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Setter/Principal Examiner

The role of the Setter is to write the assessment material (usually comprising a question paper and mark scheme). The role of the Principal Examiner is to mark candidates’ scripts, and where there is a team of examiners, to be responsible for co–ordinating the marking of the Assistant Examiners or Team leaders.

The Setter and the Principal Examiner for a paper will usually be the same person.

Setting

The setter is required to:

• Prepare the first draft of the assessment material according to the syllabus specification, ensuring parity of standards across optional questions on the paper, and ensuring the level of difficulty is consistent with the qualification and with previous years.
• Provide full details of source material used where copyright permission will be required by CIE.
• Submit the draft to CIE within the agreed time–scale and in the format required.
• Prepare a revised draft taking into account the Reviser’s suggestions and incorporating all corrections.
• Attend, where necessary, a meeting at which this revised draft of the assessment material is evaluated and revised (Question Paper Evaluation Meeting or QPEC).
• Revise the assessment material according to decisions taken at this meeting and to submit final drafts to CIE within the agreed time–scale.
• Check and proof read the first proof of the assessment material, indicating any errors.
• Perform all these services in accordance with CIE’s instructions and schedules.

Marking

The Principal Examiner is required to:

• Check the details of the marking panel(s) for which he/she is responsible.
• Check the final proof of the assessment material, ensuring that the mark scheme is fit for purpose and preparing a detailed marking scheme where necessary.
• Read and become familiar with the Instructions for Team Leaders and Principal Examiners booklet supplied by CIE shortly before the marking period.
• Conduct Co–ordination Meetings for Team Leaders and Assistant Examiners marking the paper to ensure that they understand both the administrative procedures and the mark scheme, and will mark consistently and accurately.
• Supervise the work, monitor the standards and report on the work of the Team Leaders and/or Assistant Examiners allocated to them, and to take appropriate steps to ensure accuracy and consistency. This includes:
  • Re–marking samples of scripts from the Team Leaders/Assistant Examiners.
  • Reporting back to them about the consistency of their marking.
  • Being available to guide Examiners over the phone.
  • Recommending scaling of Examiners’ marking, where necessary.
• Mentor new Team Leaders and to ensure that arrangements are in place to mentor new Assistant Examiners.
• Prepare a final mark scheme in order to provide all Examiners with the means to mark scripts consistently and reliably, and to submit a copy of it to CIE.
• Mark a specified number of scripts and, for paper based marking, to appoint a checker to ensure that the recording, addition and transfer of marks to mark sheets have been carried out accurately.
• Prepare reports on the examination, as required for the internal use of CIE and for publication.
• Recommend component grade threshold marks and, if invited, to attend the appropriate Awarding Meeting.
• Assist with any Grade Review and to attend Grade Review Meetings, if requested.
• Undertake re–marking and report writing following result enquiries and appeals.
• Act as a consultant and to offer advice on matters related to the examination, if requested.
• Assist with the provision of training for teachers or Examiners, if requested.
• Advise CIE on the appointment of Team Leaders and Assistant Examiners, if requested.
• Perform all these services in accordance with CIE’s instructions and schedules.

It should be noted that individual roles and responsibilities may vary according to the requirements of the specific qualification, and that the Product Manager responsible for a specific syllabus may revise the role specifications accordingly. These role descriptions give a general overview only of the work normally undertaken by examining personnel and are not inclusive.

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