Key stage 2 tests: how to become a marker
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-01)

Guidance about how to become a marker for the key stage 2 (KS2) English and mathematics tests.

Markers for the 2026 national curriculum tests are recruited by Pearson, the Standards and Testing Agency’s external supplier. Pearson manages the relationship with markers.

Marker roles and criteria

Marker roles are available for the:
- KS2 English grammar, punctuation and spelling tests
- KS2 English reading test
- KS2 mathematics tests
All markers will need to be able to work accurately at speed and demonstrate a positive approach to pupils’ work.

Teachers in independent schools are not eligible, unless they also have experience as a qualified teacher in a maintained school.

If you are subject to a teaching ban or prohibition order, you will not be offered a contract.

Entry-level marker roles

Each test subject has a marking hierarchy, meaning that all new markers must start at entry level and can then work their way up through the hierarchy. New markers can apply for any given test subject through one of three roles:
- clerical marker
- regular marker
- specialist marker
Clerical markers:
- will have at least 3 A levels or equivalent post-16 academic qualifications recognised in the UK
- are not required to be qualified teachers or graduates – Pearson will train them to accurately apply the mark scheme for clerical items at the required standard
Regular markers will:
- have a degree or equivalent qualification
- have qualified teacher status (QTS) and a valid teacher reference number (TRN)
- be a primary school teacher, or a secondary school teacher in the relevant subject
- need at least one full academic year’s experience teaching the national curriculum for England
- have recent KS2 teaching experience
- demonstrate subject-specific expertise and knowledge for the relevant subject to mark pupil responses classified as ‘regular’ items
- use professional judgement and subject-specific knowledge to accurately apply the mark scheme
Specialist markers will:
- have a degree or equivalent qualification
- have QTS and a valid TRN
- be a primary school teacher, or a secondary school teacher in the relevant subject
- need at least one full academic year’s experience teaching the national curriculum for England
- have recent KS2 teaching experience
- demonstrate subject-specific expertise and knowledge for the relevant subject to mark pupil responses classified as ‘specialist’ items
- use professional judgement and subject-specific knowledge to accurately apply the mark scheme
- ideally have worked as a subject leader in a primary school for the relevant subject
Roles for experienced and high-graded markers

Experienced and high-graded markers can apply to become team leaders or senior markers.

Team leaders supervise other markers and will:
- have a degree or equivalent qualification
- have QTS and a valid TRN
- be, or have been, a primary school teacher or senior marker
- need at least 2 full academic years’ experience teaching the national curriculum for England
- have held the position of a supervisory marker role or achieved the highest grade as a marker in the subject
- demonstrate subject-specific expertise and knowledge to lead on the marking of pupil responses across all item types
Pearson may offer roles in the marking hierarchy directly to experienced markers, based on their grading. Markers can only progress through the hierarchy one role and subject at a time.

Apply to be a marker

From Monday 8 December, you can apply to be a marker for the 2026 KS2 tests on the Pearson website (https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-for-you/assessment-associates/vacancies/working-with-us.html).

If you have:
- previously worked as a marker for Capita, Pearson will email you with information about which roles you are eligible to apply for
- not been a marker before, you will be eligible to apply for entry-level roles only
We encourage you to apply for your preferred marker role by the end of February.

Marker training

Successful applicants will receive full training on the marking processes and how to apply the mark scheme accurately. This will include mandatory e-learning and virtual mark scheme training. There will also be ongoing support from a marking supervisor.

The virtual mark scheme training meeting for entry-level markers will take place in May 2026, shortly after pupils take the tests. This will ensure all markers understand the relevant mark scheme and all marking procedures, and introduce them to the support network available throughout the process. After the virtual mark scheme training, the successful applicants will practise their ability to mark accurately and consistently by marking a set of practice test items. They must also successfully mark and pass qualification items to demonstrate that they can accurately apply the mark scheme, before being approved to mark pupil responses.

Marking the tests

Approved markers who have passed qualification will mark items from the 2026 KS2 test scripts between May and mid-June 2026. Markers are expected to mark their allocation within 3 weeks.

Supervisors will assess accuracy through seed items and provide feedback, where required, throughout the marking period. This ensures that all markers are working at the agreed standard.

User acceptance testing

User acceptance testing (UAT) is part of Pearson’s rigorous testing of the marker training materials to ensure they are clear, useful and comprehensive.

From December, Pearson will appoint a small group of markers from each subject and from different levels within the marking hierarchy to test the marker training materials before marking begins in May 2026.

Markers who are contracted to complete UAT will be paid in line with their UAT contract terms, and must be available from 8:30am to 5pm on:
- Friday 13 February 2026
- Saturday 14 February 2026
- Sunday 15 February 2026
Pearson will contact selected markers with more information in December.