Marking external assessment: Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Vacancies for PQTs and OEAs open in April.

Round 1:

• PQT — Principal authorisations will be sent out from 10 July, followed by offers to mark if approved.
• OEA — Successful applicants offer to mark will be sent from 10 July.

Round 2:

• PQT — Principal authorisations will be sent out from 7 August, followed by offers to mark if approved.
• OEA — Offers to mark sent from 7 August.

External assessment marking applications close at midnight on 7 August.

All unsuccessful applicants will be notified by 4 October in the EA markers application.

Successful applicants must complete relevant role-specific training modules no later than Friday 6 October.

The marking operation runs from late October to the end of November.

Applications must be submitted via the Assessor Jobs application in the QCAA Portal.

All applicants should seek their principal’s support in advance. You must tick a box that acknowledges that you have done this before you submit your application.

The eligibility requirements are outlined in the position description on the Marking external assessment: practising Queensland teachers page.

If your application meets the mandatory eligibility requirements outlined in the position description, you will be allocated to a subject pool.

The QCAA reviews and shortlists applicants for marker, lead marker and chief marker roles based on the information provided in your application.

If you are shortlisted, your principal will be asked to approve your offer in the Assessor Jobs application. They will need to confirm your skills and experience to perform the role, and your release for any training and/or script selection scheduled during your normal school working hours. If your principal approves your appointment, you will receive an offer, which is accessible in Assessor Jobs under the My Offers tab.

No. If you are a returning marker from 2022, you only need to apply for the role.

New OEAs need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the Assessor Jobs application in the QCAA Portal.

If you have never had a QCAA Portal account:

1. create a QCAA Portal account for this vacancy (please follow this link and do not use the ‘register for the new account’ link on the QCAA portal landing page)
2. once you have access, log in to the QCAA Portal using your newly created login and password
3. complete your EOI application located in the Assessor Jobs application listed under the Current Vacancies heading
4. once your EOI has been reviewed and assessed as suitable, you will be asked to complete the initial training. You will need to complete the composite Module 7 Assessment Literacy course and assessment for your application to progress. This course will be available via the Assessment Literacy application in QCAA Portal
5. submit your OEA application, via QCAA Portal, Assessor Job application, under Current Vacancies heading
6. complete an online recruitment marking test. The link to this test will be emailed to you once you have submitted your OEA application.

If your application is successful, the QCAA will send you an offer of appointment, which you can access via your My Offers tab in the Assessor Jobs application.

Note: If you are a teacher in another jurisdiction, you must obtain agreement from your school principal that you will be released for training and marking during school hours, if required.

All OEAs who did not hold an OEA marker position in 2022 must complete an EOI.

You will also need to complete an EOI if you applied last year but did not:

• continue past the EOI part of the application process
• complete all the prerequisite Assessment literacy modules and assessment and/or recruitment marking test.

The QCAA Portal is the online environment through which the QCAA manages secure activities for schools and the following for all QCAA-appointed casuals:

• recruitment
• Assessment literacy module/s
• training
• management of personal information (My Details application)
• travel bookings and claims submissions.

New OEA applicants need a QCAA Portal account to submit an EOI, the first step in the application process.

To submit an EOI, you need to:

1. register for a QCAA Portal account
2. log in to the QCAA Portal
3. click on the Assessor Jobs application
4. click on the EOI vacancy for external assessment marking
5. complete the EOI
6. review and submit the EOI.

The EOI will step you through each section. Dropdown options and free-text boxes will assist you to provide relevant information.

You can stop, save and return to your EOI at any time before you click ‘submit’.

Your EOI needs to include the following information:

• contact details
• relevant employment and teaching experience
• relevant QCAA experience, e.g. NAPLAN marking, panel appointments
• other jurisdictional experience, if applicable
• subject preferences for marking.

If you have sufficient relevant experience for an external assessment marking role, you will be sent an offer to continue the application process.

Note: This is not an offer to mark but an offer to continue the application process.

You will then need to successfully complete the:

• composite Module 7 Assessment literacy course and assessment
• OEA application in Assessor Jobs. The application form will pre-fill with information you have already provided in your EOI. Applicants must respond to the additional questions on the form.

Assessment literacy in the QCE system is a program of professional learning developed by the QCAA for teachers. It supports quality assurance processes for senior assessment. Teachers are eligible to apply for QCAA assessor roles once they have successfully completed the requisite courses.

As part of the application process for an external assessment marking role, new OEAs must complete an Assessment literacy course that is equivalent to role-specific learning and assessment for practising teachers. For more information, visit the QCAA Assessment literacy program.

Once you have submitted your OEA application, you will be emailed information about how to access and complete your recruitment marking test.

If your application meets the mandatory eligibility requirements, you will be allocated to a subject pool. The eligibility requirements are outlined in the position description.

QCAA reviews and shortlists applicants for marker, lead marker and chief marker roles based on the information provided in your application.

