A: NESA is the acronym for the NSW Education Standards Authority. They are previously known as the NSW Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES).

A: In 2025, the marking of NSW NAPLAN Writing assessments will be conducted in two streams:
Centre-Based Marking (Sydney)
Home-Based Marking

Markers will have the option to work from our marking centre at the Canterbury Park Racecourse in Sydney, or to work from home.

A: Centre-Based Marking (Sydney)
Marking will begin as soon as marker training is completed. Training sessions will be conducted in the week of 10 March 2025.

Home-Based Marking
Marking will begin as soon as marker training is completed. Training sessions will be conducted in the week of 10 March 2025.

*Note: Dates and times may be subject to change.

A: Marking generally runs for approximately 4 to 6 weeks. We are unable to provide a fixed end date as we complete marking once all scripts in the system have been marked. You will be notified of a completion date closer to the end of the marking operation.

A: There will be no marking during the Easter public holiday.

A: Main applications closed on 21 February 2025.

A: You will need to have been teaching English or Social Sciences in an Australian Primary or Secondary School for at least 1 year, or hold NESA Conditional or Provisional Accreditation.

A: The recruitment process for NAPLAN marking is slightly different depending on whether or not you have marked with us before.

If you are a new marker, you will be undergoing the following recruitment steps:-

1. Submission of your application - Your application will be reviewed by our recruitment team to assess your eligibility based on the requirements of the role.
2. Phone screening - If you are successful in the initial review of your submitted application, we will advance you on to phone screening where we will conduct a one-on-one phone interview with you. We will make a second assessment of your application based on the information provided during the phone screening stage.
3. Notification of application outcome - Once we have reviewed your entire application, we will advise you of the outcome of your application (successful/unsuccessful) via phone or email.
4. Employment contract - If successful, you will receive the employment contract as well as new hire documentation for you to complete. You will need to accept and complete all paperwork and return them as soon as possible to enable us to set you up in our payroll system. You will also need to complete and bring along your Right to Work in Australia form and appropriate identification (i.e. passport) with you on the first day of training at your allocated training centre.**

**Please note that your eligibility to begin marking is contingent upon you completing the NESA NAPLAN Writing Course even after you have accepted the employment contract. However, completion of the NAPLAN Writing course prior to Step 3 does not guarantee your employment in NAPLAN marking.

If you have previously marked with us as a Pearson marker, you will be undergoing the following recruitment steps:-

1. Submission of your application - You will be required to submit your application through the same recruitment portal so that we are aware that you are interested in NAPLAN marking for the current year. We will assess your application accordingly.
2. Notification of application outcome - Once we have reviewed your application, we will advise you of the outcome of your application (successful/unsuccessful) via phone or email.
3. Assignment letter - If you are successful, we will send out an assignment letter for the current project for you to accept through the recruitment portal. You will also need to advise us of any changes to your right to work, tax declarations and/or superannuation via email. You will also ensure that your contact and banking details are up-to-date on the ADP Employee self-service platform.

A: We are happy for you to complete and submit your certificate of completion to us at the contract stage. Please bear in mind that your job offer is contingent upon you completing the NAPLAN Online Writing course prior to the commencement of live training.

A: In order to be eligible for NAPLAN marking as a new marker, you MUST have successfully passed the screening process AND completed the NAPLAN Writing Course prior to attending training. Completion of the NAPLAN Writing course prior to completion of the screening process will not guarantee you a position in NAPLAN marking. The NAPLAN Writing Course must be completed by 28 February 2025.

Instructions on how to access the NAPLAN Writing Course can be found in I am new to NAPLAN Writing. Are there any prerequisites for me to be eligible to mark? above.

Each course will contribute 11.5 hours of NESA Professional Development Log in the priority area of Delivery and assessment of NSW Curriculum/Early Years Learning Framework addressing standard descriptor 5.1.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

A: If you are a previous NAPLAN marker, you will NOT be required to complete the NAPLAN Online Writing Course. However, you are more than welcome to access the NAPLAN Online Writing Courses as a refresher to your previous NAPLAN Writing training.

Each course will contribute 11.5 hours of NESA Professional Development Log in the priority area of Delivery and assessment of NSW Curriculum/Early Years Learning Framework addressing standard descriptor 5.1.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

A: Main applications closed on 21 February 2025. Applicants will be notified by 28 February 2025 on the outcome of their application.

