Examiners and Moderators

Examiners and Moderators fulfil an important role in the assessment process.

Ideally OCR likes Examiners and Moderators to have 2-3 years of recent, relevant teaching experience. However, if potential Examiners have relevant subject specific knowledge we may still consider you for an Examiner or Moderator position.

As an Examiner or Moderator with OCR, you can:

  • Increase your professional development.
  • Gain a valuable insight into the examination system.
  • Boost your income.
  • Make a valuable contribution to assessment.

To become an Examiner or Moderator you will need:

  • A degree level qualification or equivalent.
  • Appropriate subject knowledge.
  • Good communication skills.
  • IT literacy.

Find out more about Examiners and Moderators in the person and role specification.

If you have any questions, please view the Examiners and Moderators FAQs or contact examiner.recruitment@ocr.org.uk.

If you wish to apply to become an Examiner or Moderator, please complete the application form.

Download additional information for Examiners and Moderators. (PDF, 38 Kb)

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Person specification

Knowledge and qualifications

Essential

  • Be educated to degree level or equivalent.
  • Have current knowledge of the UK examination system.
  • Have good written and verbal communication skills.
  • Be IT literate.
  • Have appropriate subject knowledge.

Desirable

  • Have a recognised teaching or training qualification or equivalent.
  • Have an understanding of the qualification type and/or assessment methods.

Experience

Essential

  • Have relevant experience in the subject area.

Desirable

  • Have a proven track record of teaching or training within the subject area concerned.
  • Have current experience of assessing.

Personal qualities

Essential

  • Be able to collaborate with others.
  • Be able to give and receive constructive criticism.
  • Be able to identify and solve problems.
  • Be able to work to fixed time scales.
  • Be able to follow procedures accurately and reliably.
  • Be able to present a professional approach.

Desirable

  • Be able to reflect on and evaluate own work.
  • Be able to cope with and adapt to change.

Other expressed needs

Essential

  • Have a flexible approach to prioritising workloads.
  • Have a willingness and ability to travel.

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Role specification

Marking of the examination¹

  • Undertake the standardisation process as specified in the relevant OCR documents.
  • Complete the standardisation process.
  • Mark candidates' work according to the agreed mark scheme.
  • Complete all work to schedule.
  • Submit an Assistant Examiner Report as instructed.
  • Re-mark candidates' scripts as required by OCR.

and/or

Moderation/Visiting Moderation¹

  • Undertake moderation/visiting moderation.
  • Liaise with and provide feedback to centres.
  • Moderate candidates' evidence against the qualification requirements.
  • Complete all work to schedule.
  • Complete centre reports.
  • Re-moderate candidates' coursework as required by OCR.

Marking Review

  • Attend the Marking Review meeting if required.

Professional development

  • Undertake examiner/moderator training as required.
  • Attend relevant professional development events as required by OCR.

*Relevant OCR handbooks, procedures and instructions will be supplied as required.

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Examiners and Moderators FAQs

A. It involves marking candidates' examination scripts against a mark scheme.

You will either examine on paper or examine on-screen using the scoris® marking system.

A. Moderating involves looking at samples of candidates' coursework to ensure accuracy and consistency of a centre's marking. Moderation can be postal, where samples of coursework are sent to the moderator; or visiting, where the moderator makes a visit to the centre.

A. This depends on the qualification that you mark. For GCSE, GCE A Level, GNVQ, Entry Level, STEP and AEA, examining and moderating is seasonal and takes place in January, March and June.

For all other qualifications, examining and moderating is 'on demand' throughout the year.

A. A teaching and/or training qualification or equivalent is desirable but not essential to become an Examiner or Moderator.

A. The application process takes approximately six weeks from receipt of your application. If you have not heard back from OCR within three months, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

A. Yes, you will have to fill in an application. On the OCR application form you will be able to let us know about any other assessment experience that you have.

A. Yes, you can specify any units or topics that you are interested in on the application form.

A. Yes, you can find out more details in the Training section.

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