How do you become a marker?

Hi Cathy

Here is an indication of requirements I found on CIMA’s website https://www.cimaglobal.com/Teaching/become-an-exam-marker

ACCA and ICAEW will post advertisements through their “work with us” channels or educational media as and when they see a need for new markers. You don’t need additional qualifications but you do need some relevant experience because there are so many potential markers available that the professional bodies can recruit from those with experience and not train markers “from scratch”. Depending on the body and the exam, the recruitment process might involve having to mark a sample script – and all bodies give training in how to use their online marking systems.

As you will no doubt appreciate, the move to MCQs/OTs/OT cases in the knowledge and applied skills exams means that fewer markers are needed as “expert marking” is required only for the constructed response questions. That said, some expert markers who will have marked for many years will have taken the opportunity of the move to online marking to choose to no longer mark. But I would say that at this time, as there are many excellent freelance tutors etc who do not enough tuition work because so much classroom teaching has been forced to move to recorded online, there is more supply than demand for new markers.

It is, however, a very interesting area in which to work and a lot can change in a short space of time. When you are qualified do get in touch with me again through the AAA tutor forum and I would be very happy to give you some pointers.

As an aside, I would say that as an examiner, the most important criteria to me in selecting markers was that they should show some specific “passion” or interest for audit – so I would always give preference to a candidate who was applying solely to mark advanced auditing rather than someone who indicated that they were prepared to mark anything.

Hi Kim,

Hope you are doing well, I’m one of your old student from Audit. I have recently applied to become an ACCA marker specifically for Audit papers. Having been in the profession for past 5 years working with couple of Big 6’s and myself being an ACCA members for over 2 years now, I think I stand a good chance to get selected for the role.

I just wanted to know few things, as you must be aware about them, is role of a marker full time job.? or are they paid on the basis of copies you check or hourly etc.! And do a marker get a complete answer sheet of a candidate or probably a question for a number of candidates (to keep integrity and objectivity intact). How challenging can this be with my current job of an Audit Assistant Manager.

Any other information you would like to enlighten me with regarding this role.?

Thanks in advance.
Yash Bahl