Frequently Asked Questions
If this is your first time applying to mark NSW NAPLAN with Pearson, we hope you'll find the answers to your questions here.
Pearson recruits new people to mark NSW NAPLAN every year; we are always keen to hear from new applicants, including student-teachers, current teachers and retired teachers.
New Markers are generally required to attend training in-person at our Sydney Marking Centre, and can choose to undertake live marking either in-person at our marking centre, or from home.
What to know about NSW NAPLAN marking
Availability
Markers will need to be available to complete all training in the weeks prior to live marking. Live marking lasts between 4-6 weeks; during this time, markers will need to be available to work 6 days per week.
Support
New Markers will be supported by experienced markers, group leaders and Pearson staff to make sure you can mark exams smoothly and promptly. You'll be given thorough training before live marking begins, and will be able to get real-time help during live marking.
General
Find out more about how NSW NAPLAN is supported by Pearson
What is NAPLAN?
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a standardised test in Australia that assesses students’ reading, writing, language, and numeracy skills. It is designed to assess the ability of students relative to their year group at a national level. This test is carried out annually to all primary and secondary school students in Year 3, 5, 7 and 9.
How is NAPLAN marked?
Pearson is engaged by NESA to facilitate the marking of NAPLAN exams. Pearson recruits Australian teachers to mark the papers, providing training, resources and support to ensure that all the exams are marked accurately and promptly. All marking occurs digitally, within our secure online platforms.
What is NESA?
NESA is the NSW Education Standards Authority. They were previously known as the NSW Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES). NESA is the government authority that organises the NAPLAN exam in New South Wales. Pearson is engaged by NESA to facilitate the marking of the NAPLAN exam.
Does marking occur in the Pearson office, or would I work from home?
In 2027, 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.
When will marking begin?
Training sessions will be conducted in the week of 8 March 2027. Marking will take place from Monday 16 March for approximately four to six weeks. There will be no marking over the Easter break.
What does a typical day of marking look like?
We know that many markers will have jobs or other commitments. When marking for Pearson, we expect that you will be available for one shift per day, six days per week during the marking period.
There are different shifts for centre-based markers and home markers: please check the FAQs below to see how shifts work for each role.
When will marking conclude?
Marking generally runs for approximately four to six 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.
Will there be marking over the Easter break?
There will be no marking during the from Good Friday to Easter Monday, we will take a break for the long weekend.
Do I need to be available for the entire marking period?
Yes, if you are offered a role to mark NSW NAPLAN 2027 we will need you to be available during the entire marking period. We work hard to ensure all exams are marked promptly and the results are shared back with NESA and the schools as quickly as possible.
Am I able to travel overseas and continue marking on my trip?
No, all marking must be completed within Australia. Our platforms are geolocked and you will not be able to access the live marking if you're outside the country. International travel may make you ineligible to mark NSW NAPLAN: please discuss any travel plans with our team during your phone interview.
Recruitment
Find out more about the application and recruitment process.
How do I apply for NAPLAN Marking?
Click here to apply for NSW NAPLAN Marking. We will be accepting applications until 27 January 2027. After this time, you can Contact Us to apply for the reserve list of markers for 2027, or express interest in marking in 2028.
When do applications for NAPLAN Marking roles close?
We will be accepting applications until 27 January 2027. After this time, you can Contact Us to apply for the reserve list of markers for 2027, or express interest in marking in 2028.
What qualifications do I need to be eligible to mark?
You need to have a teaching degree specialising in English or be in your final year of studying a relevant teaching degree. It is also helpful to have experience teaching English in an Australian Primary or Secondary School for at least one year, or hold NESA Conditional or Provisional Accreditation. Relevant and recent marking experience is also taken into consideration. Current and retired English teachers are encouraged to apply.
Markers will also need to successfully complete one of these NESA courses prior to attending training:
Assessing writing using the NAPLAN writing marking guide – narrative
OR
Assessing writing using the NAPLAN writing marking guide – persuasive
See our FAQ section on NSW Courses for more information.
What is the recruitment process?
Our recruitment process has four main 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 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.
You will then complete training with both Pearson and NESA before you begin live marking.
Please see our FAQs on NESA Courses and Training for more information.
When will I find out if my application has been successful?
Main applications will close on 27 January 2027. Applicants will be notified via email by 28 February 2027 of the outcome of their application.
I'm a retired teacher, can I apply for a marking role?
Yes, retired teachers are encouraged to apply.
I'm studying my teaching degree now, can I apply for a marking role?
Yes, students who are nearing completion of their degree are welcome to apply.
I don't know my login details (my username and/or password) to the recruitment portal - what should I do?
Click here to reset your password for our recruitment portal: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25297&siteid=5450#ForgotUsernamePassword
Or you can Contact Us: link
I no longer want to be contacted in the future for NAPLAN marking. How do I inform Pearson about this?
Please email naplanmarking@pearson.com with your full name and state that you do not wish to be contacted in the future.
I do not have a NESA accreditation number. Can I still apply for NAPLAN marking?
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.
