LC Written Examiners, 2022

gaiscioch

Judging by the request for examiners again today, there seems to still be a shortage of examiners. I applied to examine two subjects, and I rang up today and was told I will be marking one of them. Last time I did it, the net income was about 48% and it was paid four months later, in November, if I recall. I wasn't doing it for the money, needless to say, but that SEC set-up still had a sting of contempt about it.

Now, it is online marking so how does that compare, and what is the money like after all the deductions? (I'm marking all LC HL papers)

mtoutlemonde

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058244687/lc-written-examiners-2022

The SEC have improved a lot with payments. As far as I know, they finish superintendents and then start examiners. I had mine in September.

Online is good - much faster but I miss the admin at the start and meeting people at conference. Everything you do is scruntized (which isn't a bad thing).

gaiscioch

Ah, that sounds much better. Is the "digital marking conference" done online? The trip to Athlone and staying overnight is a thing of the past? Do they post out the sample scripts to everybody before the "conference"? Also, when do they announce the dates of those conferences? The package I received yesterday doesn't state the payment for script in my subject either. When will that be given? And is the PRD/ASC deduction still applied to all payments? (That constituted a c. 10% deduction in the final payment)

mtoutlemonde

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119026948#Comment_119026948

Yes, conference is online. I had three long days last year. Yes, you get samples and scheme sent to you before conference. Can't remember when they announced conferences. There should be a note stating price per script, if not, ring SEC. As for tax etc. I don't know.

jrmb

Does anyone have access to the rates of pay for written examiners this year? I've gone through the SEC website and the documents the SEC sent to me. They say that the rate has been increased, but not what the specific rate is. I know it varies between subjects and levels.

dory

It's not available anywhere from what I can see. Which is weird seeing as they were v upfront about rates for orals. I haven't applied for marking the written paper. Might be convinced if they'd say how much they're paying.

happyoutscan

Is this it? https://www.examinations.ie/misc-doc/BI-RE-16209161.pdf

jrmb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119048752#Comment_119048752

No, thanks for uploading but frustratingly, it isn't. I can see that there's an increase, but it doesn't say what it's an increase on.

Random sample

What’s the subject and level? Someone might know.

the extra €150 per 25 scripts is a lovely bonus too.

dory

I got an excel sheet from the dept with the rates. Just email and ask. €6 if one were to get JC Irish and €35 for higher LC. Either way I give up July so not worth the gamble.

Treppen

€6 per script seems low! Would you fly through them with the changes to the exam?

dory

There are no changes to JC . No Covid changes anyway. Just the new course. I'd be recorrecting again and again as they try to make some sort of curve out of the new JC mess....

dorothyramey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058244687/lc-written-examiners-2022

Good that the conference is online. It's much more convenient

spurious

What the fiddly faddle takes two days in a conference?

We haven't had a conference in years but we struggled to put in more than an hour and a half after lunch. JC common level subject.

Random sample

When there’s 2 components. Or if the marking is going online there’s a second day for getting started at that . Beyond that, for a JC one paper subject, I can’t see what would take 2 days.

pandoraj09

Our conference is 3 days online LCHL

Random sample

https://www.examinations.ie/misc-doc/EN-RE-59722618.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3J7qOCjNnHkJoD24nozvaMxx5tlqy8Qunhi9z8P0rXfumG312as2Bse7U

Just saw this on voice for teachers. Holy crap some of the conferences are very late. There’s no way the results will be out on time.

Treppen

I suspect the SEC are manufacturing the delay.... or else just not very adept at organising it properly. Don't get me wrong though, I found them very good during and after the exams with invigilation and marking... But before exams is just a mess.

There was another newspaper article on VFT about how the shortage of staff increased the need for teachers to correct their own students .

Many posts after it were from teachers who applied and never heard back. And teachers who hadn't applied but we're contacted. Every year they leave it to the last minute with appointments and then say they are at crisis.

Writing is on the wall.

spurious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119103904#Comment_119103904

Sprioc Laethanta as late as 11 August does not bode at all well for LC results before the end of the month. Only after the LC results do they switch to processing the JC, so they could even be the end of September at that rate.

Random sample

JC was October in 2019 to allow for speedy delivery of appeals. Some of the sprioclá’s are 14/15. People will be expecting results by then.

only thing I can think is maybe there’s less admin on the online marking.

