AQA
Manual Software Tester

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Manual Software Tester
Permanent
Salary
- North: £41,100 - £45,900
- South: £42,700 - £47,800
Location
Hybrid, with requirement to travel to the Bristol office one day every three weeks
Closing date for applications
Tuesday 21st July
Introduction
At AQA GradeMaker, our mission is to revolutionise how assessments are created, managed and delivered. As a Manual Software Tester, you'll play a critical role in ensuring the quality of reliable and scalable solutions that drive our cutting-edge platform. GradeMaker is an assessment authoring and item banking solution, trusted by exam providers around the world to create high stakes examination papers and other assessments.
Purpose
Collaborating with a close-knit team of talented professionals, you'll be involved in all phases of the development lifecycle. In this role, you'll be responsible for:
- Reviewing user stories and acceptance criteria, giving early feedback to improve clarity, identify risks and help prevent issues before development begins.
- Carrying out manual functional, exploratory, edge-case and regression testing to support stable, high-quality delivery.
- Investigating and reporting bugs clearly, including symptoms, context, reproduction steps and supporting evidence so issues can be resolved efficiently.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What We Are Looking For
You will thrive in this role if you are curious, methodical and comfortable working in a collaborative agile team where quality is everyone's responsibility.
- Proven experience in manual testing within an agile environment, including testing complex user stories and bug fixes using functional and exploratory testing approaches.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team, engaging proactively with other testers, developers and business analysts.
- Strong investigation and reporting skills, with a methodical and pragmatic approach to understanding issues and supporting efficient resolution.
What's in It for You
This role gives you the opportunity to make a visible impact on product quality while working in a supportive team that values collaboration, learning and continuous improvement.
- You will be part of a cross-functional pod with manual testers, automation testers, developers and business analysts.
- You will work across the full development lifecycle, contributing early insight as well as hands-on testing.
- A 35-hour working week with flexible, hybrid working.
- 25 days' annual leave (rising to 30), plus Christmas closure days.
- Excellent pension (up to 11.5% employer contribution).


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Diversity and Inclusion Statement
At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.
Application Process
To apply, please submit your CV through the AQA careers site.
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