The Beast from the East is gone and spring is finally emerging - reminding us that the first Year 11 exams are only nine weeks away.

At this point in the year, most of you will have seen the numerous adverts recruiting examiners for this summer’s exam series. You might even be contemplating whether to coin in on the opportunity.

Yet the idea of giving up your social life for four weeks in exchange for a meagre amount of extra pocket money always seems so hard.

It doesn’t have to be.

Putting aside the monetary benefits, here are the reasons why you should sign up to this summer’s exam marking:

1. Exam marking is great CPD

The problem with most CPD is that it takes place in short-term sessions or inset days. Exam marking, on the other hand, is an ongoing process. You learn skills that you can draw on and revisit - and you pick up ideas and interpretations that will ultimately make you a better teacher. Through examining, you become an expert in that particular exam. You can go on to train other colleagues and your knowledge will become an asset to your department.

Not only that, but you will also be more appealing to future employers. Considering moving up the departmental ladder? Get into marking.

2. It will change what you teach

Before marking English literature exams, I held the deluded belief that my top set needed to be able to identify and analyse techniques with complex-sounding (and difficult to spell) names such as polyptoton or asyndeton. This simply is not true. A grade 9 is within reach by identifying even the most basic techniques or ideas. What really matters is what the student says and how they develop their own critical voice. You’ll soon know what content to leave to A level and where to focus your GCSE teaching.

3. It gives you VIP access

Mark schemes can be vague. There are often a lot of discrepancies between teachers’ understandings of the wording - and there are often questions about rubric infringements committed by students that don’t seem adequately explained. As an examiner, you are given a much deeper understanding of the specifications and access to materials that are otherwise out of bounds for the teachers. Marking provides an insight into the way exams are assessed.

4. There is an opportunity for progression

Examiners need to be managed. Their work needs to be scrutinised and someone needs to ensure that the correct procedures are followed. This is the job of a team leader. If you’re a reliable and committed examiner, you can expect to be offered this prestigious role in as little as two years. This be a bumper addition to your pay cheque - sorry, I promised to avoid mentioning money - and a tremendous opportunity to boost your CV.

Laura Tsabet is assistant head of English at Redbridge Community School in Southampton. She tweets @lauratsabet

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