Random sample

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/why-are-fewer-teachers-signing-up-to-mark-the-state-exams-1.4881092?fbclid=IwAR3C_d77BOw6ay-dPZ94Fiwyb9ejIHvFm0gCHmUjrgm8MGdtIP6rbSZUYh4&fs=e&s=cl

I wonder did the SEC pay for this ad? It’s shocking.

spurious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119108883#Comment_119108883

Lack of examiners plus allowing for the late second sitting people (though I suppose there would not be too many of them)?

Only found out recently there was not an automatic roll over of the old Advising and Chief Examiners in JC subjects that are at a Common Level for the first time, which may have resulted in a lot of people dropping out/not bothering.

gaiscioch

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119156509#Comment_119156509

Are they going to pay examiners faster? It took months for me to be paid the last time I did examining - and a full 48% of the payment was taken off me in a variety of taxes/PRD/USC, etc. They could work on that for starters.

rainbowtrout

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119156516#Comment_119156516

It possibly has an effect, but in reality with JC English, Maths (and I presume Irish) going to one paper, they only need half the number of examiners for the core subjects. I suspect it's more to do with examiners not marking for two years and they have enjoyed having July off and are managing without the money so haven't signed up again for 2022. Or some of them moved to LC and the main shortfall is now in JC.

am_zarathustra

Has anyone actually heard back from the SEC? Haven't heard anything since I emailed back the confirmation in March.

History Queen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119161876#Comment_119161876

I didn't hear back since then either but a colleague had so I emailed them to confirm and got an email back confirming they'd received my confirmation.

SEC not coming across as efficient as they normally do this year. Take a look at the Superintendent thread. Must be something in the water in Athlone.

joebloggs32

Doing LC Higher level Geography for the first time.

Does anyone know roughly how many scripts i should expect to get and what is the rate per paper?

gaiscioch

They must be especially desperate for examiners this year as the main story on The Irish Times today is:

'Appeal for teachers to take examiner roles as State exams begin' (https://www.irishtimes.com/)

gaiscioch

Has anybody ever corrected two LC HL subjects in the one year?

spurious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119173020#Comment_119173020

I know they wouldn't let me do it for two JC subjects (both with quite small numbers) a while ago, but maybe if they are desperate...

Numbersman

Hey hope this isn’t a stupid/waste of everyone’s time question.

i saw that the sec are really looking for examiners. I’ve just finished my level 8 degree in business and accounting (1:1) and wondering would they even bother having me? I see they’re needing across the board for JC and LC business. Not a teacher myself but have done some grinds. Would it be a waste of time / avoid being laughed by the SEC for looking into applying. Don’t have any summer work and thought it might help with giving grinds in the future, thanks.

spurious

Do you have a Teaching Council number (or would the qualification you have entitle you to be registered with them)?

From their site:

Qualifications

• Registered with the Teaching Council as a teacher of the subject concerned, or holding qualification sufficient for such registration.
• Further qualifications (in the subject or in education).

Applicants with the necessary qualification in the subject but not yet qualified as teachers will be considered only if vacancies remain after all suitable and fully qualified applicants have been offered appointment.

Numbersman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119174776#Comment_119174776

No. Seems like I answered my own question but I thought did take on grads before maybe I’m wrong.

spurious

After I posted, I double checked (and edited my post). If your degree is one that would allow you to register with the TC, you might get somewhere. Worth an email anyway.

Numbersman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119174818#Comment_119174818

Thanks a million for the help, degree shouldn’t be a bother as past graduates have gone on to be teachers with the same degree as me. I’ll email anyway and sure no harm so, is there a specific one or a general enquiry email?

Random sample

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119174853#Comment_119174853

I’d go with examiners@examinations.ie

I offered to mark a second subject this year that doesn’t conflict with my dates and they told me they won’t allow it. They obviously aren’t that short!

happyoutscan

I wouldn't mind correcting, but a it states you are required for Virtual Conference from 22/06/22-23/06/22 (paid) which is fine.

Then, it states that 'Your work as an examiner will require your full time attention from the date of the conference outlined above until 19-07-22, or 26 days approximately.' (This taken from letter a friend received).

Looking at the calendar, this leaves absolutely zero days off during this time, or am I missing anything? I'd like to do it, but I need some flexibility what with kids, etc.

Also, from what I hear the taxman destroys you by the time you get paid in November.

I don't know what to do (I'd be correcting JC if I was to do so).