Successful applicants will be sent an offer of appointment via the My Offers tab in Assessor Jobs.

To start the application process as a returning OEA:

• check if you currently have an active QCAA Portal account by logging in to the QCAA Portal. If you do not remember your password, you can reset it. If you have any further difficulty accessing the Portal, please contact ClientServices@qcaa.qld.edu.au for assistance
• go to the Assessor Jobs application. When you open it, you will see the OEA application under the Current Vacancies heading
• complete and submit your application.

No. If you are a returning marker from 2022, you only need to apply for the role.

If you wish to be considered for a chief marker or a lead marker role, tick the relevant box for chief marker or a lead marker when you apply. Ensure your application provides details of relevant leadership roles you have undertaken in your school, for the QCAA and/or other jurisdictions. Where dropdown options and pre-populated fields do not capture your experience, there is a free text field where you can include a brief statement.

Suitable applicants are appointed as reserve markers when the required number of marker, lead marker and chief marker roles are filled for a subject. All reserve markers may be promoted to markers, if required. To be eligible, all reserve markers must complete their role-specific training.

If appointed to a marker role, you will be required to complete the mandatory subject-specific training prior to marking.

Indonesian SEE, Korean SEE, and Vietnamese SEE, which do not have a parent syllabus in the new QCE system, will recruit markers for the marking operation. All other SEE syllabuses will draw on the marker pool for the parent syllabus, e.g. a selection of Biology markers will also be trained to mark the Biology SEE external assessment.

All marking applicants must meet the QCAA’s minimum ICT requirements on their home desktop computers or personal laptops.

Note: Tablet devices, such as iPads, are not compatible with the online marking platform (OLMP).

All training is compulsory and consists of role-specific and subject-specific training.

Role-specific training focuses on introductory information about the marking operation and key messages to assist understanding of your role and responsibilities. Role-specific training is delivered as online modules. Markers will be required to complete Module 1 only. Chief and lead markers will be required to complete Modules 1, 2 and 3.

Subject-specific training focuses on the marking process, the online marking platform (OLMP) and how to use the external assessment marking guide (EAMG). Markers will have the opportunity to practise marking and receive feedback and assistance.

Subject-specific marker training will be held after external assessment is completed for each subject and script selection has taken place. The 2023 external assessment timetable is located on the QCAA website. The timetable will be available in Term 2.

The final dates for marking, including subject-specific training details, will be made available to appointees by in Term 2.

The marking operation for each subject is determined by the number of student responses, the estimated time it takes to mark a student response, and the 2023 external assessment timetable (available in Term 2).

After students have completed the external assessment for a subject, lead markers complete script selection and identify scripts to be used for marker training and calibration.

Markers then complete up to two days of subject-specific training before the marking operation commences.

The marking operation for a subject will be finalised once all scripts have been marked.

Weekdays: Markers are required to be contactable for a nominated two-hour period between 4 pm and 8 pm.

Weekends: Markers will nominate their availability on either Saturdays or Sundays closer to the time of the marking operation.

Markers are asked to commit to marking sessions of at least two hours. Many markers choose to mark additional hours to those they have nominated.

Successful completion of the role-specific training module/s is required by Friday 6 October. Once you have completed the module/s, a timesheet will automatically generate for payment. When you complete your two days of subject-specific training, please submit your timesheet/s as soon as possible. This will allow the verification and validation processes to commence.

Any anomalies, errors or omissions on timesheets may delay payment processing.

Markers do not need to submit a timesheet for marking. Payments for marking scripts will be paid progressively throughout the entire marking operation.

All PQTs, are required to complete the Employment details tab in the My Details application if you are on leave or are a part-time teacher. If you do not indicate here the days you work or the period you are on leave, the school will be paid TRS automatically for any training days scheduled on a weekday.

Yes. Please review the Other external applicants position description and FAQs on the QCAA assessors: Marking external assessment webpage.

Yes. If you are a successful applicant, you need to complete a Conflict of Interest declaration when you receive an offer of appointment. Before applicants can be appointed they must respond to their offer and complete the  Conflict of Interest declaration available from Assessor Jobs application in the QCAA Portal.

You will not be precluded from being appointed as a marker if you have a relationship to declare. It simply allows the QCAA to manage the marking operation to ensure you do not mark these scripts.

If you have been appointed to an external assessment marker role, but unforeseen circumstances prevent you from participating in the marking operation please contact the QCAA at externalassessment@qcaa.qld.edu.au or phone 1300 239 227.

This and all other administration information will be provided in your Marker administration guide attached to your offer of appointment.

For enquiries about:

Marking administration
External Assessment Operations Unit
Email: ExternalAssessment@qcaa.qld.edu.au
Phone: 1300 239 227

Pay
Casual Workforce Solutions
Email: payroll@qcaa.qld.edu.au
Phone: 07 3864 0464

QCAA Portal
Client Services
Email: ClientServices@qcaa.qld.edu.au
Phone: 07 3864 0299