A: You can access the recruitment website at: www.pearsonra.com.au/people. Click on "Forgot your Username or Password?" (please bear in mind that the email address for login may not be the same as your contact email address). Fill in the details requested.

Allow up to 15 minutes for the system to send a temporary password to your contact email. Once you have logged in using your temporary password you will be prompted to set a new password.

A: Please email: naplanmarking@pearson.com with your full name. It would be very helpful for us if you could also include a brief explanation of the reason for your withdrawal.

A: Please email: naplanmarking@pearson.com with your full name and state that you do not wish to be contacted in the future.

A: It is not mandatory to have the NESA accreditation number to apply for marking. Please type 'N/A' in the NESA number box if you do not have a current NESA number. However, please be aware that no PD hours will go towards maintaining your NSW Proficient Teacher accreditation upon completing either of the writing courses through NESA Learning hub.

A: The shifts for centre-based markers are as follows:

Weekday Morning Shift:
8AM - 3PM Monday to Friday, plus one nominated weekend shift

Weekday Evening Shift:
4PM - 8:45PM Monday to Friday, plus one nominated weekend shift

Weekend Shift:
8AM - 3PM Saturday or Sunday (in addition to your scheduled weekday shift)

*Note: Marking shift dates and times may be subject to change

A: The Sydney Marking and Training Centre is located at:
Canterbury Park Racecourse
King Street
Canterbury, NSW 2193

A: Sydney Marking and Training Centre
Yes, parking at the Racecourse is available at no cost. Please do not park at the front of the building as that is reserved parking.

A: Centre-based marking (Sydney)
Morning Shift
30 minute lunch break
15 minute tea break

Evening Shift
30 minute dinner break

A: Home marking is available to markers residing in both metropolitan and regional NSW and ACT who find it difficult to mark from the Sydney marking centre.

A: In 2025, home marking is available to candidates including those who reside in the Sydney metropolitan area. Candidates from ACT and regionally based in NSW are still eligible to apply for home marking as with previous years.

A: Home marking is available to markers residing in both metropolitan and regional NSW and ACT who find it difficult to mark from the Sydney Marking Centre.

A: It is expected for home-based markers to commit to at least 4 hours of marking (including 2 hours of continuous marking during the mandatory marking period) per day, for a minimum of 6 days per week during the live marking period.

A: Home-based markers are required to commit to at least 4 hours* of marking (with appropriate breaks) for a minimum of 6 days a week.
*Marking hours must include the mandatory marking times of 8:00am - 10:00am OR 4:00pm - 6:00pm on each marking day.

**Note: Marking shift dates and times may be subject to change.

A: In 2025, live training for home-based markers will be conducted in multiple formats, both on location at training centres around NSW and ACT, and remotely online. All new markers are encouraged to attend face-to-face training. Further details will be provided closer to the training date.

A: These are the basic computer requirements for the purposes of home marking:

System Type: PC
Operating System: Windows 7 or later
Display requirements: 1366 x 768 minimum resolution*
Internet Browser: Google Chrome (recommended)
Mozilla Firefox
Microsoft Edge

Network: Broadband (2.5 Mbps or higher)**

*Due to resolution and display requirements, tablets (including iPads) are not supported.
**During the course of online marking, markers can expect to download up to 700MB of data. No reimbursement is available for data usage.

A: These are the basic computer requirements for the purposes of home marking:

System Type: Mac
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.10 or later
Display requirements: 1366 x 768 minimum resolution*
Internet Browser: Google Chrome (recommended)
Mozilla Firefox
Microsoft Edge
Safari

Network: Broadband (2.5 Mbps or higher)**

*Due to resolution and display requirements, tablets (including iPads) are not supported.
**During the course of online marking, markers can expect to download up to 700MB of data. No reimbursement is available for data usage.

A: Please note in your application that you are interested in a Group Leader position.
Click here to apply for NAPLAN Group Leading & Professional Leading.

A: All group leaders are required to work a 5-day weekday shift (Morning or Evening), AND one weekend shift (Saturday or Sunday) during the live marking period. Group leaders can be located in the marking centre or be home-based.

The shifts for Group Leaders are as follows:

Weekday Morning Shift:
8AM - 3PM Monday to Friday, plus one nominated weekend shift

Weekday Evening Shift:
4PM - 8:45PM Monday to Friday, plus one nominated weekend shift

Weekend Shift:
8AM - 3PM Saturday or Sunday (in addition to your scheduled weekday shift)

*Note: Marking shift dates and times may be subject to change.

