Is being an AQA examiner worth it?

[WhimsicalLayer]

Just wondering if there are any fellow AQA examiners here? I’ve been advised it is worth doing this as a form of CPL. However, I do have some reservations/questions.

1. Is it worth it?
2. How many papers need to be marked?
3. How long does the examiner have?
4. Is it quite overwhelming?
5. Is there adequate training given?

Bit late for this year and in general we are not supposed to discuss our exam board marking on social media
however i believe the following would be acceptable as not discussing specific subjects or papers
yes,
varies depending on subject and new examiners typically get about 25% less
timescales are fairly tight, they need to be, usually under 3 weeks
can be periodically, you need to be organised, do some every day, even if only a little and keep to your interim deadlines
yes lots of training and your team leader will be there to help you

I mark for Edexcel and every year say I’ll never do it again…and here I am, awaiting my moderation day! It is hard work, takes over your life for a few weeks and the money on a per hour basis isn’t great. However, it has made a difference to my teaching and I spend the money on a short break in October half term.

I marked last year for the first time and it was hard work but I’m doing it again this year. I learnt lots about the paper I marked and it was very interesting to moderate and to participate in the whole process. Not all papers have the same pay, for the one I did it was actually rewarding to receive that extra money at the end of the summer. In my own experience and opinion yes, it is worth it.

Haven’t done them myself but a number of friends who are retired teachers have done them - it is very tedious for little pay but then it is an extra income.
The amount of papers you mark can vary depending on subject but there is a tight timescale to mark them in - 3-4 weeks max.
In regards to overwhelming - I wouldn’t recommend it if you are a full time teacher, you’d have your full workload as a teacher to contend with plus also marking all these papers - if you are part time then it would be different and you can manage your time. I’m aware that training is provided however this would be dependent on exam board.

I'm a full time teacher who examines two specs. It's doable but you have to be really disciplined about it.

I teach full time, have been an examiner for years, and am awaiting my standardising meeting. It's hard work and monopolises your life for a few weeks. I couldn't manage without Y11 / Y13 gained time meaning I can do all school work actually at school for those weeks.

It's important to work out a detailed schedule and stick to it to ensure you finish on time, no matter how little you feel like marking on any given day. It's lovely to get a lump sum when you finish, although if you work out the hourly rate it's not wonderful.

I started marking yesterday. I'd always planned today off. However glorious the weather tomorrow, and it will be, I will be marking for at least 6 hours.

Mrs Hamlet, I miss the days of paper scripts when you could mark in the garden if the weather was good 😎

With a good pair of sunglasses and a well positioned parasol, it's doable. Just.

I you are full time and teach a fair amount of exam years, your timetable should be reduced by the time of marking so your workload should be much less.