I agree with many of the points made by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, especially in relation to the "accountancy" aspects of marking schemes. I would extend his sentiment by citing the Oscar Wilde quote often levelled at "accountants" that they "know the price of everything and the value of nothing" if I, as a lecturer, assessor and increasingly an "accountant", came to rely solely on a rigid, objective marking scheme at the expense of my academic judgment as to whether I considered students' work meritable.
Robert Manderson, Senior lecturer, Roehampton University.