Examiners are a very important part of the examination assessment model.

In some ways, both pupils and teachers ‘fear’ examiners – after all, they call the shots.

They decide the mark that will be awarded. And, of course, teachers can become examiners too! Here’s how and why you should consider doing it. How do I become an examiner? The application process to become an examiner is pretty much the same across all the main exam boards in the UK.

Typically, to apply to become an examiner or moderator you will need to have at least a full year’s experience of teaching the subject and level that you are applying to mark.

Most exam boards prefer this experience to be recent (in the last three years). You will also need to have appropriate academic qualifications – but these are the same as you would need anyway to have become a teacher in the first place, such as a degree in the subject and a teaching qualification, such as PGCE. You will need to provide references, one of which would normally be the headteacher/principal of your current school/college.

Other good choices of referee would be Heads of Department and members of SLT. These days, because most examining has moved online, you need a private PC or laptop and broadband access.

Even if the marking of your subject is still ‘paper-based’, the recording of marks will be online. The specific requirements of computer software/capability will be available from each exam board. Qualified teachers who are no longer in the classroom, but who have other examining experience will normally be accepted to examine too. Why should I become an examiner? Examiners do need to be a certain breed.

You need to be dedicated, determined and really organised.

The tight schedules and deadlines that you have to work to can be quite challenging – and fitting all this in around a normal teaching day and other things, such as parenthood, can be very tough. However, most teachers that start examining get into the swing of things and return year after year. You could do it for the money – but don’t get your hopes up, you are not suddenly going to be commuting into school on a private jet on the back of your exam marking! The money is good – a nice and welcome extra – but not great. You could do it to become a better teacher – and it will help you do that.

Or, at least, it will help you have a better understanding of how your students will be assessed. Now you can tell your students, with confidence, what the examiners will be wanting to see from them – because you are one yourself! Being an examiner does give a valuable insight that can only be an asset to you. Exams have always been a major part of the UK education system, but following the GCSE reforms, they are now more important than they have been for over 30 years.

Many subjects are now assessed by 100% terminal examination.

Most now have two exams – which means there is a great demand for new examiners too. So, what are you waiting for? Get your application in today.