Payment rates and marking periods

We review examiner payment rates on an annual basis to ensure that they are highly competitive in the education sector. The rates reflect the complexity and length of the material being assessed. The more complex or longer the response, the higher is the payment rate and the smaller resulting marking target.  

Examiner payments are calculated based on the number of responses assessed, an example of which is shown below:

• Rate per response:  $8.00
• Marking target size:  200 responses
• Examiner payment:  $1,600

Examiners who complete their marking target earn on average around $1,600. 

Examiner position is part-time and is usually undertaken in addition to existing work commitments. All marking targets are set at levels that examiners should be able to complete while in full-time employment.

The MYP has two examination sessions per year; the May/June examination session (runs from April to June) and the November/December examination session (runs from November to December).

The table below shows when different components are assessed.

Examiners are offered one subject, interdisciplinary and (if an active MYP teacher) personal project portfolio but will be marking one of them during an examination session.

The DP/CP has two examination sessions per year; the May examination session (runs from March to June) and the November examination session (runs from September to December). Over 90 % of our students sit their exams during the May examination session. 

The table below shows when different components are assessed.

Due to the overlap of assessment periods, IB Examiners assess up to two components, one early and one later, during an examination session, unless there are exceptional circumstances. 

You will need to complete our induction training. It will provide you with key information about our processes and procedures. When you complete it, please let us know and we will set you up on our proprietary assessment system - IBIS. 

We will ask you to accept your contract and register your availability for two components – one early and one later.

You will have to register your availability/unavailability on IBIS. Registrations are open from mid-September for the forthcoming May (or May/June) session. This is a very important step as only examiners who registered as available are considered for marking. If you do not register at all for two consecutive May (May/June) sessions, we will not renew your contract for the following year and you will no longer be an IB Examiner. The same applies if you register as unavailable for three consecutive May (May/June) examination sessions. 

When registering for an examination session, you can make yourself available for additional material.

We allocate work to examiners in January for the forthcoming May session, and targets are released to examiners around the middle of February. Please note that we cannot guarantee that you will receive a marking target.  

If we are happy with your performance, we will offer you an automatic contract renewal for the following year - you only apply for an IB Examiner position once.

Examiners who have successfully marked three May examination sessions may be invited to apply for the role of team leader. Team leaders play a vital part in examining teams. Examiners rely on the support and guidance of team leaders. Encouraging, knowledgeable, committed team leaders are essential for a successful examination session.

Successful team leaders may be invited to apply for the role of principal examiner. Principal Examiners are responsible for leading the team of examiners who have been assigned to their subject component throughout the examination session. They are responsible for setting the marking standard and for leading the grade award process.

Examiners can apply for exam publishing positions (please refer to relevant recruitment policy for details). Additionally, examiners who are also IB teachers may apply for variety of IBEN roles.