Key stage 2 tests: how to become a marker

English and mathematics tests

Criteria for becoming a marker for English or mathematics

Markers for the 2022 national curriculum tests are recruited by Capita, the Standards and Testing Agency’s external supplier. Capita manages the relationship with markers. Capita is working with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), which is leading on delivering KS2 marking.

There are 3 types of markers—regular, specialist and braille.

Regular markers must either be:

• an undergraduate, undertaking the final year of a recognised course in primary school teaching
• a graduate, undertaking a recognised postgraduate course in primary school teaching or a postgraduate teacher training programme in secondary school teaching, specialising in either mathematics or English
• a primary school teacher
• a secondary school teacher, specialising in either mathematics or English

Regular markers are required to use professional judgement and subject specific knowledge to apply the mark scheme.

Specialist markers must have either:

• qualified teacher status with a minimum of one full academic year’s teaching (preferably at primary school)
• marked national curriculum tests in the last 5 years

Specialist markers are required to use professional judgement and subject specific knowledge to interpret pupil responses and the mark scheme.

Braille markers must meet the specialist marker criteria above and must have a relevant qualification in Unified English Braille (UEB).

All markers will need to be able to work accurately at speed and demonstrate a positive approach to pupils’ work.

Apply to be a marker

Recruitment for the 2022 KS2 tests has now closed. This page will be updated in October 2022 with the recruitment process for 2023.

Marker training

Approved applicants will receive full training on the marking process and how to apply the mark scheme accurately. This will include online e-learning, virtual training, and ongoing support from a marking supervisor.

The virtual mark scheme training meeting will take place in May, shortly after pupils take the tests. This meeting will ensure approved applicants understand the marking procedures. It will also introduce them to the support network available throughout the process.

After the virtual training meeting, approved applicants will demonstrate their ability to mark accurately and consistently by marking a set of practice scripts. They will also mark qualification scripts to demonstrate that they can accurately apply the mark scheme before being approved to mark pupil responses.

Marking the tests

If successful at marking qualification scripts, approved applicants will start marking test scripts in May through to June. They will usually complete their marking within 3 weeks. Marking accuracy will be assessed throughout the marking period to ensure that all markers are marking to the agreed standard.

Science sampling tests

There will be no science sampling tests in the academic year 2021/22. We will confirm arrangements for 2022/23 in due course.