The study shows how experience changes the way examiners assess students' essays. Using a large number of written assessments, 192 examiners were followed over a period of five years, and the contents of their assessments were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Multilevel regression analysis revealed that, with experience, examiners tended to make more positive remarks and provide more instructions. Qualitative analysis of the assessments showed that, with experience, some examiners tended to use less menu-marking and write more freely, providing instructions for the students rather than limiting themselves to evaluative text only. The assumption that it would be harder to govern examiners with more experience found no support in our study.