How does EXP scale?

ThumbtackJake

So I start a new Warden and level to 27 or so just from Vvardenfel. I then take my Sorc who is level 26 and start Vvardenfel with him. Now mind you I have not 100% the continent yet, but from doing a WB or two, unlocking all the wayshrines, a couple delves, and completing the main story (Champion of Vivec), I've only gained 1.5 levels. I figure at this rate, if I finish everything I MIGHT hit 28 to 29.

Can someone explain to me how quest EXP works? I get that you need more exp to level as you level up, but that is a pretty huge drop off. I figured since everything is scaled now, the quest exp received would give you the same % of a level regardless of what level you were, which is obviously not the case.

VaranisArano

You level much faster in the early levels because ZOS keeps adjusting the rate of exp gain so you level faster in the early levels, slower in the late levels.

There's a chart here that shows the breakdown of EXP per level: http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Online:Leveling
So you can see that the amount of exp to level from 26 to 27 (44k exp) is equal to the amount of exp it takes to get from level 1 to level 13.

However, the amount of exp the average quest grants also increases gradually as you level up, but its largely based on quest difficulty and your level. (You'll also get a larger amount of exp from finishing all the quests in an area, such as completing Balmora or Gnisis.)

When I leveled by questing, I did so pre-One Tamriel. I hit level 50 in Coldharbor after completing all five of my alliance zones. So when it comes to leveling by questing, its designed to take you multiple zones to level up to 50.