Guidelines for grading examination papers identify the correct marking scheme as?

• A. Mark scheme
• B. Grading rubric
• C. Assessment criteria
• D. Answer key

Answer: (A)

In marking guidelines, the document that specifies how marks are awarded for each response, including what counts as a correct answer and how marks are allocated or penalties applied, is called the mark scheme. This is why it matches guidelines for grading examination papers—it's the formal plan that tells examiners how to credit different responses and what to accept or credit partially, ensuring consistency across markers.

The other terms are related but serve different purposes. A grading rubric describes performance levels and descriptors for quality, useful in more subjective tasks. Assessment criteria state the standards or competencies students are expected to meet. An answer key lists correct answers for objective items but doesn’t spell out scoring rules or handling of partial credit.