I need to travel within Australia and will not have reliable internet access for a few days during live marking, can I still apply?
Yes you can still apply - please make our recruitment team aware of all your planned travel, including school camps and other commitments that will take you away from reliable internet access or otherwise disrupt your regular commitment to marking.
If we are not notified of periods when you are unable to meet the requirements of the role, you may be withdrawn from marking.
If I'm unsuccessful this year, can I apply again next year?
Yes you are welcome to reapply even if you have applied to mark in the past and been unsuccessful. Each year our requirements may differ and each year we run a fresh recruitment process.
NESA Courses
To be eligible to mark NSW NAPLAN, you must have completed at least one of these free professional accreditation courses that are offered by NESA:
- Assessing writing using the NAPLAN writing marking guide – narrative
- Assessing writing using the NAPLAN writing marking guide – persuasive
I am currently a teacher: how do I access the NESA NAPLAN Writing course?
Visit: https://lms.nesa.nsw.edu.au/NesaHub/Login
Login with your school email address to access the NESA Hub Learning Management System.
For help logging into this platform and completing the NAPLAN Writing Course, please contact NESA directly:
Phone: 1300 739 338
Email: contactus@nesa.nsw.edu.au
Once you have completed the course in full, please send a copy of your certificate of completion to Pearson: naplanmarking@pearson.com
I'm not currently teaching (I'm retired, or a student-teacher): how do I access the NESA NAPLAN Writing course?
If you know your login for the NESA Learning Hub, you can login now: https://learning.nesa.nsw.edu.au/login/canvas
If you don't know your login for the NESA Learning Hub:
1. Email the NESA NAPLAN team: naplan.nsw@nesa.nsw.edu.au
2. Subject: New NAPLAN marker LMS access
3. Provide the following details:
- Outline the reason: I am a new NAPLAN marker and need to login to the Learning Hub to complete my NAPLAN Writing Course training. Please organise my access to the NESA LMS.
- your email address
- first name
- last name
4. You will receive a confirmation email from NESA Learning with instructions for logging on to the platform.
To access the course:
- Log into NESA Learning: https://lms.nesa.nsw.edu.au/
- Select 'Hub'
- Search for 'Assessing writing using the NAPLAN marking guide'
- Select either narrative or persuasive
Once you have completed the course in full, please send a copy of your certificate of completion to Pearson: naplanmarking@pearson.com
Does the time spent on the NAPLAN Writing Course count towards my PD accreditation?
Yes, the time spent on the training course is counted as part of your professional development. For more information, please visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/teacher-accreditation/maintain-accreditation/professional-development-requirements
How many accredited professional development hours am I eligible to receive for completion of a NESA Learning writing course?
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.
Will I be paid for the time spent completing the NAPLAN Writing Course?
No, you will not be compensated by Pearson for the time spent on this course. NESA will accrue the time spent against your PD requirements to support your ongoing teaching accreditation.
When do I need to complete the NESA NAPLAN Writing Course?
You can complete the NAPLAN Writing Course at any time during the recruitment process. We ask all markers to complete the NESA NAPLAN Writing course by 26 February 2027.
You may prefer to wait to complete the course until you receive an offer of employment as a marker for 2027, or you may prefer to complete the course early.
Markers will not be able to access live marking until Pearson receives a copy of your certificate of completion for this course.
Please note that completing the course early does not guarantee that an offer of employment will be made.
I am having difficulties accessing the NESA NAPLAN Writing Course, who should I contact for assistance?
Please direct your queries regarding the NESA Assessing writing using the NAPLAN marking guide course to the NESA NAPLAN team.
Email: naplan.nsw@nesa.nsw.edu.au
Telephone: (02) 9367 8382
Centre-based marking
If you would like to work from our Sydney Marking and Training Centre, you'll be required to attend the marking centre in-person 6 days a week during the live marking period. If you need more flexibility with your working hours, home-marking may be a better fit for you.
What are the working hours and shift times for centre-based markers during the live marking period?
Centre-based markers work Monday-Friday every week during live marking, and also work either Saturday or Sunday each week.
You can choose to work either Mornings or Evenings, and you can choose which weekend shift works best for you as well.
We all take a break over the Easter holidays.
The shifts for centre-based markers are:
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
Where is the Sydney Training and Marking Centre?
The Sydney Marking and Training Centre is located at:
Canterbury Park Racecourse
King Street
Canterbury, NSW 2193
Will parking be available at the venue?
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.
What are the break times for centre-based marking?
Centre-Based Marking (Sydney)
Morning Shift
30 minute lunch break
15 minute tea break
Evening Shift
30 minute dinner break
Can I change from being a centre-based marker to marking from home?
Yes we can usually accommodate changes like this. Please Contact Us to discuss your options: naplanmarking@pearson.com
Home Marking
Home marking offers a lot of flexibility: home markers are asked to be online for live marking 6 days per week, for a minimum of 4 hours per day.
You will be required to be online for one of the following mandatory marking times each day:
- 8:00am - 10:00am OR
- 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Otherwise, you will be able to set your own working hours throughout the day, any time between 8:00am - 10:00pm, whenever suits you best. Group leaders and technical support will be available all day.
