Examiner and moderator FAQ

Transcription

1 Examiner and moderator FAQ 1 Contacts and Support How do I contact AQA as an examiner/moderator? What support will there be if I experience technical or other problems whilst marking or submitting marks online? Training Do new examiners and moderators receive extra support? Do team leaders receive extra support? Standardisation and Sampling/Seeds As a new examiner how should I prepare for standardisation? Will I need to take time out of school? What is the first phase sample? (QMS(+) or conventional marking only) What response might I get from my team leader regarding my first phase sample? (QMS(+) only) I have received my first phase sample back from my team leader. Which mark should I submit? (QMS(+) only) What is the second phase sample for? (QMS(+) only) What are seeds? (CMI+ and RM Assessor only) Where will I find batch dates? What will happen if I miss the batch dates? Marking When will I receive my contract to mark? What is the minimum/maximum number of scripts I am able to mark? What should I do if I think I may not complete the marking of my allocation of scripts? How do I request extra scripts? Will I get any feedback on my performance? I cannot read a student s writing what should I do? Coursework and Script Delivery How do I send scripts to AQA? Can my Post Office accept Parcel Force Worldwide Deliveries? Does it matter what order the scripts are in when I send them to AQA? How do I send sample scripts to my team leader? Payments When will I get paid? What is paid automatically? What are AQA s subsistence rates?... 6 AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number ) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number ). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

2 1 Contacts and Support 1.1 How do I contact AQA as an examiner/moderator? You can use the contacts tab on the left hand side of the Welcome Page on the Examiner Extranet to find useful phone numbers and contact s. The mailboxes for your subject are also listed which will allow you to contact your subject administrator. Please include your PIN and the component you are marking in the subject line. 1.2 What support will there be if I experience technical or other problems whilst marking or submitting marks online? There is a dedicated contact centre which is operational during the main marking periods, seven days a week. Examiner Systems Support (ESS) can help with CMI+, QMS, RM Assessor, e-subs, OLS and the examiner extranet and can be contacted on There are technical user guides available via the extranet for all marking platforms, in addition to the guidance for examiners and moderators. The CMI+ and QMS software is downloaded from the e-marker support site The support site includes installation instructions and FAQs. You will need your examiner PIN and e-marker password to log onto the site. When you load the software, a User Guide will be installed onto your pc at the same time, to be viewed on screen. 2 Training 2.1 Do new examiners and moderators receive extra support? Yes. As a new examiner or moderator you will be assigned to an experienced team leader who will act as a mentor and offer additional support throughout the marking/moderation process. You will also be provided with appropriate training to help you prepare for your role. You can contact the administrator (via the contacts tab) for your subject if you have any queries. Please include your PIN and component code in the subject line of an Do team leaders receive extra support? Yes. You will be assigned to an experienced assistant lead examiner or lead examiner who will act as a mentor and offer additional support. You will have access to appropriate online training. 1 of 6

3 3 Standardisation and Sampling/Seeds 3.1 As a new examiner how should I prepare for standardisation? It is important that you read the guidance for examiners which is available via the examiner extranet in advance of standardisation. There are also a number of helpful e-learning modules available via the examiner extranet. You may additionally be invited to attend a live online training event. For components marked on QMS(+) and CMI+, standardisation will either take place face-to-face (F2F) in a meeting, or online via the online standardisation (OLS) software. For components marked on RM Assessor, standardisation is built in and will be undertaken in RM Assessor. If your component is standardised on OLS, the question paper and mark scheme can be found on OLS after the exam. If your component is standardised F2F or on RM Assessor, the question paper and mark scheme can be found on the examiner extranet after the exam. Before standardisation, you should provisionally mark between 10 and 20 scripts. For QMS(+) marking, mark scripts in pencil from the first packets of scripts you receive. For CMI+ marking, responses should be available approximately 48 hours after the exam, in the CMI+ software. For RM Assessor marking, scripts will be available in simulation mode four days (RM Assessor) after the exam. You should make notes of any queries that arise so that you can clarify these points with your team leader. 3.2 Will I need to take time out of school? You may need to attend a standardisation meeting which will normally take place within 3-5 days after the exam, although in many units these meetings have been replaced by online standardisation where you access the standardisation material from your computer during a two to three day period. 3.3 What is the first phase sample? (QMS(+) or conventional marking only) You need to send a first phase sample, consisting of 10 scripts, to your team leader as soon as possible after the standardisation meeting for units using QMS(+) or being marked conventionally. If your component is standardised online you may complete the first phase sample online. Your team leader will provide you with feedback on your first phase sample marking. The purpose of this sample is: 2 of 6

