This article explores the use of "representativeness" as a guide to examining at English A-level through an analysis of two training days on two different modules. "Representativeness" is a cognitive heuristic which guides decision-making essentially by asking 'how much does this example look as if it belongs to this class of things?' A number of "representative" characteristics emerged during the training meetings including length, 'adult' writing and quality of written communication. The relation between "representativeness" and the mark scheme is also explored.