WINDOWS MARKING GUIDE

How to annotate exam PDFs on Windows

Move beyond a generic PDF editor with a workflow designed for ticks, marks, totals, mark schemes and whole-class returns.

Generic PDF annotation works—up to a point

A standard PDF editor can draw, highlight and type comments. For one paper, that may be enough. Across thirty scripts, the missing pieces become expensive: repeated student naming, manual totals, switching to the mark scheme, renaming files, copying grades and sending each paper separately.

A teacher-focused setup

1. Import one PDF or a combined class scan.
2. Match papers to the class list.
3. Keep tick, cross, pen, highlight and text tools within one click.
4. Save recurring feedback as reusable comments.
5. Record marks beside annotations and calculate the total automatically.
6. Review the completed script before export or return.

Mouse, touchscreen or pen?

A mouse is efficient for stamps, marks and saved comments. A touchscreen or stylus feels more natural for diagrams and freehand feedback. A good Windows marking application supports both, with zoom and pan that do not accidentally create marks.

Saving and recovery are essential

Look for automatic saving, a clear saved status and recovery after a crash or forced Windows update. Exported PDFs should contain the annotations permanently, and the working copy should remain editable until you deliberately finalise it.

Protecting student work

Use a managed Windows account, device encryption and your school's approved storage. Understand which parts stay on the device and which optional features use cloud services. Confirm the workflow with your data-protection lead before using real student data.

Related guides

• Mark handwritten exam papers digitally
• Bulk mark scanned student papers
• Security and data protection