BD Qualifier tests - why are they marked more severely?

[PaddyMonty]

Just wondered. OH had dressage at keysoe yesterday. Same judge for both tests so direct comparison. All but one rider dropped an average 5% or more between first and second tests.
Why?
Surely the fact that the qualifier is generally a more difficult test should be sufficient to sort the wheat from the chaff.

 

[mat]

Maybe it was because it was a more difficult test that all the riders got less %?

 

[PaddyMonty]

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe it was because it was a more difficult test that all the riders got less %?

[/ QUOTE ]

Unlikely. I cant believe all the riders (O and R) would perform that much worse between M61 and M69.
I can normally guess wifes score with a percent or so. Her second test was considerably better than her first but still dropped % and I was 4% off the mark.
Not being biased here as no axe to grind. Wife came second in M61 and won M69. Qualified for regionals months ago so % didn't really matter.

I'm just curious what the thinking is behind the change of marking severity.

 

[CSYMolly]

I had it the other way round (lucky for me) the other weekend. Got 7% different from first to second test but luckily I won the qualifier class. Is truly bizarre sometimes how the marks can differ.