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Exam marking
Exam marking means assessing exam answers or other work against an awarding organisation’s instructions; some marking is done online from home. The opportunities and requirements vary, and the main guidance here does not establish that England-based arrangements apply in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- Exam markers check answers using rules from an exam board.
- Some marking can be done online from home.
- You need strong subject knowledge and careful, steady work.
- The work has deadlines, training and quality checks.
- Check the role, pay and contract before you accept.
Who it suits
A good fit for people with strong subject knowledge who can follow a mark scheme consistently, meet deadlines and concentrate on repetitive work. Some roles are aimed at experienced teachers: Pearson’s A level Economics examiner page asks for relevant teaching experience, a degree or equivalent and qualified-teacher status <a href="https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/news-policy/qualifications/a-levels/business-and-economics/final-assessment-an-update-on-A-level-economics-and-business1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pearson</a>.
Exam boards need trained markers to assess answers consistently against their marking instructions. They may recruit people with relevant subject knowledge and experience to help mark exam papers or other assessments.
Step by step
- Choose a subject and type of assessment. List the subjects and qualifications you know well enough to assess. Check whether each opportunity is for exam scripts, coursework or another kind of assessment. About 30 minutes.
- Check whether the role accepts applicants where you live. Look at the current recruitment information from the relevant awarding organisation. Government guidance applies to England and does not establish rules for Northern Ireland or Ireland, so ask the organisation directly about local availability and procedures Department for Education. About 30-60 minutes.
- Check the subject and experience requirements. Read the eligibility details before starting an application. For example, Pearson's supplied A level Economics opportunity asks for relevant teaching experience, a degree or equivalent and qualified-teacher status Pearson. About 30 minutes.
- Try AQA's examiner self-assessment if it suits you. Check that AQA offers a subject and role you are interested in. If it does, complete its self-assessment and application to join the examiner community AQA. About 30-60 minutes.
- Ask Pearson about its supplied opportunity. For the A level Economics opportunity, email [email protected] to ask about the role. Check the current application process, as no detailed application link is given Pearson. About 15-30 minutes.
- Read the contract before accepting. Check what assessment and items you will mark, the payment, deadlines and training arrangements. Pearson says its contract specifies the items to mark and the amount payable Pearson. About 30-60 minutes.
- Complete training and follow the marking instructions. Take part in the required training and standardisation. Use the mark scheme and procedures; assessors should understand how to mark and marking should be accurate and consistent Department for Education. About Allow the time set by the organisation.
- Set up your workspace and marking schedule. Choose a quiet, reliable place to work and plan sessions around the agreed deadlines. Keep records of your work and payments so you can compare them with your contract. About 30-60 minutes.
- Check how to report the income where you live. Find out whether your work arrangement is employment or self-employment and what tax reporting applies in your country. If you are unsure, ask the relevant tax authority or a qualified adviser. About 30-60 minutes.
Your first 15 minutes
Choose one subject and qualification, then check the current examiner pages of the relevant awarding organisations and email them to confirm whether they recruit applicants in your area.
The money
You usually do not set the marking rate yourself: the awarding organisation offers a fee for the work. Before accepting, compare the payment and expected time, check whether training is paid, and confirm the allocation and deadlines in writing. AQA gives an example of £500–£1,000 depending on paper type and volume, without stating a pay period; Pearson gives an average payment of £500–£800 and says fees vary by unit, so these are not guaranteed earnings <a href="https://www.aqa.org.uk/join-us/become-an-examiner" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AQA</a> <a href="https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/news-policy/qualifications/a-levels/business-and-economics/final-assessment-an-update-on-A-level-economics-and-business1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pearson</a>.
Example only: if a marking contract paid £200 for one week and you spent £10 on work-related costs, the amount left before tax would be £200 − £10 = £190. If a separate contract paid €200 and costs were €10, the amount left before tax would be €200 − €10 = €190. These figures are made-up examples, not typical rates.
The rules
Exam marking is legitimate work. Roles, contracts and ways to apply depend on the awarding organisation. The government guidance applies to England only. Check directly with the organisation about Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Role availability and checks. The government guidance applies to England and does not set out arrangements for Northern Ireland. Check with the relevant awarding organisation. AQA says it makes appropriate checks for roles involving contact with children or adults at risk. Department for Education AQA.
- Tax if self-employed. If your income is trading income, the first £1,000 a year is covered by the trading allowance. The £1,000 is your gross income before expenses. If your income is above that, tell HMRC. If you need to register for Self Assessment, the deadline is 5 October after the relevant tax year ends. GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles GOV.UK.
- Contract and insurance. Check whether the organisation will employ you or engage you as a contractor. Read the terms before you accept. Consider whether insurance is right for your circumstances. Markers are not said to need insurance.
- Data and scripts. Follow the awarding organisation's instructions for handling scripts and candidate information. Keep them secure. Organisations can use the ICO's self-assessment tool to check whether they need to pay a data protection fee. There is no general rule for every sole trader. ICO.
- Age and consumer sales. No general minimum age is specified for exam markers. Check the role's current conditions with the awarding organisation. This is usually contracted assessment work, not selling goods to consumers. Check your contract for the terms that apply.
Ireland
- Role availability. The exam-marking guidance does not set out recruitment or marking requirements for the Republic of Ireland. Check with the awarding organisation about roles, eligibility, checks and procedures.
- Tax reporting. If you work under PAYE, register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those limits, declare the income on Form 12 through myAccount. Revenue.
- Self-employment tax. If you are self-employed, you pay income tax, PRSI (Class S) and USC through self-assessment. Preliminary tax is due by 31 October. If you're unsure which arrangement applies to you, check Revenue guidance or ask an adviser. Citizens Information.
- Contract, data and insurance. Read your contract and follow the awarding organisation's instructions for handling scripts and candidate information. Consider whether insurance is right for your circumstances. Insurance is not said to be required. Check with the awarding organisation about any role-specific checks or conditions.
- Age and consumer sales. No general minimum age is specified for markers in Ireland. Check with the awarding organisation. This is usually contracted assessment work, not a consumer sale. Check your contract for the terms that apply.
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Assuming example payment figures are guaranteed or refer to a particular pay period.
- Applying before checking the subject, qualification and experience requirements.
- Accepting a contract without checking allocation, deadlines, payment and training terms.
- Assuming England's guidance also sets the rules in Northern Ireland or Ireland.
- Taking on a large allocation without checking how much time careful marking will require.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.