Become an IELTS Examiner

Qualification

An undergraduate or Master’s degree or qualification(s) that can be demonstrated to be equivalent to an undergraduate or Master’s degree (3 years’ full-time academic study, or a minimum of one year’s full-time academic study in the case of a Master’s degree).

AND

A TEFL/TESOL qualification from a recognised institution (at minimum certificate level)

Or

EFL / ESOL-related studies completed as part of an undergraduate / post graduate award course from a recognised institution (minimum certificate level equivalent)

Or

A degree in Education (if supported by an undergraduate degree which includes studies focused on English language) 

All qualifications must be validated by a reputable institution and accredited by a professional certification board. If requested, applicants are required to provide additional information regarding their qualifications (e.g. transcript, course curriculum, evidence of external validation, accreditation by a certification standards board etc.). Any expenses related to verifying qualifications are to be paid by the applicant. You will be required to produce the original certificates for all qualifications.

Teaching Experience

A minimum of three years’ full-time TEFL teaching experience (or equivalent part time) is required*. Almost all of this teaching experience must relate to adult students (16 years and over). If an applicant’s EFL / ESOL qualification is at certificate level (or equivalent), one of the three years of full-time teaching experience must be post EFL / ESOL certificate qualification. If the EFL / ESOL qualification is at Diploma level or higher, the teaching experience can have been completed before the qualification.

* Note: ‘Full-time teaching’ is classified as a minimum of 14 hours of face-to-face teaching per week. Freelance and volunteer teaching is not included.

Professional Attributes and Interpersonal Skills

An IELTS Examiner is expected to have the following professional attributes and interpersonal skills:

• Completes tasks accurately and in sufficient detail
• Observes the need for confidentiality and security
• Responds positively to guidance and advice
• Acts professionally at all times
• Communicates effectively with colleagues and candidates and treats others with respect
• Is sensitive to cultural differences

NOTE: Examiners are required to adhere to a Code of Practice and Confidentiality Undertaking and follow all directives from the Centre Administrator and Examiner Trainer. Information will be provided to applicants once recruitment and training have been successfully completed.

All applicants receive a recruitment information pack which contains the following:

• The IELTS Examiner application form.
• The IELTS Examiner Minimum Professional Requirements (MPRs). The MPRs contain information on what minimum level of qualifications, experience and professional attributes and interpersonal skills are required to become an IELTS Examiner. Only those applicants who fully meet the Minimum Professional Requirements will be considered.
• It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that all documentation for the application is complete upon submitting the application. This includes evidence to support qualifications fully meet the MPRs required.
• Applications will not be accepted if documentation is incomplete.
• A form to send to your referee for a reference. Your referee then sends this confidentially to the IELTS Administrator.
• Other centre-specific information.

All applicants must complete an official application form electronically. It is important that you check that all aspects of the application form are complete before you submit it, including all the signatures required.

You will need to present the testamurs and transcripts of your qualifications and a photocopy of these to the Centre Administrator. Please DO NOT POST original qualifications as no responsibility will be taken for their loss. They must be presented in person to the Administrator before your application can be assessed. It is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain any verification of supporting documents required, and cover the costs of verification.

In exceptional cases where an original document cannot be provided at the time of applying, the Professional Support Network Manager at IELTS Australia Pty Ltd or British Council will advise.

Assessment of English language competence

IELTS Examiners do not necessarily have to take an IELTS test. However, they must demonstrate that they have the competency of an IELTS Band 9 – this is an ‘Expert User’ on the IELTS Band Scales and is described as follows: Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding. This is an essential requirement for all Examiners in order to be able to examine effectively and an Examiner can be identified at any time to sit the test. 

On the basis of your application form, performance in the interview and in the training workshop, you may be required to take the full IELTS test to demonstrate your equivalence to Band 9. The recruitment process cannot continue until the results of the IELTS test have been released. All applicants who are required to take the IELTS test must sit the Academic module and are required to pay the full test fee.

Decisions on the approval or rejection of application forms are made by an Examiner Trainer. Application forms are assessed against the Minimum Professional Requirements. Those who do not meet the minimum requirements cannot be accepted.

Applicants whose application forms are approved are invited to attend an interview. The interview may take place at the IELTS centre or by telephone. Short listing decisions are taken by the interview panel. Only successful interviewees will be invited to continue with the recruitment process.

Applicants short-listed after interview are required to attend induction prior to training. Induction is intended to give applicants a general introduction to IELTS examining and outlines centre specific requirements. Induction takes place at the IELTS centre. Self-access induction outside of the centre is available only in exceptional circumstances for remote applicants.

You are required to sign a Confidentiality Undertaking before the training workshop begins.

In order to become an IELTS Examiner you must attend and successfully complete training and certification. Training covers how to rate the Speaking andWriting modules of the IELTS test and how to deliver the Speaking test. Training lasts one and a half days for each module. The Examiner Trainer assesses applicants during the training session to ensure they meet the requirements for an IELTS Examiner.

 

Certification is a tool to assess whether the Examiner applicant has understood and is able to apply the marking criteria. Applicants make individual assessments ofWriting scripts and Speaking tests which are sent to the British Council or IELTS Australia Pty Ltd for assessment. Certification may take place directly after the training workshop or at a separate time within 2 weeks of the date of training. Certification is held at the IELTS centre under strictly controlled test conditions.

Only when the centre has been notified of successful certification does an applicant achieve certificated IELTS Examiner status. The Examiner must conduct their first test within 2 months of their certification date.

The IELTS centre will inform successful and unsuccessful applicants in writing at each stage of the recruitment process. Unsuccessful applicants will receive written notification no more than 2 weeks after a decision has been made at each stage.