Neil Defty
@neildefty.bsky.social
Head of Customer Relations, No More Marking Ltd.
Director, Defty Consulting Ltd.
Occasional charity work
Obsessive runner
Director, Defty Consulting Ltd.
Occasional charity work
Obsessive runner
Reposted by Neil Defty
Latest on our Substack - What kind of student feedback do teachers think is best?
Turns out they are quite keen on summaries of their class's performance...
We've created AI-generated "examiner's reports" to help them.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-kind-...
Turns out they are quite keen on summaries of their class's performance...
We've created AI-generated "examiner's reports" to help them.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-kind-...
What kind of student feedback do teachers think is best?
The tension between personalised and in-person education
substack.nomoremarking.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Latest on our Substack - What kind of student feedback do teachers think is best?
Turns out they are quite keen on summaries of their class's performance...
We've created AI-generated "examiner's reports" to help them.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-kind-...
Turns out they are quite keen on summaries of their class's performance...
We've created AI-generated "examiner's reports" to help them.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-kind-...
Reposted by Neil Defty
How long does it take to mark a set of essays with Comparative Judgement?
Human CJ halves the time compared with traditional marking.
AI CJ reduces it by a further 90%!
Watch our explainer video & read more on our website.
vimeo.com/1121894082/2...
help.nomoremarking.com/en/article/h...
Human CJ halves the time compared with traditional marking.
AI CJ reduces it by a further 90%!
Watch our explainer video & read more on our website.
vimeo.com/1121894082/2...
help.nomoremarking.com/en/article/h...
September 30, 2025 at 6:45 AM
How long does it take to mark a set of essays with Comparative Judgement?
Human CJ halves the time compared with traditional marking.
AI CJ reduces it by a further 90%!
Watch our explainer video & read more on our website.
vimeo.com/1121894082/2...
help.nomoremarking.com/en/article/h...
Human CJ halves the time compared with traditional marking.
AI CJ reduces it by a further 90%!
Watch our explainer video & read more on our website.
vimeo.com/1121894082/2...
help.nomoremarking.com/en/article/h...
This has just blown my mind! 🤯
GENUINE fact (not a "bit"):
The date is 5^2 / 3^2 / 45^2
It is probably the last time in your lifetime where all three numbers are square (the next one being 1/1/2116)
The date is 5^2 / 3^2 / 45^2
It is probably the last time in your lifetime where all three numbers are square (the next one being 1/1/2116)
September 25, 2025 at 11:33 AM
This has just blown my mind! 🤯
"Cars are faster than humans, but we still teach PE at school." And other marathon-related metaphors...
Generative AI has a lot of applications in the workplace, & it is very good at producing readable text.
But writing isn't just about communication - it's about thinking. It's a powerful tool for expanding the limits of working memory.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-is-th...
But writing isn't just about communication - it's about thinking. It's a powerful tool for expanding the limits of working memory.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-is-th...
July 22, 2025 at 5:53 PM
"Cars are faster than humans, but we still teach PE at school." And other marathon-related metaphors...
Reposted by Neil Defty
Latest from us - we've completed some more AI assessment projects and are yet to find an AI error.
All the big human-AI disagreements are human error.
Take a look at a couple of examples and see who you agree with...
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/can-you-fi...
All the big human-AI disagreements are human error.
Take a look at a couple of examples and see who you agree with...
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/can-you-fi...
June 29, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Latest from us - we've completed some more AI assessment projects and are yet to find an AI error.
All the big human-AI disagreements are human error.
Take a look at a couple of examples and see who you agree with...
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/can-you-fi...
All the big human-AI disagreements are human error.
Take a look at a couple of examples and see who you agree with...
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/can-you-fi...
Reposted by Neil Defty
Some big news from us.
We're launching our first ever national history assessment - Year 7, autumn term, Battle of Hastings.
It's AI-assisted so it'll be super quick.
And it's free! (But not for long!)
Read more & sign up here.
www.nomoremarking.com/products/cjh...
We're launching our first ever national history assessment - Year 7, autumn term, Battle of Hastings.
It's AI-assisted so it'll be super quick.
And it's free! (But not for long!)
Read more & sign up here.
www.nomoremarking.com/products/cjh...