A: In 2025, all markers are required to complete the ACARA online module AND attend a live training session. New markers are encouraged to attend face-to-face live training. Specific training dates and requirements will be updated when available.

Group Leaders and Professional Leaders will also be required to attend role specific training in the lead up to live marking. Group Leaders are encouraged to attend face-to-face live training.

NB: Only the NESA Learning writing courses, Assessing writing using the NAPLAN marking guide, persuasive or narrative, will automatically be reflected in your eTAMS Professional Development Log. For further details on Teacher accreditation please refer to https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/teacher-accreditation.

A: Markers are required to complete the ACARA online training modules at their own pace starting from 12 March 2025. This must be completed before you attend live training.

Sydney Training and Marking Centre

Group Leader Training
Date: 15 March 2025
Time: 9:30am - 3:00pm
 
Centre Marker Training
Date: 17 March 2025
Time: Day 8:00am - 3:00pm OR Evening 4:00pm - 8:45pm
Note:  Please plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of your shift for registration.

Home Marker Training
Following the completion of the ACARA online training module, home markers are required to attend online live training event or attend a training venue in person. We strongly encourage all markers to attend a training venue, however, new markers are expected to attend training on location at one of our several training centres. Please email naplanmarking@pearson.com to request for a change if you wish to attend a training venue instead.
Date: 16 March 2025 (onsite Sydney & Regional Areas)
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Date: 17 March 2025 (Online)
Time: Day 9:00am - 1:30pm OR Evening 4:00pm - 8:30pm

*Dates/times subject to change.*

A: Centre-based markers will attend training at the Sydney Marking Centre. We highly encourage all markers to attend a training venue, however, new markers are highly encouraged to attend face-to-face training.

If you are a home marker, you will be attending training either online or at one of the training centres around NSW or ACT. The training venues are:
Sydney: Canterbury Park Racecourse
Newcastle: Novotel Newcastle Beach
Canberra: Thoroughbred Park
Ballina: Ballina Byron Islander Resort

If you are unable to attend a training venue, a remote training session is available. Please email naplanmarking@pearson.com at least 5 days before the start of training to request for this change.

A: Please refer to the 'Pay' section in this FAQ.

A: Yes, training is compulsory for all markers and group leaders regardless of whether you are new or have worked with us before. You will be required to complete the training program prior to the start of marking. New markers are encouraged to attend face-to-face live training.

A: It is compulsory for all markers to attend live training to be eligible for live marking, regardless of whether they have completed the NESA NAPLAN Writing Course, Assessing Writing using the NAPLAN marking guide. New markers are encouraged to attend face-to-face live training.

A: The current pay rates for NAPLAN 2025 are detailed below:

Centre-based marker: $54.64 per hour
Home-based marker: $5.40 per script, $1.00 per blank script (live marking); $54.64 per hour (training)
Group Leader: $65.71 per hour
Professional Leader: $78.40 per hour

A: Yes, you will be paid at the hourly rate that applies to your role.

If you are a centre-based marker, please enter your training hours into the timesheet system.

If you are a home-based marker, you will be paid at an hourly rate up to the completion of training. Your script rate will be applied once you commence marking the practice scripts.

A: Meal breaks (lunch and dinner) are not paid. Morning tea break is paid.

A: New hires
Once your new hire paperwork has been completed and lodged, you will receive payroll login details at the start of marking.

Previous employees
These details were emailed to you in the previous year at the start of marking. If you cannot find the email, you may contact prapayroll@pearson.com with the subject line: Payroll Login Details - Your full name.
* Please allow up to 5 business days for your request to be processed.

A: Payments are made on a fortnightly basis; the first fortnightly payment will be on 27 March 2025. If you are new to Pearson, then we will need to have received all your completed new hire documents before training to be included in the first fortnightly pay cycle.

A: Only the NESA Learning writing courses, Assessing writing using the NAPLAN marking guide, persuasive or narrative, will automatically be reflected in your eTAMS Professional Development Log. For further details on Teacher accreditation please refer to https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/teacher-accreditation.

A: In the first instance, please check our FAQs for recruitment and payroll: https://www.pearsonra.com.au/casualstaff

A: Please direct your queries regarding recruitment to: naplanmarking@pearson.com (preferred) or contact our helpdesk at 1800 959 427.