Marking for Edexcel

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Do any MNetters mark for Edexcel? Any info about marking for Edexcel would be appreciated. I am trying to broaden my experience a bit as I already mark for another board.
Please don't be afraid to give me the truth I am looking at English GCSE and Functional skills in particular.
Have not marked on-screen yet so am a bit hesitant

I used to mark KS3 for Edexcel and found them much less 'people friendly' than AQA.I was a senior examiner for AQA GCSE English for many years and am giving up this year as onscreen marking is now universal and I dont think I could cope with hours in front of a screen.Friends recommend the International Baccalaureate as having sound training and accessible marking methods.I have also heard good things about Cambridge Overseas papers.In all cases I only know about English.

Edexcel are the most incompetent company I have ever worked for. I left primarily because of the unpleasantness of the admin staff (who fancy themselves 'managers' - but couldn't manage the proverbial piss-up in a brewery) but also due to the fact that the amounts I was paid bore almost no relationship to the work I had done. Eventually, I gave up trying to get the right amount on the right date - as long as approximately the right amount came in over the year, I just lived with it (random unsolicited payments would appear in my bank account, as well as fees I had invoiced failing to appear.)

There is a reason why every year without fail, whenever there is a problem with exam papers lost/wrong etc, Edexcel's name always features.

AQA, I agree, are professional and well-mannered. As are all the other exam boards I've worked for.

Don't let me put you off, though...

I marked functional skills for them on screen. Instructions were a bit confusing to start off with but figured it out. Paid generously, I thought and on time. Would recommend them.

My mum and dad do A Level marking for both Edexcel and AQA I think, although may be only one of them. Wouldn't say they enjoy it but don't have any problems. I do accountancy board exam marking which is online and although I thought it would be tricky found it fine. WAs glad I had a monitor to attach to my laptop though.

My mum and dad are a bit at how much I get paid per paper as it's quite a bit more than they get. Mine are longer papers but I still get a better deal.

Thankyou everybody for your very helpful (and honest) replies.
I want to mark Functional Skills English to fit in around my other GCSE marking for WJEC.
However, Edexcel's application form will only allow me to mark GCSE and will not allow me to mark Functional Skills because I have no previous experience of marking it! Such is life.
To cut a long story short, I have applied to AQA and WJEC instead.
pranma I agree with what you say about on-screen marking but I do feel I need to bite the bullet now and start to mark on-screen as I am not ready to hang up my red pen just yet!
Always interesting to hear from other "Assessment Associates" as Edexcel calls us!

I mark for EDI - know they do Functional Skills though not if they're recruiting. They pay well and on time and are always pleasant.

Have discovered my mum and dad mark for OCR. They are both happy with it :)

I mark KS2 tests (SATs) which they've administered the last few years. This year's the only year I've really had bother with them at all and that was some genius deciding to do maintenance on the online marker system server without any warning notices up, at 4.30pm on an evening the week before the marking deadline (ie when half the world was trying to input their marks). Always paid decently, the training's been well-organised and they've actually listened to feedback on it and changed it - think my team leader last year was one of the higher up bods for Functional Skills marking with them as well and he was a really nice helpful guy to work under.

Mind you, I also marked the year of the ETS much publicised debacle so the comparison point was set pretty low from there!

I couldn't do on-screen marking (especially for things like English spelling where you're needing to see the last overwrite the kid's made) it would drive me nuts - MIL loves it though for her marking.

How does one get to become a marker?

Mumteacher
Well, it all depends which board you are used to working with. Say you are used to preparing pupils for AQA then you simply go on their website and follow the route for Markers/examiners and fill in an online application form.
The same applies for any other Board you are used to working with.
You put in an application now and they will keep your details on file until they have a vacancy and then take up your references and send you an invitation to mark. That will include all the important dates and you then decide whether you can commit to three weeks of solid slog in time for that deadline.You then accept or decline as appropriate.
Exam times vary but most boards do June and November with subtle variations .
Good luck. Send me a private message if you need further info.

I've been marking for Edexcel for a while and now team lead for them at GCSE. They have been friendly and helpful to me, and I always get a response to my queries. All my monies for the 2011 exam series have been paid on time and in full.

The online marking does make your eyes sting, but it means not having to lug piles of scripts about for collection.

All my monies for the 2011 season have now been spent :(

emptyshell Well there is always the November session to look forward to (if that applies)

I am looking to recruit a tutor for my daughter, he claims he is an examiner for a reputable board but can't disclose which. How do I know he's telling the truth without any evidence of the above? Please advise ppl