Anyone here an Edexcel marker?

[DumbledoresGirl]

I applied in January to mark KS2 SATs and did not hear from them until suddenly yesterday I had 2 emails from them, one acknowledging my application, and one saying I had passed the initial application process and my references were being sought. It then said, "If successful your name will be added to our list of available Assessment Associates (AAs) and you will be issued with a unique AA number. Successful appointment as an Assessment Associate will then make you eligible for consideration for the offer of a contract to mark at the next opportunity."

I was just wondering how likely it was I would get a chance to mark this year's SATs as I remember looking at applying once before and thought the training days were sometime in February, or thereabouts. TBH, until I heard from them yesterday, I assumed I had missed the boat for this year.

Anyone with any experience?

DG, my mum marked for EDEx for years, until last year. Apparently they are pretty desperate for markers so I'm absolutely sure you haven't missed the boat.

The fact that you've only just heard is - ahem - more an indication of the efficiency of how things are done than any other factor! I think they struggle to get markers because the pay per script is so abominable.

Also the related admin that's expected is onerous and takes the wee wee, according to my mum. Tis why she no longer marks SATS I think.....

erm..good luck, anyway!

Gee thanks for that sunnysideup!

And there was I, out of the workplace for 11 years, just beginning to feel the tiniest smidgen of pride in myself for not being outright rejected by an examining board!

So, ummm, anything good to say about it? I thought it would be easy money (though I realise not a huge sum) for doing something I can do with my eyes shut.

I did coursework moderation for AQA.....never again...workload unbelievable.

Would not do Edexcell, as they did a whole weeks training in the Whitsun holiday! No wonder they can't find anyone to mark!!

This just gets worse and worse! Though I can't imagine I would be asked to do training in the Whitsun holiday as the KS2 SATs would be being marked by then.

Are these two negative experiences in any way linked to trying to mark at the same time as holding down a teaching job I wonder? Because I am a SAHM and do have more time on my hands than someone working.

No probably not for SATS . Got a bit confused there!

Yes, it is entirely related to being a full time teacher as well.

BUT...sorry to say this, I find marking exam papers excrutiatingly boring, beyond any boredom I have ever known.

However you may LOVE it!

A friend of mine mards KS3 Sats and says that it is quite hard work for the cash you get. The mark schemes (this is for science btw) are often quite erratic, with some questions being very prescriptive in the exact working that is 'correct' and others very 'wooly' with lots of lea way.

He says that you have to set aside lots of time to 'get into the swing' of marking to get up to a reasonable speed to make the pay per hour worthwhile

Well, I would be doing it entirely for the money and no other reason!

MB, I did ask to be considered as a Maths marker in the first place as I know from experience of marking past SATs papers as a teacher that within 5 minutes I know every answer off by heart, and it is much easier to mark the working out etc than say English where, as I recall, you had to count up how many times they used a capital letter, comma, etc to ascertain their level. But I suppose everyone wants to mark Maths for that reason so I also said I would be willing to mark science. I don't think I was stupid enough to express an interest in marking the English, but it was some weeks ago so maybe I did!

the friend is a maths/science teacher but has never managed to wangle the maths gig, possibly because of the reason you give for wanting to do it!

It doesn't pay well per script, but if you can get up to speed, the pay seems better.

He just gets cross when the markscheme is 'wooly' as it slows you down!

sorry to break the bad news then bugger of DG!

Have wracked brains to think of something good to say about it but can't remember my mum having anything good to say, sorry! Though of course it may well serve it's purpose if it helps you get recent stuff on the cv after being out of the workplace.

However I know my mum would say that the last thing this is, is 'easy' money. Though as others have said if you get loads marked and take on extras it all helps the money roll in. Good luck

oops, i meant 'off' in the first sentence obviously.

my mum would be mortified wouldn't she and me the daughter of an english teacher....

That's OK sunnysideup. For a moment I read your post as telling me to bugger off which I thought was a bit hard!!

Yes, I would say my main reason for doing this work (if I get accepted) is a) the money - it might not be much but I thought I read somewhere it was in the region of £1000 - please disabuse me now if it is a lot less than that - and believe me, any money coming into our house right now would be welcome

and b) as you said, to give me some recent relevant experience before looking at going back to the chalk-face, sorry interactive white board face (see? I am up to date!)

I can't tell you how boosted I feel just to have not had my application dismissed out of hand, even if it is because Edexcell are desperate for anyone to be a marker!

mate said he pulled in over a thousand, but that it took quite a while.

Now he is free and single and has a life in the evenings, and if you are going to be in gthe house anyway...... the pay is better IYSWIM

I have 2 hours every morning and I guess another 2 hours at night - that is minimum per day.