PISA 2025 - Coder (Marker)

PISA 2025 – Coder (Marker)

Background

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is the world’s biggest international education study, involving schools and pupils in over 90 countries. PISA is run by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) every three years. The study makes it possible to evaluate education systems worldwide by measuring the knowledge and skills of pupils close to the end of compulsory education in reading, mathematics, and science.

Pearson is appointed as the National Centre to administer PISA 2025 in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Purpose & Responsibilities

The PISA 2025 Main Study is taking place during 2025, and we are looking for suitable candidates to carry out the coding of the pupil responses to the PISA Science, Mathematics and Reading assessments.

Responses in PISA are assigned a code rather than a mark. Detailed coding guides and training will be provided. All coding and training will take place online and remotely.

We are looking for coders to code responses in English and bilingual coders to code responses in Welsh. Bilingual coders will need to be able to complete training and reliability coding in English.

The coding window will run from Monday 13 October 2025 – Friday 31 October 2025. You will need to be available to carry out training and coding from 09:00 until 17:00 every working day (Monday to Friday) during the coding period.

The roles and responsibilities of a PISA coder include, but are not limited to:

1. Attending and participating in online coder training
2. Being available on a full-time basis during the coding window
3. Coding own allocation of pupil responses in English and/or Welsh consistently and ensuring overall standards are maintained
4. Demonstrating the ability to apply the coding guide correctly and to the internationally agreed standard through the coding of quality assurance samples and designated reliability items
5. Completing allocated coding remotely each day and ensuring all deadlines for coding are met
6. Adhering to the key dates and instructions about coding provided by Pearson
7. Completing all administrative tasks as required and meeting deadlines
8. Providing feedback on the coding process at the end of coding window
9. Maintaining confidentiality in relation to all the work carried out for the PISA assessments so the test security is not compromised

Candidate Profile

Qualifications and Experience

For Science Coders

1. Candidates should have an A level in a science subject and at least a 2:2 Degree in a Science subject, or related subject and/or;
2. Have experience in teaching KS3 or GCSE Science (preferably within the past 3 years)
3. Previous experience of marking external assessments online is desirable

For Mathematic Coders

1. Candidates should have an A Level in Mathematics and at least a 2:2 Degree in Mathematics, or related subject and/or;
2. Have experience in teaching KS3 or GCSE mathematics (preferably within the past 3 years)
3. Previous experience of marking external assessments online is desirable

For Reading Coders

1. Candidates should have an A Level in English and at least a 2:2 Degree in English or related subject, and/or;
2. Have experience in teaching KS3 or GCSE English (preferably within the past 3 years)
3. Previous experience of marking external assessments online is desirable

Closing date: 30 April 2025 at midnight