What's required?

To be a successful examiner you'll need not only an understanding of the subject you'll be marking but other qualifications and skills - not all of which will be set out on each awarding body's examiner requirements list.

Qualifications and experience

Each awarding body insists their examiners have appropriate experience and appropriate academic qualifications in the marking subject. But there are other skills you'll need too. Examiners also need time management and communication skills, plus an ability to keep going.

Time management

Usually you'll be given just three weeks to complete the marking. Dividing the number of marking days by the number of papers to mark will give you an estimate of the number of scripts needed to be marked each day - usually between 15 and 20.

This means you'll need to set aside two to three hours each weekday evening for marking and up to six hours over a weekend to meet your deadline.

Stamina

Marking exam papers requires stamina. You'll find that after the first week of marking your energy levels will drop and it will get harder to keep on marking so you'll need to plan 'rest sessions' into your marking timetable.

Rest five minutes in every hour to ensure your eyes do not become overstrained by your work. And if you can, schedule in at least one day during the entire marking period for not looking at any scripts at all.

Give and take

Although examining is a solitary occupation that doesn't mean you'll stop communicating over the marking period. Updating your Team Leader on progress and problems is part of the role of an examiner.

During your first two or three marking days your Team Leader will want you to submit a sample of your marking. They'll use these to check you are interpreting the mark scheme accurately. They will then let you know how you've done.

You'll probably be picked up on a few points - don't be disheartened. Being able to receive constructive criticism is an essential skill for all examiners. Use the feedback wisely and your marking accuracy will improve as well as your consistency.

Organise your workspace

You must not mark in public places. This means you'll have to mark in private, either at school in restricted area or at home on the dining room table.

Removing half-marked scripts for meal times means that marking on the dining room table is not ideal. Taking over a home office or spare room for the duration is a better alternative; this way you'll be able to mark undisturbed.

And the computer

Your awarding body will advise you on the required minimum hardware and software specifications.