How To Become an IB Examiner
If you’re interested in teaching internationally or want to break into an IB (International Baccalaureate) school, you may want to think about becoming an IB Examiner.
Whether you’re already a qualified teacher or transitioning into international education, examining for the IB can help you stand out against the competition. And give you a better understanding of how IB assessment works.
What Does an IB Examiner Do?
IB Examiners are trained to assess student work across the IB’s global programmes, including:
- Diploma Programme (DP): typically high school juniors/seniors (ages 16–19)
- Middle Years Programme (MYP): younger secondary students (ages 11–16)
- Career-related Programme (CP): vocational or industry-linked subjects
Working as an IB Examiner means you’ll:
- Mark exams and coursework, including essays, projects, and internal assessments
- Use detailed IB rubrics and mark schemes to ensure fairness and consistency
- Work remotely through a secure online platform, on a flexible schedule
- Occasionally moderate teacher-marked work or participate in standardisation
Why Becoming An IB Examiner Is Useful
Not only can becoming an IB Examiner give you additional income throughout the year, but you’ll also be able to:
- Show international schools you understand IB assessment and pedagogy
- Build credibility on your CV, even if you haven’t yet taught IB
- Learn how student work is evaluated, giving you insight into high-performing schools and standards
Even if you’re not currently working in an IB school, examiners are often drawn from wider education fields — especially in high-demand subjects like English, Sciences, Maths, and Business.
What’s the Workload Like?
IB examining is part-time, project-based, and usually in two annual exam seasons: May and November. You can expect:
- A training and standardisation period before live marking begins
- A set number of student scripts (depending on your subject/role)
- Marking to be done over 2–4 weeks, usually in your own time
- A modest payment — it’s not full-time income, but a good supplement and learning opportunity
- Most examiners say it’s manageable around a regular teaching schedule and is especially well-suited if you want to transition into IB teaching without being in an IB school.
How to Apply to Be an IB Examiner
The IB has an open application process — here’s how to apply:
- Visit the IB website to check what examiner opportunities are currently available.
- Create an account and fill out the online form (make sure you read the recruitment policy and conflicts of information policy available on the page before applying).
- Prepare these details:
– Your teaching qualification
– At least 2 years of teaching experience in your subject
– Evidence of recent teaching or marking experience
– Familiarity with the IB curriculum (preferred but not always required) - Wait for approval & training:
If accepted, you’ll complete training and trial marking to ensure you’re confident in applying IB standards.
Final Thoughts
If you’re hoping to teach internationally, experience with the IB is increasingly essential. But if there aren’t many schools in your home country that offer the IB, it can make it challenging to gain experience. That’s why becoming an IB Examiner is a great option to explore.
Schools around the world — from Asia to Europe to the Middle East — are looking for educators who not only teach well but also understand how student performance is measured.
Starting as an IB examiner is a low-risk, high-reward way to gain that experience, deepen your skills, and build a stronger CV — even if you’re not yet in the IB classroom.