June 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Some big news from us.
We're launching our first ever national history assessment - Year 7, autumn term, Battle of Hastings.
It's AI-assisted so it'll be super quick.
And it's free! (But not for long!)
Read more & sign up here.
www.nomoremarking.com/products/cjh...
We're launching our first ever national history assessment - Year 7, autumn term, Battle of Hastings.
It's AI-assisted so it'll be super quick.
And it's free! (But not for long!)
Read more & sign up here.
www.nomoremarking.com/products/cjh...
There's still time for schools to sign up for our free Y6 redrafting assessment!
And who doesn't love a good plot twist?
And who doesn't love a good plot twist?
Do students respond to feedback?
In our latest post, we share examples of students responding to feedback when redrafting their writing.
In one example the writing improves. In the other it doesn't!
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/do-student...
In our latest post, we share examples of students responding to feedback when redrafting their writing.
In one example the writing improves. In the other it doesn't!
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/do-student...
May 1, 2025 at 7:48 AM
There's still time for schools to sign up for our free Y6 redrafting assessment!
And who doesn't love a good plot twist?
And who doesn't love a good plot twist?
Reposted by Neil Defty
If you have heard about our AI marking projects and are intrigued, then you can take part in one for free this summer and see if you agree with the AI.
CJ Dynamo is our Y6 project.
CJ Lightning for Y9.
Places are free but limited, so sign up asap!
www.nomoremarking.com?countryCode=GB
CJ Dynamo is our Y6 project.
CJ Lightning for Y9.
Places are free but limited, so sign up asap!
www.nomoremarking.com?countryCode=GB
April 2, 2025 at 8:47 AM
If you have heard about our AI marking projects and are intrigued, then you can take part in one for free this summer and see if you agree with the AI.
CJ Dynamo is our Y6 project.
CJ Lightning for Y9.
Places are free but limited, so sign up asap!
www.nomoremarking.com?countryCode=GB
CJ Dynamo is our Y6 project.
CJ Lightning for Y9.
Places are free but limited, so sign up asap!
www.nomoremarking.com?countryCode=GB
Reposted by Neil Defty
Using AI to judge student writing 'has the potential to revolutionise assessment and decimate workload', say @daisychristo.bsky.social and @nomoremarking.bsky.social after their trail of the approach
schoolsweek.co.uk/using-ai-to-...
schoolsweek.co.uk/using-ai-to-...
Using AI to judge writing could 'revolutionise' assessment
No More Marking says its trial found AI is 'very good at judging student writing'
schoolsweek.co.uk
March 31, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Using AI to judge student writing 'has the potential to revolutionise assessment and decimate workload', say @daisychristo.bsky.social and @nomoremarking.bsky.social after their trail of the approach
schoolsweek.co.uk/using-ai-to-...
schoolsweek.co.uk/using-ai-to-...
We think this has the potential to revolutionise assessment and decimate workload!
(And in addition, I've learned the historical meaning of 'decimate' today.)
(And in addition, I've learned the historical meaning of 'decimate' today.)
We've been sceptical about AI marking. Not any more!
When the facts change, we change our minds.
We think this is really big.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/so-can-ai-...
When the facts change, we change our minds.
We think this is really big.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/so-can-ai-...
So, can AI assess writing?
Results of our big new Comparative Judgement AI trial
substack.nomoremarking.com
April 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
We think this has the potential to revolutionise assessment and decimate workload!
(And in addition, I've learned the historical meaning of 'decimate' today.)
(And in addition, I've learned the historical meaning of 'decimate' today.)
How Better Feedback Can Revolutionize Education
www.econtalk.org/how-better-f...
A great discussion between No More Marking's Daisy Christodoulou @daisychristo.bsky.social and EconTalk's Russ Roberts (even including a brief comparison of their respective marathon results half way through!)
www.econtalk.org/how-better-f...
A great discussion between No More Marking's Daisy Christodoulou @daisychristo.bsky.social and EconTalk's Russ Roberts (even including a brief comparison of their respective marathon results half way through!)
