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Setter

VIDEO: Find out about being a setter.

As the setter you would write the assessment material (usually comprising a question paper and mark scheme).

The setter and the principal examiner for a paper will usually be the same person.

The setter is required to:

  • prepare the first draft of the assessment material according to the syllabus specification, ensuring parity of standards across optional questions on the paper, and ensuring the level of difficulty is consistent with the qualification and with previous years
  • provide full details of source material used where copyright permission will be required by Cambridge
  • submit the draft to Cambridge within the agreed timescale and in the format required
  • send a revised draft to Cambridge following feedback from a reviser 
  • attend, where necessary, a meeting at which the revised draft of the assessment material is evaluated and further revised
  • revise the assessment material according to decisions taken at the meeting and submit final drafts to Cambridge within the agreed timescale
  • check the first proof of the assessment material, ensuring that changes agreed at the meeting have been carried out, and indicating any errors
  • carry out all these services in line with our instructions and schedules.

Individual roles and responsibilities may vary according to the requirements of the qualification. The product manager responsible for a specific syllabus may revise the role specifications. This role description simply gives a general overview of the work normally undertaken by a setter.

Setters may have to attend meetings. Therefore most of our setters are based in the UK.

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