4 To check that the standardisation process has achieved its aim of explaining each point of the mark scheme, the techniques and the processes of marking, the general instructions of AQA and any other instructions specific to the unit marked. To ensure that each examiner in the team is carrying out all the instructions and interpreting the mark scheme correctly. To check for any signs of inconsistency in the marking and point these out wherever they occur. 3.4 What response might I get from my team leader regarding my first phase sample? (QMS(+) only) Your team leader could give you any of the following responses: Your marking may be cleared as satisfactory in which case you should proceed with your marking and may continue to submit marks to AQA You may be given feedback but allowed to continue with your marking as long as you adjust your marking in line with the feedback You may be given feedback and asked to submit an additional sample of 10 scripts to check that you have taken the comments on board. In this case you may not submit marks until clearance has been given. If your marking is still considered unsatisfactory after the additional sample you will be advised by AQA of any action required. 3.5 I have received my first phase sample back from my team leader. Which mark should I submit? (QMS(+) only) You must amend your red marks to match the green marking and it is this final mark, ie your team leader s mark, you submit to AQA. If you have entered your sample marks on QMS(+) your team leader s mark will automatically be submitted. 3.6 What is the second phase sample for? (QMS(+) only) You will complete a second phase sample halfway through your marking as a means of checking to ensure that your marking is still in line with that agreed during standardisation. You will not receive feedback from your team leader at this stage. 3.7 What are seeds? (CMI+ and RM Assessor only) CMI+ and RM Assessor do not require first and second phase samples, as marking quality is monitored via the use of seeds. Seeds are scripts which have been marked by senior examiners. 3 of 6

5 Seed scripts are marked by examiners at intervals throughout live marking to ensure marking remains in line with the agreed standard. Marked seed scripts are reviewed by your team leader who will provide feedback. 3.8 Where will I find batch dates? You will find dates were given on your contract and they are also provided on the examiner extranet. You must adhere to these deadlines. 3.9 What will happen if I miss the batch dates? You will be contacted by us to check on the whereabouts of your scripts and marks, and to ask if you are having specific problems. 4 Marking 4.1 When will I receive my contract to mark? You will normally receive your contract for the summer series by the end of February. 4.2 What is the minimum/maximum number of scripts I am able to mark? You will find that there are different criteria for each paper for determining the standard number of scripts you are expected to mark. This will depend on a number of factors, including the length of the paper, the complexity of the questions/answers and the marking period. 4.3 What should I do if I think I may not complete the marking of my allocation of scripts? Please contact the Marking team as soon as possible. If, after discussing the situation, you decide to return part of your allocation to be marked by someone else you will be sent a pink sack to enable you to return the unmarked scripts to AQA. 4.4 How do I request extra scripts? Please Resource Management, ensuring you quote the component code and your PIN in the subject line of the . 4 of 6

6 4.5 Will I get any feedback on my performance? You will be able to view your Examiner Performance Record for the exam series via the extranet after the exam results have been issued. 4.6 I cannot read a student s writing what should I do? If you are using QMS(+), credit what you can read, then use the e-marker software to notify us electronically, using the problem candidate function. If you are marking conventionally, credit what you can read, then attach a Script Referral Form EX/SRF to say that only parts of the scripts were legible enough to mark. Send the script in the original centre sack to AQA as normal with the other scripts from that centre. If you are marking on CMI+ or RM Assessor, credit what you can read and then escalate the script to your team leader. 5 Coursework and Script Delivery 5.1 How do I send scripts to AQA? You should use the S2 sacks together with the 24 hour Parcel Force labels provided in your stationery pack. Please refer to the document on the extranet for full instructions on using Parcelforce. If you require more labels or sacks you may request these from stationeryrequests@aqa.org.uk 5.2 Can my Post Office accept Parcel Force Worldwide Deliveries? You can check the nearest Post Office that accepts Parcel Force parcels on the Parcel Force Worldwide website Does it matter what order the scripts are in when I send them to AQA? Before starting to mark the scripts from a centre, you should ensure that they are arranged in candidate number order. After completing a centre, you should replace the scripts in the original sack in candidate number order with the attendance list and send to AQA. Please keep a record of the centre number and the date sent. 5 of 6

7 5.4 How do I send sample scripts to my team leader? You will need to send the first phase sample scripts and any additional first phase sample scripts to your team leader using the E49 pre-paid envelope in your stationery pack. You will need to send second phase sample scripts to your team leader by first class post using sack S5. (Do not use Parcel Force labels). Please retain details of the centre number(s) and date of postage. You should reclaim the postage for the second phase sample on your expenses claim form. 6 Payments 6.1 When will I get paid? Your first payment for script marking will be generated once a pre-defined percentage of your marks have been received. Payments for subsequent marking will be made at intervals. Your expenses are paid as soon as possible (subject to appropriate receipts) but within 31 days of receipt. If you have a query relating to your payment please contact Associate Payroll on or claimsman@aqa.org.uk 6.2 What is paid automatically? You are paid automatically for marking. Payment will be made once a pre-defined percentage of your marking is completed with subsequent catch-up payments being made. You must claim all other examiner fees and all expenses. Please note there is no separate fee for standardisation; this is included in the script fee. Senior examiners should note that they will need to claim all their meeting fees. Moderators must claim all fees. All claim forms should be sent to Associate Payroll at our Manchester Office. 6.3 What are AQA s subsistence rates? Actual expenditure on overnight stays and meals will be reimbursed if essential for your work on behalf of AQA and within AQA s current subsistence limits. Please refer to the AQA travel and expenses policy on the examiner extranet for further information. 6 of 6