves beyond surface-level guidance, focusing on practical interpretation of the mark scheme and examiner expectations. You’ll leave with clearer judgement, stronger confidence, and tools you can immediately apply when marking or standardising NEA work.

Who Should Join?

This session is ideal for:

• A-level Computer Science teachers (OCR specification)

• Teachers new to teaching or marking the NEA

• Heads of Computer Science and department leads

• Teachers responsible for internal moderation or standardisation

• Anyone seeking greater confidence and consistency in NEA marking