Home markers will need to have their own computer, a reliable internet connection, and private workspace.
Can I mark from home?
Yes, as a new marker you can choose to mark from home. You will still be asked to attend our Marking and Training Centre in-person for one training session: if you're based in regional NSW or the ACT, and are unable to attend the in-person training, you're still invited to apply for a marking role. Please discuss your options with our recruitment team during your phone interview.
Am I able to travel overseas and continue marking on my trip?
No, all marking must be completed within Australia. Our platforms are geolocked and you will not be able to access the live marking if you're outside the country. International travel may make you ineligible to mark NSW NAPLAN: please discuss any travel plans with our team during your phone interview.
I live in the ACT. Can I apply for marking in NSW?
Yes, we encourage you to apply for a home-marking role if you live in the ACT. Our recruitment team will work with ACT markers to deliver training remotely.
Do I need to attend any in-person training?
Yes, all new markers will be expected to attend one in-person training session at our Sydney Marking Centre, in Canterbury. If you're unable to attend training in-person, please discuss your options with our team during your phone interview.
Can I change from being a home-marker to a centre-based marker?
Yes we're happy to welcome you to our Marking and Training Centre. If you'd like to change from being home-based to work from our Centre, please Contact Us: naplanmarking@pearson.com
Training
In 2027, NAPLAN training consists of three parts:
- online modules: completed at home, at your own pace, within the training week.
- workshop with Pearson staff: new markers will need to attend this workshop in-person.
- practical marking practice: completed online in our marking platform. You can complete this training either in-person or from your home.
Please refer to the Calendar section of this website for the detailed training schedule. Your own personalised training schedule will also be shared with you via email.
Training will take the equivalent of up to two days, beginning the week of 8 March 2027.
Where do I attend in-person training?
New markers will be required to attend one in-person training workshop at our Sydney Marking and Training Centre.
The Sydney Marking and Training Centre is located at:
Canterbury Park Racecourse
King Street
Canterbury, NSW 2193
If you're unable to attend in person, please discuss your options with our recruitment team during your phone interview, or contact us: <link>
Will I be paid for attending training?
Yes. Please refer to the 'Pay' section in this FAQ for more details on how training is paid.
I can't attend the training workshop in person, can I still apply?
Yes you can still apply - our recruitment team will discuss options for you to complete your training remotely during your phone interview.
I have dietary requirements - is catering provided at the training workshop?
Yes we provide catering for this workshop. If you have dietary requirements please Contact Us to let us know: naplanmarking@pearson.com
Pay
Find out more about the pay rates for marking roles, timesheeting and the pay schedule.
What are the pay rates for live marking?
The current pay rates for NAPLAN 2027 are detailed below:
Centre-based marker: $56.28 per hour
Home-based marker: $5.56 per script, $1.00 per blank script (live marking); $56.28 per hour (training)
Group Leader: $67.68 per hour
Professional Leader: $80.75 per hour
Will I be paid for attending training?
Yes, you will be paid at the hourly rate that applies to your role.
Am I paid for breaks?
Centre-based markers will be paid for their morning tea break on the morning shift. Lunch and Dinner breaks are not paid.
Home-based markers are paid per script that is marked, and will not be paid for breaks during live marking.
Do I need to keep a timesheet?
Centre-based markers will need to keep a timesheet. Pearson will provide timesheeting software for you to use to track your hours.
Home-based markers will not need to keep a timesheet. Our marking platform will automatically calculate the scripts you have marked and you will be paid accordingly.
I do not have my login details for the payroll portal, ADP. Who should I contact?
Your login details for our payroll portal, ADP, will be emailed to you once marking begins.
If you need help locating your ADP login details please Contact Us:
When is the pay date?
Payments are made on a fortnightly basis; the first fortnightly payment will be on 25 March 2027. 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.
My payroll question isn't answered here, where can I get more information?
Please check out this page for even more payroll information: Casual Staff FAQ | Naplan Marking
Technical support
We use a variety of platforms to enable our recruitment, payroll, training and live marking.
If you need help with our digital tools, please start a live chat with our team now by clicking the widget in the bottom corner of this screen.
Or you can Contact Us: link
TBC
Quick Links
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Apply Now
Applications aren't yet open for NSW NAPLAN 2027. Please click here to express your interest, and our team will email you with an invitation to apply when recruitment opens.
Calendar
Click here to review our Calendar of key events and dates in the 2027 marking program: www.pearsonra.com.au/calendar
FAQs
Are you new to marking with Pearson? Click here to see our FAQs for New Markers: https://pearsonra.com.au/newmarkers
Have you marked with Pearson before? Click here to see our FAQs for Returning Markers:
https://pearsonra.com.au/returningmarkers
Document Hub
Click here to access job descriptions, onboarding paperwork, technical specs and other key documents for a NSW NAPLAN marking role: www.pearsonra.com.au/documents
Contact Us
Click here to contact our team: www.pearsonra.com.au/contactus