Objective-based Testing: Question Writer

Overview

The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) is seeking to appoint appropriately experienced individuals to support the development of an objective question bank for the Core Business module of the IFoA Associateship qualification.

We encourage applications from a diverse range of potential candidates, in terms of, but not exclusively gender, age, disability and ethnicity, as well as reflecting the geographical spread and practice areas of our membership.

Complete the application form

Task specification

Background

The IFoA is the UK’s only chartered professional body dedicated to educating, developing and regulating actuaries based around the globe. We have a worldwide membership of over 30,000 of which over 50% are student members. 47% of our membership and 64% of our students are based outside the UK, reflecting the increasingly global nature of actuarial practice.

The IFoA Council sets the strategy, with Executive staff responsible for its execution. The Management Board is responsible for the oversight of delivery of specific aspects of this strategy related to the pre-qualification education of actuaries, and their continuing professional development and lifelong learning.

The IFoA qualifications comprise of a number of modules and related assessment subjects. The Management Board delegates the oversight of the assessment of the qualification standards to the Board of Examiners with Objective Question Item Writers (Writer) appointed for each relevant assessment subject to support the execution of this.

Responsibilities

The Writer will be expected to:

  • Be familiar with the depth and breadth of the subject’s syllabus and core reading.
  • Write questions allocated from a writing plan that meet style guide and format requirements.
  • Respond to and incorporate feedback from Examiners, progressively improving question acceptance rates.
  • Attend writing workshop meetings as required.
  • Meet all deadlines.
  • Recognise the need to respect cultural and language differences during the writing process.
  • Carry out all responsibilities in a proper and impartial manner and in accordance with IFoA governance.
  • Ensure that the security of the question item bank is maintained.
  • Foster a mutually respectful relationship with the Examining Team and Executive.

Reporting

The Writer will report to the Chief Examiner of the relevant subject.

Tenure

The Writer will be appointed for a period of one year. At the end of the initial tenure period this may be extended for a further two years by mutual agreement.

Time commitment

The writing process will be conducted in 6-monthly cycles to ensure ongoing operational delivery of examinations.

Each Writer will be asked for their availability for a given cycle and allocated questions accordingly.

Questions take approximately an hour to draft plus review and editing time. Dependant on the number of available writers, a writing load of 4-8 questions per month should be expected.

There will be between 2-3 writing workshop meetings held each cycle at mutually agreeable times. These meetings are expected to be under an hour in length and attendance is only required for questions not previously accepted.

Remuneration

The appointment is a nominally paid self-employed contractor role.

Writers are paid for each accepted question into the question bank, in accordance with the skill level used, and for each attendance at a writing workshop meeting.

For the skill level of:

  • knowledge: £40 rate
  • application: £55 rate
  • higher order: £70 rate

Person specification

Essential:

  • Expert knowledge of the subject area.
  • Experience or understanding of objective question writing, examination setting or marking either within the IFoA or relevant situation such as another professional body or university
  • Strong and effective communication and interpersonal skills.
  • A creative and intellectual curiosity.
  • Ability to meet deadlines.
  • Attention to detail.
  • Familiarity with IT systems.

Desirable:

  • Actuarial experience.

Contact

For more information about the role, please contact educationrecruitment@actuaries.org.uk.  

Additional information

The IFoA delivery team is made up of IFoA Executive staff and our volunteer community. Every individual who supports the IFoA, is valued, and are recognised, as part of our volunteer community and works in partnership with the IFoA Executive staff to deliver our strategy and Royal Charter, in line with our values

At the IFoA the term “volunteer” includes volunteers (members and non-members: lay), Office Holders, and Self-Employed Contractors (paid roles).

Volunteering provides you with a wide range of opportunities. With all rights and opportunities come responsibilities and we ask all our volunteers to comply with the terms of the IFoA’s Governance Manual and Volunteer Information Pack (VIP). Before offering to provide support, please read through ‘what you need to know’. The key elements will be highlighted to you as part of your contract for services with the IFoA.