How Better Feedback Can Revolutionize Education (with Daisy Christodoulou) - Econlib
Feedback on exams and papers–grades and comments–should be more than an assessment. It should point the way to improvement. So argues educational consultant Daisy Christodoulou, emphasizing that actio...
www.econtalk.org
March 18, 2025 at 10:46 AM
How Better Feedback Can Revolutionize Education
www.econtalk.org/how-better-f...
A great discussion between No More Marking's Daisy Christodoulou @daisychristo.bsky.social and EconTalk's Russ Roberts (even including a brief comparison of their respective marathon results half way through!)
www.econtalk.org/how-better-f...
A great discussion between No More Marking's Daisy Christodoulou @daisychristo.bsky.social and EconTalk's Russ Roberts (even including a brief comparison of their respective marathon results half way through!)
Reposted by Neil Defty
Last week we published the latest results of our Australian writing assessment project.
You can read a summary of all the results here.
We had over 13k participating students from schools in every Australian state & territory!
aus.nomoremarking.com/assessing-wr...
You can read a summary of all the results here.
We had over 13k participating students from schools in every Australian state & territory!
aus.nomoremarking.com/assessing-wr...
March 18, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Last week we published the latest results of our Australian writing assessment project.
You can read a summary of all the results here.
We had over 13k participating students from schools in every Australian state & territory!
aus.nomoremarking.com/assessing-wr...
You can read a summary of all the results here.
We had over 13k participating students from schools in every Australian state & territory!
aus.nomoremarking.com/assessing-wr...
Reposted by Neil Defty
Our new AI assessment project starts at the end of Feb and it is already proving very popular!
It's a Year 7 writing assessment and it is free for any secondary in England & Wales.
You'll get to try 2 new features - AI judging & AI audio feedback.
Read more here. https://buff.ly/41goQl6
It's a Year 7 writing assessment and it is free for any secondary in England & Wales.
You'll get to try 2 new features - AI judging & AI audio feedback.
Read more here. https://buff.ly/41goQl6
February 14, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Our new AI assessment project starts at the end of Feb and it is already proving very popular!
It's a Year 7 writing assessment and it is free for any secondary in England & Wales.
You'll get to try 2 new features - AI judging & AI audio feedback.
Read more here. https://buff.ly/41goQl6
It's a Year 7 writing assessment and it is free for any secondary in England & Wales.
You'll get to try 2 new features - AI judging & AI audio feedback.
Read more here. https://buff.ly/41goQl6
Comparative judgement has helped us find the nation's favourite Beatles song!
The winner was decided yesterday, and despite the stiff competition from Hey Jude, Eleanor Rigby and Let It Be, the winner was indeed decided as...
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
Yesterday
Top 10 here:
The winner was decided yesterday, and despite the stiff competition from Hey Jude, Eleanor Rigby and Let It Be, the winner was indeed decided as...
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
Yesterday
Top 10 here:
February 8, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Comparative judgement has helped us find the nation's favourite Beatles song!
The winner was decided yesterday, and despite the stiff competition from Hey Jude, Eleanor Rigby and Let It Be, the winner was indeed decided as...
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
Yesterday
Top 10 here:
The winner was decided yesterday, and despite the stiff competition from Hey Jude, Eleanor Rigby and Let It Be, the winner was indeed decided as...
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
Yesterday
Top 10 here:
Last couple of days to take part in our comparative judgement task to find the nation's favourite Beatles song!
Follow the link to sign up:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then start judging by clicking the Left/Right buttons to choose!
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
Follow the link to sign up:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then start judging by clicking the Left/Right buttons to choose!
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
February 5, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Last couple of days to take part in our comparative judgement task to find the nation's favourite Beatles song!
Follow the link to sign up:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then start judging by clicking the Left/Right buttons to choose!
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
Follow the link to sign up:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then start judging by clicking the Left/Right buttons to choose!
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
Reposted by Neil Defty
We have a new Year 7 AI assessment project any secondary school in England can take part in for free. Deadline 28 Feb.
Details here. https://buff.ly/3Q54pkx
Intro webinar here. https://buff.ly/3Q2Z4Kw
Theory behind it here. https://buff.ly/3WJ643f
Details here. https://buff.ly/3Q54pkx
Intro webinar here. https://buff.ly/3Q2Z4Kw
Theory behind it here. https://buff.ly/3WJ643f
CJ Lightning: Free AI Enhanced Project for Secondary Schools
Our Free Year 7 Writing Assessment with AI Integration provides schools following the English curriculum with a powerful combination of artificial intelligence and human judgment to evaluate student…
buff.ly
February 1, 2025 at 9:15 AM
We have a new Year 7 AI assessment project any secondary school in England can take part in for free. Deadline 28 Feb.
