The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) is responsible for administering and marking the Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests.
Each year, the QCAA employs and trains practising and non-practising or retired Queensland teachers to mark student responses to the NAPLAN writing tests. Both experienced and new markers from Queensland are invited to apply.
In addition to markers, group leaders and professional leaders are employed to support markers and uphold quality assurance measures.
The 2024 NAPLAN marking operation is expected to commence on Tuesday 19 March and continue for approximately four weeks, or until all student scripts have been marked. Appointed markers gain valuable professional experience and are paid for the marking and preceding marker training.
The marking of all NAPLAN writing tests will be completed remotely (online), using an online marking platform. This gives applicants from all areas of Queensland the opportunity to apply to mark.
The primary objective of the marking operation is to ensure that Queensland student responses to the NAPLAN writing test are marked fairly and accurately, according to the national rubric.
Position descriptions
Benefits of becoming a NAPLAN marker
By joining the NAPLAN writing test marking operation, markers can:
- gain insight into how students from Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 respond to an ‘on demand’ writing task
- experience using a standardised rubric to make judgments about student scripts
- experience the NAPLAN writing marking operation and quality assurance processes
- work flexible hours from home
- earn extra income
- gain continuing professional development (CPD) points for Queensland College of Teachers registration renewal.
The expertise markers gain through marking NAPLAN writing tests can have an immediate positive impact on teaching practice and stimulate productive conversations with colleagues.
Marker commitment
To ensure test validity and reliability, appointed markers must:
- be available to mark from the start of the marking operation
- mark scripts accurately in accordance with the 2024 NAPLAN writing marking guide and QCAA advice
- be receptive to ongoing support and instruction from group leaders and professional leaders as part of quality assurance protocols and attend online meetings when needed
- follow the marking operation procedures in the Handbook for markers
- be able to work from home in a secure way, which ensures the confidentiality and security of student writing scripts, assessment information and materials
- complete all training including:
- the ACARA NAPLAN writing marking course
- a half-day live marker training webinar (Saturday 9 March)
- a full-day live marker training webinar and compliance scripts (Saturday 16 March)
- 15-minute recalibration training sessions throughout the marking operation, as needed.
Please see the training schedule and position descriptions for more information.
Once the marking operation begins, markers may determine their own marking hours, as long as they:
- mark for at least two hours each marking day
- mark for at least five days (at least four weekdays) each week of the marking operation
- mark between 5 am and 11 pm
- make themselves available to attend meetings within a nominated two-hour meeting window each weekday that they mark.
Marking is not conducted over the Easter long weekend. Markers may also nominate an earlier end date, should they wish to finish marking during the school holidays.
The table shows the meeting window options markers will select from.
| Meeting window | Window times (weekdays) |
|---|---|
| Meeting window A (Marker) | 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm |
Meeting window B (Marker) | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm |
Markers promoted to group leader or professional leader positions will need to adjust their hours and meeting windows accordingly. Please refer to the applicable position description for further information.
Practising Queensland teachers are expected to mark and complete training outside of school hours. School release and the teacher relief scheme are not available.
Marker selection
A limited number of markers, group leaders and professional leaders are employed to ensure all student scripts are marked within the given timeframe.
As the number of applications often exceeds the number of positions available, it is recommended that applications are lodged as early as possible.
When selecting markers, the QCAA considers the:
- information in the application, including relevant literacy experience. It is important to give as much information as possible
- need to achieve a balance of new and experienced markers
- number of markers needed to complete marking within the given timeframe
- value gained by employing current practising Queensland teachers (marking provides a significant individual professional development opportunity)
- aim of employing teachers from as many Queensland schools as possible (schools benefit from their teachers’ experience as markers)
- confirmation of principal approval for practising teachers to participate
- satisfactory achievement in the marking of student compliance scripts and in the NAPLAN accreditation course (for other eligible applicants who did not mark for NAPLAN in 2022 or 2023)
- applicant's performance and conduct in previous marking operations (quality and consistency of marking, pace of marking, receptiveness to feedback and ability to apply feedback provided).
Based on the need to address these considerations each year, the selection of applicants is not guaranteed, even for those who marked in the previous year.
Reserve markers: These applicants are held on stand-by and receive offers of appointment as vacancies arise up until late February. Applicants on the reserve marker list will be notified by email and receive further information in early 2024.
Group Leaders and Professional Leaders
Group leaders and professional leaders perform a vital role in the NAPLAN marking operation, ensuring all Queensland students receive fair and consistent scoring of their writing scripts.
The benefits of becoming a group leader or professional leader include:
- a higher hourly rate
- training in marker monitoring and quality assurance measures
- experience in operational management, mentoring, leadership and training of markers/group leaders
- opportunities to collaborate, provide feedback and contribute ideas with other group leaders, professional leaders and managers of marking.
Group leaders and professional leaders may also determine their own marking hours, as long as they:
- monitor and support markers for at least five hours on each weekday (at least three hours of which must be completed between 4 pm and 8 pm) during the marking operation
- monitor and support markers for at least seven hours over each weekend during the marking operation
- complete all required training.
Please see the training schedule and position descriptions for more information.
Applicants wishing to be considered for group leader or professional leader positions will be able to express their interest in the role when completing the NAPLAN Marker application in Assessor Jobs (QCAA Portal).
During the selection process for these roles, the QCAA considers factors including:
- marking, performance and conduct in previous NAPLAN marking operations
- leadership experience
- the number of positions available.
A portion of group leader and professional leader positions are also reserved for new-to-role applicants each year.
Minimum ICT requirements
All applicants must have sufficient computer literacy skills to use the marking software program, an online meeting room and the QCAA Portal applications in order to independently complete all required marker tasks. Applicants must meet the QCAA’s minimum information and communications technology (ICT) requirements on their personal computers or laptops. Tablets (including iPads) and phones are not suitable for marking student scripts.
Minimum ICT requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
Platform | PC | Mac |
Processor | Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 | |
RAM | 4GB minimum | |
Operating system | Windows 8.1 or later |
|
Screen resolution |
| |
Web browser |
|
|
Broadband connection | ADSL 2/NBN Note: weak internet connection may prevent script scores from uploading to the marking platform, causing them to be requeued. Markers are only paid once for each individual student script they score and submit. | |
| Microphone | Devices will require sound capabilities and a microphone for online communication. | |
How to apply
Applications to mark in the 2024 NAPLAN marking operation are now open in the Assessor Jobs application in the QCAA Portal. For more information, see the NAPLAN marker FAQs.
Applicants are encouraged to give as much detail as possible in their applications, particularly about English teaching and literacy experience.
Applications close on 10 November 2023.
More information
Please contact the QCAA at naplan@qcaa.qld.edu.au or phone 1300 214 452 if you need more information or have any questions.
- Last updated:
- 7 September 2023
