Correcting exams

ahahah

Hi all,


Am seriously debating whether or not its worth me correcting (I got JC Higher). I have heard that its not worth it for the money and Ill be away for two nights in July. Does anyone else have experience marking and if so would you recommend it ?. I have no car for the conference would that make a difference?

spurious

You will only get the cost of your ticket(s) and taxi receipts for travel expenses.
If you've never done it before, it's definitely worth doing, for the experience and insight for your classes.

For the money? It depends what tax rate you are on. If you're not on many hours during the year it can be a nice bonus, but if you're on a bigger amount of hours, it can amount to not very much, considering you give up most of July for it.

I don't know how anyone with small children does it. It really is a 'lock yourself away for a good few hours a day' kind of job.

RealJohn

JC Higher what? You get paid differently depending on the subject and some subjects are easier to mark than others.

I've done JC Higher Level Science for the last couple of years and it's fine. I came out with about €1800 net last year which isn't bad (and I have a full 22 hour contract so that would have been after a lot of tax).

It's certainly not fun but I feel it is worthwhile.

On the car situation, it depends on how far from Athlone you live I suppose. I wouldn't want to have to take bags of scripts on a train personally so unless you live nearby and can get a taxi all the way home, the lack of a car might be a problem. And I certainly hope that the SEC wouldn't pay for a 100km taxi journey (though I don't know).

spurious

There are always a few souls at the train station lugging bags. You would have to justify getting a taxi any sort of distance if you could have got a train or bus.

jane1234

Hi this is ahahah under a new account. Thanks for your replies. Its Spanish JC. I know I would have to take a bus/train just wondering if its safe to lug around exams at stations etc. Trying to weigh up if its worth doing it as I wont be free for two days and two night over July due to hols.:) Have spent June in School as a reader. I live in South Dublin so it would take me an hour and a half to get to conference.

spurious

It depends when the days you need off are. If they are early on in the marking, you will find it difficult as the first week is non-stop, getting the sample 20 in and then the first 100 scripts done.

After that, the marking scheme is more 'in your head' and barring changes in it, you can make steady progress. If you want some days off you will have to talk to your advising examiner as they can't change the deadlines for you, you'll have to find a way of doing the work in less time.

I've done the lugging of scripts around. It's a pain in the neck, but not impossible.

jane1234

Thanks for replies!
How many might I get for my first time? 100?200? Also when do we get paid for the work normally? Am on the dole so I assume that I'll have to sign off?? Sorry for all the questions I find you all a great help!!

happywithlife

i'm doing a different subject at leaving cert and always get around the 300+ mark - divided into two big bags which would be nigh on impossible to lug around on a train --considering you are not supposed to leave them unattended i can't see how you'd cope unless you made prior arrangements to have someone assist you?
you won't get paid for ages -- an advance does come (supposed to be 5 days post conference but usually takes a bit longer) but i don't get my final pay till bout sept/oct -- and i'm done marking mid july ! when you are on the dole, you need to budget very very carefully -- esp' if you are paying rent etc ...
but i have found it invaluable to be able to talk about it at an interview so for that alone, if the finances allow, it is well worth doing

RealJohn

I always get a little over 300 too (including the first time I did it) but I'm pretty sure that that depends on the subject and level as different subjects have different numbers of sections to mark. I imagine you'll need someone who's done the Spanish themselves to find out what you can expect.

I've never been waiting more than a week for the advance but by the sounds of things from others posting here, you can't depend on that. You will be waiting for the balance though. I think it might have been as late as October for me this year (though I can't remember for sure).

Chris68

Correcting JC Maths, have almost 500 of them to do. Up on last year - more cut backs???

jane1234

Just rang the state exams not very friendly!! They say you must have a car so that's a no no for me. Good luck to anyone else doing the correcting maybe next year when I have a motor!!

gagiteebo

jane1234 wrote: »

Just rang the state exams not very friendly!! They say you must have a car so that's a no no for me. Good luck to anyone else doing the correcting maybe next year when I have a motor!!

They said you must have a car? This is my 5th year correcting and the 1st year I've had a car. I've gotten buses and trains every other year, a pain in the bum but doable. I've never heard the 'you have to have a car' thing. How ridiculous of them!

spurious

jane1234 wrote: »

Just rang the state exams not very friendly!! They say you must have a car so that's a no no for me. Good luck to anyone else doing the correcting maybe next year when I have a motor!!

Well that's a new one. It was never the case that you had to have a car. They end up paying out more in mileage to car owners than they do when paying train fares, but I suppose someone thinks it's a cutback.

highly1111

This is probably something I'll do next year as its most unlikely I'll get a job between now and September. I'm a business teacher and so far there have only being 3 advertised in Dublin - i can't relocate for work as I've 2 small children & a mortgage. Anyway, it's something i'm going to look at for next year - I assume it's too late to apply for this year?? I would have applied earlier in the year but I was assured the person I was covering for on career break wasn't coming back - turns out she now is! So the job hunt starts again.....

easterbride

Some of the people I was at the conference with did not have a car. They got the train to Athlone and then a taxi to the IT. They asked people for a lift to the SEC to collect their bags.
OP you usually apply for correction before Christmas and once you get it they automatically offer it to you the follow year AFAIK.

RealJohn

Sent you a pm Jane.

Postgrad10

I wouldn't have bothered saying anything about not having a car . You could have travelled by bus/ train to Athlone and and just got a taxi after the conference just to collect your scripts .

happywithlife

jane1234 wrote: »

Just rang the state exams not very friendly!! They say you must have a car so that's a no no for me. Good luck to anyone else doing the correcting maybe next year when I have a motor!!

there's def' a line in the claim form for milage or train/taxi fares and a bit about how it must be the most direct route to keep costs down etc ...

you are allowed to do it without a car but it would be a hassle ... but def' do-able.
what about convincing a mate/family member (who has a car) to go shopping for the day in Athlone while you're at the conference ... ?

doc_17

Chris68 wrote: »

Correcting JC Maths, have almost 500 of them to do. Up on last year - more cut backs???

What level? I'm doing JCFL and got 280. There're so easy to correct, I would have loved 500!

Chris68

Higher - not fun. Would be so much easier to correct if they could just fill in the boxes on the exam paper!

Piaf

I've been called up to correct jc higher level English. I only taught covering a sick leave the year after I graduated and didn't get any work the past year as I had a baby. Therein lies the question - I am currently breast feeding a 3 month old. It's exhausting. Would I be mad to even consider it? Advice from people who've done it (and particularly English) would be appreciated.
Thanks!