Details here. https://buff.ly/3Q54pkx
Intro webinar here. https://buff.ly/3Q2Z4Kw
Theory behind it here. https://buff.ly/3WJ643f
Details here. https://buff.ly/3Q54pkx
Intro webinar here. https://buff.ly/3Q2Z4Kw
Theory behind it here. https://buff.ly/3WJ643f
No More Marking transforming the world?
Or at least, the world of assessment?
Possibly, as long as we recognise that we still need the “human in the loop”...
Or at least, the world of assessment?
Possibly, as long as we recognise that we still need the “human in the loop”...
We have a new Year 7 AI assessment project any secondary school in England can take part in for free. Deadline 28 Feb.
Details here. https://buff.ly/3Q54pkx
Intro webinar here. https://buff.ly/3Q2Z4Kw
Theory behind it here. https://buff.ly/3WJ643f
Details here. https://buff.ly/3Q54pkx
Intro webinar here. https://buff.ly/3Q2Z4Kw
Theory behind it here. https://buff.ly/3WJ643f
CJ Lightning: Free AI Enhanced Project for Secondary Schools
Our Free Year 7 Writing Assessment with AI Integration provides schools following the English curriculum with a powerful combination of artificial intelligence and human judgment to evaluate student…
buff.ly
February 1, 2025 at 1:32 PM
No More Marking transforming the world?
Or at least, the world of assessment?
Possibly, as long as we recognise that we still need the “human in the loop”...
Or at least, the world of assessment?
Possibly, as long as we recognise that we still need the “human in the loop”...
45 of the greatest Beatles 45s - but which is the best?
Let's use comparative judgement!
Open your laptop (or tablet or sideways phone).
Follow link to sign up:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then click Left/Right to choose your favourite!
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
Let's use comparative judgement!
Open your laptop (or tablet or sideways phone).
Follow link to sign up:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then click Left/Right to choose your favourite!
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
February 1, 2025 at 1:28 PM
45 of the greatest Beatles 45s - but which is the best?
Let's use comparative judgement!
Open your laptop (or tablet or sideways phone).
Follow link to sign up:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then click Left/Right to choose your favourite!
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
Let's use comparative judgement!
Open your laptop (or tablet or sideways phone).
Follow link to sign up:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then click Left/Right to choose your favourite!
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
The comparative judgement way to find the nation's favourite Beatles song!
It's easy...
All you need is...
a laptop/tablet/sideways phone.
Follow link:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then use the Left/Right buttons to choose your favourite!
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
It's easy...
All you need is...
a laptop/tablet/sideways phone.
Follow link:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then use the Left/Right buttons to choose your favourite!
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
January 29, 2025 at 10:22 AM
The comparative judgement way to find the nation's favourite Beatles song!
It's easy...
All you need is...
a laptop/tablet/sideways phone.
Follow link:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then use the Left/Right buttons to choose your favourite!
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
It's easy...
All you need is...
a laptop/tablet/sideways phone.
Follow link:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then use the Left/Right buttons to choose your favourite!
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
A free webinar demonstrating our amazing new AI feedback feature will be ai-ring at 4pm today!
(My computer wrote that.)
(My computer wrote that.)
We have 3 free webinars coming up soon.
Monday 20 January, 4pm - Using our new AI feedback feature
Monday 3 February, 4pm - Intro to Comparative Judgement
Monday 10 March, 4pm, Intro to Comparative Judgement
Sign up for them all here.
https://buff.ly/3YzOgav
Monday 20 January, 4pm - Using our new AI feedback feature
Monday 3 February, 4pm - Intro to Comparative Judgement
Monday 10 March, 4pm, Intro to Comparative Judgement
Sign up for them all here.
https://buff.ly/3YzOgav
January 20, 2025 at 12:32 PM
A free webinar demonstrating our amazing new AI feedback feature will be ai-ring at 4pm today!
