How is rank-order SJT marked?

How is the SJT marked?

From: http://www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/pages/home/how-to-apply/SJT-FAQs#answer378 

The SJT is a paper-based assessment and applicant answers are machine-marked against a pre-determined scoring key for each of the items. There are two question formats: rank in order five possible responses (two thirds of the questions) and choose three from eight possible responses (one third of the questions).

• Ranking questions are worth up to 20 marks; each of the individual responses is worth up to 4 marks. There are points for ‘near misses’ i.e. you do not need to get the answer exactly right in order to get a good score – please refer to Figure 1 below. If you ‘tie’ two answers, you will score 0 marks for either option.
• ‘Choose three from eight possible responses’ questions are worth 12 marks; each of the individual responses is worth 4 marks.
• There is no negative marking in the SJT (i.e. marks will not be deducted from your overall score for each incorrect answer given).

Figure 1 provides an example of how the ranking scoring system works.

The correct answer is DCEAB, and you would score 20 marks for this answer. If, for example, you thought the answer was DABEC, you would score 12 marks, as follows:
• 4 points for option D as it is in the correct position
• 1 point for option C as the correct position is 2, but the applicant ranked it 5th
• 3 points for option E as the correct position is 3, but the applicant ranked it 4th
• 2 points for option A as the correct position is 4, but the applicant ranked it 2nd
• 2 points for option B as the correct position is 5, but the applicant ranked it 3rd

 Note that, with this system, there is as much weight given to getting the lower ranked choices "right" as the top choices.