AI marking and assessments

How AI marking works

When a student submits an open-ended response — a short answer, extended response, or fill-the-gaps question — Classfolio marks it automatically against your model answer using AI.

The AI evaluates the student's response for meaning, not just exact wording. A student who writes "the mitochondria makes energy for the cell" will receive credit even if the phrasing differs from your model answer, provided the key ideas are present.

Deterministic activity types — such as multiple choice, drag & drop, match pairs, and fill-the-gaps with a fixed word list — are marked instantly without AI, based on exact correct answers.

Setting a model answer

When you add a short answer or extended response question to a lesson or assessment, you are prompted to add a model answer and, optionally, marking criteria. This is what the AI uses to evaluate each student's response.

• Be specific in your model answer — the more detail you provide, the better the AI can judge partial credit.
• For extended responses, add criterion points (e.g. "2 marks: identifies the process, explains the outcome").
• You can also add acceptable alternative phrases or keywords.

Reviewing marks before release

AI marking is always provisional until you release results. After a session or assessment, go to the Moderationview to review every student's response and AI-assigned mark side by side.

• You can override any mark — increase or decrease it — with a single click.
• Override marks are saved and reflected in analytics and Student Folios.
• You can leave a note on any override to explain the change.
• Students see the final mark (after any overrides), not the original AI mark.

Releasing results to students

Results are not visible to students until you explicitly release them. This gives you time to moderate marks and add feedback before students see their scores.

To release: go to the session or assessment results page and click Release results. You can release to all students at once, or to individual students if needed.

Once released, students can view their score, the model answer, and any feedback you have added from their Student Folio.

AI marking in live sessions vs. assessments

• Live sessions — AI marks responses in real time as students submit. You see provisional marks in the live response view. You still need to release results before students can see them.
• Assessments — students complete the assessment at their own pace. All responses are marked as they are submitted. You review and moderate before releasing to the class.
• Assignments — students receive instant feedback per question as they work through the assignment, based on the AI mark. You can still review and adjust marks in the moderation view.

Tips for better AI marking

• Write clear, detailed model answers — vague models produce inconsistent marks.
• Use criterion-based marking for extended responses so partial credit is awarded fairly.
• Review outlier marks (very high or very low) first in the moderation view.
• Add common acceptable alternatives to your model answer if students use varied phrasing.