(My computer wrote that.)
(My computer wrote that.)
Fascinating article on AI!
(It's quite good, but for now, we’ll just have to keep on judging.)
(It's quite good, but for now, we’ll just have to keep on judging.)
Humans are really good at making Comparative Judgements like the one in the image.
What about AI? Is it as good?
We've found 2 big biases.
Position bias: the AI prefers the 1st response
Inducement bias: if a student writes "this is the better piece", the AI falls for it!
https://buff.ly/40usszt
What about AI? Is it as good?
We've found 2 big biases.
Position bias: the AI prefers the 1st response
Inducement bias: if a student writes "this is the better piece", the AI falls for it!
https://buff.ly/40usszt
January 14, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Fascinating article on AI!
(It's quite good, but for now, we’ll just have to keep on judging.)
(It's quite good, but for now, we’ll just have to keep on judging.)
Reposted by Neil Defty
Comparative Judgement is a proven way of assessing writing reliably without a rubric.
If you're thinking "how is that possible" then join our webinar on 3 February at 4pm, take part in some demo judging of real Y5 & Y7 writing, and find out!
https://buff.ly/3YzOgav
If you're thinking "how is that possible" then join our webinar on 3 February at 4pm, take part in some demo judging of real Y5 & Y7 writing, and find out!
https://buff.ly/3YzOgav
January 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Comparative Judgement is a proven way of assessing writing reliably without a rubric.
If you're thinking "how is that possible" then join our webinar on 3 February at 4pm, take part in some demo judging of real Y5 & Y7 writing, and find out!
https://buff.ly/3YzOgav
If you're thinking "how is that possible" then join our webinar on 3 February at 4pm, take part in some demo judging of real Y5 & Y7 writing, and find out!
https://buff.ly/3YzOgav
The power and simplicity of comparative judgement has given us The Nation's Favourite Selection Chocolate, thanks to over 8,000 judgements from over 150 judges!
Despite the stiff competition from a squad of Heroes chocolates, the winner is....
The Maltesers Teaser!
Top 10 here:
Despite the stiff competition from a squad of Heroes chocolates, the winner is....
The Maltesers Teaser!
Top 10 here:
December 19, 2024 at 12:15 PM
The power and simplicity of comparative judgement has given us The Nation's Favourite Selection Chocolate, thanks to over 8,000 judgements from over 150 judges!
Despite the stiff competition from a squad of Heroes chocolates, the winner is....
The Maltesers Teaser!
Top 10 here:
Despite the stiff competition from a squad of Heroes chocolates, the winner is....
The Maltesers Teaser!
Top 10 here:
Tricky decisions!
To help us find The Nation's Favourite Selection Chocolate (if you haven't already), follow the link to sign up, then judge by clicking the purple Left/Right button to choose your favourite:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
To help us find The Nation's Favourite Selection Chocolate (if you haven't already), follow the link to sign up, then judge by clicking the purple Left/Right button to choose your favourite:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
December 18, 2024 at 7:52 AM
Tricky decisions!
To help us find The Nation's Favourite Selection Chocolate (if you haven't already), follow the link to sign up, then judge by clicking the purple Left/Right button to choose your favourite:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
To help us find The Nation's Favourite Selection Chocolate (if you haven't already), follow the link to sign up, then judge by clicking the purple Left/Right button to choose your favourite:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
@nomoremarking.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social
The comparative judgement way to help find The Nation's Favourite Selection Chocolate!
Open your laptop/tablet and follow the link to sign up:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then start judging by clicking the purple Left or Right button to choose your favourite...
@daisychristo.bsky.social
Open your laptop/tablet and follow the link to sign up:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then start judging by clicking the purple Left or Right button to choose your favourite...
@daisychristo.bsky.social
au.nomoremarking.com
December 16, 2024 at 12:24 PM
The comparative judgement way to help find The Nation's Favourite Selection Chocolate!
Open your laptop/tablet and follow the link to sign up:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then start judging by clicking the purple Left or Right button to choose your favourite...
@daisychristo.bsky.social
Open your laptop/tablet and follow the link to sign up:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then start judging by clicking the purple Left or Right button to choose your favourite...
@daisychristo.bsky.social