Random sample

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119207134#Comment_119207134

The conference days are full on. You will get all the material to be discussed in the post beforehand, and you need to be fully engaged with it to get a full understanding of the marking scheme.

After that, you need to get a sample 20 done in two days. They are intense enough days too. Then you will be given a timetable to get the scripts marked, with deadlines for each 100. It’s usually about a week for the first 100, then less for subsequent 100s as you get quicker.

Ive always managed to take afternoons off, and rarely do much on a Sunday, maybe a couple of hours Sunday evening to set me up for the following week. It is flexible so long as you are putting the hours in. I could work 6-10 in the morning and go back from 2-6 in the afternoon. I’d get more done that way than if I kept at and got tired.

If you are disciplined, it is fine. I can do 8 hour days 5 days and still be done well ahead of schedule. Where it might get stressful is if there’s a delay between sample 20 and getting clearance to go ahead with other scripts.

The lowest I’ve heard of anyone come out with is €1800, but it will depend on how many scripts you get, and don’t forget there’s the extra €3 per script this year. I don’t think about the gross, I cut everything in half in my head before I add it up and I’m happy enough with whatever I get then.

The sec have been quite efficient with payments this year, and have promised all payment within 6 weeks of getting your form.

happyoutscan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119207397#Comment_119207397

Wow, thank you for such a brilliant post. I appreciate it very much!

Finally, do I have any say in the number of scripts they would be giving me? I would be marking JC History and it is ridiculously straight forward with little to no long answer questions in it.

Wonder if this would impact the additional € per script?

Thank you again for the info!

spurious

You would probably get 350 - 400 scripts for JC History. Maybe a bit less. It depends how many examiners they have.

There's never anything straightforward. There may be re-marking going on. You will be given guidance and your marking will be checked to make sure everyone is doing the same thing.

Random sample

You don’t have a say in how many you get, but really, unless you are getting over the norm it doesn’t change the workload in the early days, the deadlines are the same for everyone.

In an ideal world, remarking would only happen after the random sample, so you’d only have 20 to remark (and 4 of them will have been checked by your advisor). Your advisor will check 4 from each 100 you do too, and this may lead to remarks of individual questions.

happyoutscan

Some really good advice, thank you both.

spurious

The whole experience of examining it is absolutely worthwhile in terms of how you prepare the children for exams and if reports are to be believed, maybe even money-wise this year, depending on your tax arrangements.

It's pretty full on for the first 100 maybe 200, then you get quicker at it. Depending on your domestic arrangements you can arrange your days to suit you. I am an early riser so I would often be at it at 6am, break for breakfast about 9 and finish for the day before 1.

gaiscioch

Why does it take so long between the actual LC exam and the conference day? There are a full 18 days between both in my subject. That really drags out the summer.

Random sample

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119218550#Comment_119218550

I have read elsewhere that junior cycle subjects that were supposed to go online are now being marked on paper because of a backlog in the scanning office. I’d say that is slowing down the LC process too. You’d imagine reducing the numbers marked online or increasing staff in the scanning office would have sped things up.

smallgarden

It's possibly to allow for people doing superintending as well. I finish superintending and have conference about 2 days later.

Random sample

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119218713#Comment_119218713

Conferences are running into mid July. I haven’t seen that happen before. We used to be one of the last conferences on 6/7 July.

smorlaith

Anyone know generally how long the online marking conferences run to in the day? For JC Science (online) the letter says 28th-30th starting 09:30 but no rough finish time. Unsure if I'd need to cancel something I was meant to attend on the 28th in late afternoon.

Just qualified teaching and first time marking; looking forward to it, but I expect that novelty may run out quickly!

Thanking you kindly!

am_zarathustra

Usually finished by 3.30 or 4pm, the first day tends to be the longest, that's for LC though but I can't imagine it being less for JC from what I remember of correcting it a few years ago. Really nice advising examiners ect so let them know if there are any issues and definitely ask them once your advising examiner contacts you, I had a family emergency during my first year correcting JC science bad they were unbelievably kind and accommodating!

Numbersman

For anyone who got the letter for correcting this year could ye give a summary of the important stuff that should be known from it (like any forms to be filled back or information on about the conference, scripts or other material being sent out and all that) was told I would be correcting and I’d get a letter which was posted last week but still didn’t receive it. Thanks

spurious

You should ring the SEC and check it was sent.

Anyone giving you information about SEC procedures, please do it by PM, not on the public forum.