What is the main purpose of following scoring criteria for open-ended questions?

The main purpose of following scoring criteria for open-ended questions is to maintain fairness in assessing student responses. Scoring criteria provide a structured approach to evaluate answers consistently and objectively. This helps ensure that all students are held to the same standards, reducing potential biases and allowing for accurate comparisons of student performance. By having clear criteria, educators can better understand the expectations for responses and provide more meaningful feedback, fostering a fair testing environment where all students have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.

While increasing the number of questions on a test, acknowledging only high scores, or reducing teachers' workloads might seem beneficial in specific contexts, they do not directly address the fundamental need for fairness and consistency in assessment that scoring criteria are designed to achieve.