Every year, hundreds of thousands of students around the world take externally-assessed ESL/EFL exams. Many such exams - particularly the Cambridge main suite (KET/PET/FCE/CAE/CPE), the IELTS exam and the Trinity Spoken English Exams - require native-English speakers to conduct the oral component of the exam. Even exams that can be marked by computer (ie, which contain multiple-choice questions), often have a writing component which needs to be marked by a native-speaking examiner. Therein lie opportunities for ESL/EFL teachers to supplement their teaching income.

Examining work - though generally well-paid - is seasonal, so cannot be counted on for year round income. Most of the work goes to experienced teachers who are fully familiar with the exam they are examining. But this is not always the case: in countries where there is not a ready supply of native-speaking ESL/EFL teachers, oral examining assignments are often handed out to more recently qualified ESL/EFL teachers.

Teachers based in the UK/USA might also consider contacting some of the big examining boards to offer their services as an 'item writer'; this type of work involves setting the questions for exams. Although this is specialized work, it is nevertheless accessible to ESL/EFL teachers who are familiar with the relevant exam and who have a talent for writing questions.


So how should you go about becoming an examiner?

1. Find out which ESL/EFL exams are offered in your country of residence.

2. Contact the Local Secretary or Regional Administrator for the exam you wish to examine. If you are teaching abroad, the British Council is a good place to start as it is often the regional examining centre for the IELTS and Cambridge exams.

3. Let your Director of Studies / Academic Manager know that you are interested in becoming an examiner. He/she may be able to point you in the right direction and may even open a door-or-two for you.