Pearson
Principal Examiner & Content Author - GCSE - Biology 1BI0 2F/1SC0 1BF
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As we continue to transition to a digital environment, we know that it’s essential to revisit and update our approaches to assessment delivery. Our aim is to create a more modern assessment delivery system that sets us up for the future, supports our Senior Associates better in their role by building associate capacity across the system, further supports our customers, and delivers the best outcomes for learners.
As part of a programme of modernisation, we are taking the opportunity to update our senior associate roles and responsibilities, across our qualifications.
We would like to offer you the opportunity to apply for the below role.
Content Author & Principal Examiner
GCSE Science – Biology 1BI0 2F/1SC0 1BF
About Pearson
At Pearson we’re committed to a world that’s always learning. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology, and each other to surpass these boundaries, we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global. We are the UK's largest awarding body and offer qualifications that are globally recognised and benchmarked, with educational excellence rooted in a range of General and Vocational courses.
Purpose
The Content Author & Principal Examiner is responsible for producing high-quality, error-free assessment materials that align with the subject specification, whilst ensuring assessment standards are maintained and applied consistently throughout the assessment cycle. The role combines the development of assessment content with leadership of quality assurance, standardisation and awarding activities.
Core Services and Expectations
When carrying out your role, please be mindful that you represent Pearson and that you should always maintain your professional integrity. Therefore, it is essential that you:
- Act at all times in a way which will not bring Pearson, its employees, and its representatives into disrepute.
- Read all Pearson policies and guidance prior to undertaking contracted activities.
- Respect the confidentiality of centres and learners.
- Attend any and all meetings or training sessions provided, relevant to your role, where requested by Pearson.
- Adhere to deadlines given by Pearson and ensure that all work is carried out to the best of an individual's ability.
- Remain respectful and advocate for others to ensure and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in a professional manner when carrying out services on behalf of Pearson.
- Have personal IT equipment capable of running Pearson software, relevant malware, appropriate virus protection software, a suitable internet connection, and a personal, secure email account.
- Communicate with Pearson and its centres in a timely manner when carrying out all designated responsibilities.
- Raise any concerns if you suspect or are made aware of any malpractice, maladministration, and/or safeguarding issues.
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Role Specific Services and Expectations
As well as Pearson’s core services expectations, there are also role-specific services and expectations that you must consider and be able to provide. These include:
- Ensuring assessment materials comply with the Global Content Policy, fully support accessibility, diversity, equality, inclusion, and sensitivity guidelines.
- Ensuring all applicable assessment materials produced are of high quality and show sufficient coverage of the assessment criteria as set out in the applicable assessment guidelines.
- Producing assessment materials to ensure they meet the required level of demand and that questions are clear, fit for purpose, and error-free.
- Ensuring that the nature and range of responses required by the mark scheme are appropriate and correct.
- Ensuring all materials are appropriate to the specific range of ability and will result in good discrimination and differentiation at all levels.
- Advising on subject specialist matters throughout the production process and providing feedback where necessary.
- Providing accurate sources used and, where applicable, enabling Pearson to request copyright permission for the use of materials.
- Ensuring that appropriate graphics, photographs, diagrams, or images (where required) are from reputable sources and free from error.
- Reviewing, reporting on, and revising assessment materials throughout the production process as required.
- Providing feedback on drafts at each stage and attending sign-off meetings where required.
- Ensuring all associated materials are updated throughout the production process and signing off final assessment materials.
- Supporting, reviewing, and agreeing modified paper amendments where requested by Pearson.
- Ensuring the timely delivery of contracted assessment materials and components.
- Updating mark schemes and assessment guidance before standardisation activities, taking into account candidate responses and examiner feedback.
- Leading pre-standardisation and standardisation meetings and participating in post-series reviews, appeals and awarding activities where required.
- Preparing and collating materials for standardisation.
- Supporting, monitoring and quality assuring examiners throughout the marking period.
- Sampling examiner marking and undertaking back-reading activities using Pearson systems to maintain assessment standards.
- Marking live candidate responses where required as part of quality assurance activities.
- Reviewing responses for clarification and acting as a senior point of escalation across the quality assurance process.
- Monitoring examiner performance and providing feedback to the Assessment team following standardisation and completion of marking.
- Providing support across all relevant versions of the assessment.
- Supporting awarding activities by producing reports, recommending grade boundaries and participating in awarding meetings.
- Completing post-series evaluation activities, including reports on candidate performance and assessment outcomes.
- Providing support and written responses for complaints, reviews of marking and appeals where required.
- Completing the Senior Assessment Associate review process and attending follow-up meetings where required.
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Skills and Competencies
As the Content Author & Principal Examiner, you will be expected to demonstrate the following skills and competencies:
Required
- Experience and knowledge of assessment design, quality assurance and assessment practice.
- Experience of writing, reviewing and quality assuring assessment materials.
- Experience of marking and/or moderating regulated qualifications.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Proven ability to provide and co-ordinate training such as standardisation and other standards-related activities.
- A comprehensive knowledge of GCSE Biology curriculum and assessment requirements.
- Proven ability to lead and support quality assurance activities.
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to maintain accuracy under pressure.
- Ability to analyse assessment outcomes and make evidence-based recommendations.
Desirable
- High level of IT proficiency.
- Leadership experience in delivering qualifications.
- Knowledge of regulatory compliance and requirements.
- Report writing within a regulated industry.
- Previous experience in a senior examining or assessment leadership role.
Experience and Qualifications
Qualifications required to apply for your chosen role at Pearson will depend on the qualification you are delivering. Please contact Pearson ahead of your application if the requirements are not clear.
General Qualifications (e.g. GCSE/A LEVEL)
- Degree.
- A UK recognised teaching qualification.
Please note upon successful application Pearson may ask you to provide proof of the qualifications required.
Application Information
We have a number of opportunities available for teaching professionals to join our growing teams of examiners, moderators and verifiers.
Closing date: 13 September 2026 at midnight
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