Become a Cambridge English Assessment Specialist

Working with us as an Assessment Specialist
Speaking examiners
Writing examiners
IELTS examiners
Teaching qualifications
Apply to become an Assessment Specialist

Working with us as an Assessment Specialist

Our international reputation for excellence, reliability and fairness in language assessment depends on the high quality and professionalism of our Assessment Specialists. Thousands of people work for us as Assessment Specialists, both in the UK and in countries around the world.

The term Assessment Specialist is used to encompass many roles which includes, but is not limited to, Writing Examiners, Speaking Examiners, Item Writers, Proofreaders, Content Vetters, Assessors and Moderators.

We have a large existing pool of Assessment Specialists but there may be opportunities for you to work with us.

This page gives you more information about what some of our Assessment Specialists do and what is required from them.

Please read this information carefully. If you meet the required criteria, you are invited to search for opportunities and apply using the Apply now link below.

Speaking examiners

Requirements

education to first degree level or equivalent*
a recognised language teaching qualification*
proof of substantial, relevant, recent teaching experience ideally equivalent to at least 1800 hours.

*An applicant may be exempt either from the formal teaching qualification or from the first degree/equivalent requirement (but not both) if they can provide evidence of considerable relevant teaching experience (i.e. ideally 3,000 hours or more) supported by positive references.

The induction and training process

Before you can do any live examining, you will be invited to complete Induction, Training, and Certification of Procedure and Assessment modules. These Quality Assurance (QA) modules may be delivered by online self-access, by telephone and/or via online or face-to-face meetings.

Examining in the UK

Speaking Examiners examine at centres locally or at least within a 60-mile radius of their home address. Assignments normally take place during morning, afternoon and evening sessions from Monday to Friday, and morning and afternoon sessions at weekends. Sessions take place throughout the year but peak in May/June and November/December.

Invitations to take part in QA modules and any examining as a Speaking Examiner are not guaranteed and are issued as and when examining opportunities arise.

Please do not apply for Speaking examining work unless you are reasonably available to undertake assignments during the week, in the evenings and on some Saturdays. Speaking Examiners will not be asked to undertake more than two sessions a day.

We have a large pool of UK Speaking examiners but recruit a few each year.

Examining outside the UK

If you are not based in the UK, our international exam centres directly engage or employ Speaking examiners for the Speaking part of many of our exams. Speaking examiners are not employed by Cambridge English.

If you are interested in becoming a Speaking examiner, and meet our requirements, you can contact your local exam centre to see whether there are any opportunities for examining. Find your nearest exam centre.

Writing examiners

Requirements

education to first degree level or equivalent*
a recognised language teaching qualification*
proof of substantial, relevant, recent teaching experience ideally equivalent to at least 1800 hours.

The induction and training process

Before you can mark any written papers, you will be invited to complete Induction, Training, and Certification of Procedure and Assessment modules. These Quality Assurance (QA) modules are delivered by online self-access.

Invitations to take part in QA modules and any work as an examiner is not guaranteed and is issued as and when marking opportunities arise.

Examining

The majority of Cambridge English writing tests are marked using the online marking system, RM Assessor, where you are given access to scripts to mark online. Marking sessions take place throughout the year but peak in May/June and November/December. Your computer will need to meet the RM Assessor minimum system requirements.

IELTS examiners

If you are interested in becoming an examiner for IELTS (International English Language Testing System), you can find out more at IELTS examiner recruitment and training.

Teaching qualifications

There are different roles for Assessment Specialists in the field of Teaching Qualifications.

DELTA Module One and Three Examiners

Requirements

DELTA-qualified (or equivalent)
proof of substantial, relevant, recent experience as a DELTA Tutor
experience of marking to set descriptors
comfortable working in an online environment
access to internet at home
able to work to strict deadlines
able and willing to act on feedback immediately
availability throughout the marking period - twice a year around June/July and December/January.

The induction and training process

Before you can do any live examining you will be invited to complete a selection exercise and training. Invitations to take part in training modules are not guaranteed and are issued as and when marking opportunities arise.

Examining

Examiners are part of a team of markers, closely supervised by Team Leaders. Every session starts with a week’s worth of co-ordination activities to ensure standard marking. This is obligatory for every examiner. Examiners are allocated a number of candidate scripts to mark within a strict marking window.

DELTA Module One and Three examiners are recruited during specific recruitment campaigns and not on an on-going basis.

Please note that work as an examiner is not guaranteed and invitations will be issued as required.

DELTA Module Two Assessors

Requirements

proof of substantial and varied English language teaching experience
show evidence of continuing professional development
DELTA or equivalent qualification
proof of substantial, relevant, recent experience as a DELTA Module Two course tutor (all aspects) or experience of providing training for in-service teachers including the production of formal written observation reports
use appropriate written language which is free of errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar and lexical selection
be able to work to strict deadlines
be able and willing to act on feedback immediately
respond to communications from Cambridge English in a timely manner
comfortable using different digital tools and teaching platforms.

The induction and training process

Before you can do any live assessing, you will be invited to complete a selection exercise and training. Invitations to take part in training modules and any work as an assessor is not guaranteed and invitations are issued as and when opportunities arise. Training is on-going and assessors must complete this in order to retain their status.

Assessing

Assessors work independently as part of a pool. Centres arrange the assessment directly with an assessor. This happens on an ad-hoc basis but Assessors must do at least two assessments a year.

DELTA Module Two Assessors are recruited during specific recruitment campaigns and not on an on-going basis.

CELTA Assessors

Requirements

substantial (at least five years) varied and current English language teaching experience
the Cambridge DELTA Modules (One, Two and Three), the Cambridge DTEFLA or Trinity Dip. TESOL, or equivalent
evidence of continuing professional development in the field of English Language Teaching
substantial experience of running and training on CELTA courses
on-going delivery of CELTA courses (at least two per year)
use appropriate written language which is free of errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar and lexical selection.
be able to work to strict deadlines
be able and willing to act on feedback immediately
respond to communications from Cambridge English in a timely manner
comfortable using different digital tools and teaching platforms.

The induction and training process

Assessing

Assessors work independently as part of a pool. Centres arrange the assessment directly with an assessor. This happens on an ad-hoc basis but Assessors must do at least two assessments a year.

Assessors may be asked to review trainers-in-training or induct new assessors as required.

CELTA Assessors are recruited during specific recruitment campaigns and not on an on-going basis.

Teaching Qualifications Content Creation

There are occasional opportunities to join an Item Writing team to write for one of the TKT modules or DELTA Module One examination.

Item writers are recruited during specific recruitment campaigns and not on an on-going basis.

Apply now to become a Cambridge English Assessment Specialist

To view our current vacancies please visit the Opportunities section on the Assessment Specialist recruitment website. In the Opportunities section select Show More Options and select the Business Unit Cambridge English. You can create a profile and register for alerts when a new vacancy is published.

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Become a Cambridge English Assessment Specialist

Contents

Working with us as an Assessment Specialist

Speaking examiners

Writing examiners

IELTS examiners

Teaching qualifications

DELTA Module One and Three Examiners

Requirements

The induction and training process

Examining

DELTA Module Two Assessors

Requirements

The induction and training process

Assessing

CELTA Assessors

Requirements

The induction and training process

Assessing

Teaching Qualifications Content Creation

Apply now to become a Cambridge English Assessment Specialist