Grading and Time Management
Especially for newer TAs, grading can be daunting and time-consuming. This guide directly addresses the question of how to grade effectively and efficiently, with strategies that support student learning as well as TA boundaries and well-being.
While You Are Grading
Grade while you are in a good mood.
Grade with company! In addition to being more fun, the other GSIs are a resource for grading questions. Also, if you are grading a large lecture course, it can streamline the grading consistency checks. To ensure consistency, exchange a few papers in each score range with the other GSIs, and grade them independently. Compare the scores and take corrective action if necessary.
Time yourself. Try to limit how long you spend grading each assignment (e.g., I want to grade on average 20 problems per hour or, I want to spend at most 15 minutes per essay). If you find yourself puzzling over a particular paper, set the paper aside to grade last, when your sense of all of the students’ work has been fully developed.