GradeOrbit vs Marking.ai
Two tools with published accuracy, compared for UK classrooms.
Information about Marking.ai checked 19 October 2026
In short
Both publish accuracy studies. Marking.ai says it has not yet tested reading a scanned multi-question script end to end; GradeOrbit marks whole handwritten scripts against UK mark schemes.
About Marking.ai
Marking.ai is run by Marking.ai (Pty) Ltd in South Africa. It serves the British curriculum (GCSE and A-level) and the South African one, and marks against your own mark scheme.
What one script costs
One student’s script at four lengths, from a short quiz to a long mock booklet.
Marking.ai does not publish enough to work out a price per script.
GradeOrbit
Individual plans from £5 to £25 a month, for 30 to 180 credits. 1 credit marks one student’s script, whatever its length. Schools pay £10 per teacher a month, billed annually, with unlimited marking and AI detection on every seat.
1 credit per script costs 13.9p–16.7p on a monthly plan used in full, or 20p if you go over your allowance. School seats have no per-script charge.
Marking.ai
£21, £36 or £65 a month per teacher, charged in US dollars; whole-school pricing on request. Allowances are not published.
Without published allowances we cannot work out a price per script.
Published accuracy
Studies differ in subject, exam board, sample size and who ran them, so read the figures side by side rather than as a ranking.
GradeOrbit
- GCSE Maths (Pearson Edexcel): 96% of marks within 1 mark of the senior examiner, agreement score (QWK) 0.92, across 69 marks.
- GCSE English (Eduqas): 83% of marks within 1 mark of the senior examiner, agreement score (QWK) 0.96, across 98 marks.
Measured 18 October 2026 on exam board exemplar scripts. We ran the study ourselves; the method and limits are on our accuracy page.
Marking.ai
Marking.ai publishes two studies: GCSE English Language (240 typed answers) and GCSE Maths (240 handwritten answers, one per page), each double-marked by examiners. It reports reaching the examiners’ own level of agreement rather than a single accuracy figure.
Side by side
| GradeOrbit | Marking.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Yes: Per script: 1 credit, any length | Not found: Monthly plans, allowances not published |
| Pages per script | Yes: Up to 50 on individual accounts; no limit for schools | Partly: Several pages per answer |
| Subjects | Yes: Any subject, KS3 to A-level and BTEC | Partly: GCSE and A-level, plus South African curricula |
| Handwritten scripts | Yes: Scanned or photographed whole scripts | Partly: Handwritten answers; says whole scanned scripts are not yet tested |
| Mark schemes | Yes: Ready-made GCSE mark schemes, or your own criteria | Yes: Marks against your own mark scheme |
| Published accuracy figures | Yes: Against senior examiners, GCSE Maths and GCSE English | Yes: Two studies with examiner baselines |
| AI detection | Yes: 1 credit a check on individual plans; unlimited for schools | Not found: Not mentioned on its homepage or pricing page |
| MIS sync | Yes: Wonde, on school accounts | Not found: Not mentioned on its homepage or pricing page |
| Student data | Yes: Individual accounts: work not kept, names redacted in your browser. Schools: kept under a DPA | Yes: Says data is stored in the EU, no training on student work |
| Free trial | Yes: 10 free credits for teachers; 30-day trial for schools | Yes: 20 free submissions, once |
Where Marking.ai is strong
- Publishes accuracy studies with a human-examiner baseline.
- Marks typed answers as well as handwritten ones.
- Says student data stays in the EU and is never used for training.
Where GradeOrbit is different
- GradeOrbit reads whole scanned or photographed scripts, not single answers.
- GradeOrbit is built for UK exam boards, with ready-made GCSE mark schemes.
- GradeOrbit publishes its prices in pounds, and what a credit buys.
Which should you choose?
- Marking.ai may suit you if
- You mark typed answers, or teach both British and South African curricula.
- GradeOrbit may suit you if
- You mark whole handwritten scripts against UK mark schemes and want a published price per script.
Sources
- Marking.ai homepage (checked 19 October 2026)
- Marking.ai pricing (checked 19 October 2026)
- Marking.ai accuracy (checked 19 October 2026)
Everything about Marking.ai on this page comes from its own public pages on the date shown, and may have changed since. We have not used Marking.ai’s product. Marking.ai is a trademark of its owner and is named here only to compare. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.