Information for examiners and moderators

Tools and PC requirements

Details of the software and online systems used for standardisation and marking, plus PC and laptop requirements.

Please note, we only support Windows PCs, we are not able to support Apple Mac for any marking software.

Your PC and email account

You must use your own computer and broadband internet connection, and have a personal email account to mark or enter marks online.

Using a school PC or laptop

You can use third-party equipment for marking, such as a school PC or laptop, as long as the following requirements are met:

• the machine can operate and access the internet without going via the school network
• you are marking in a secure and discrete location on school premises, that colleagues, students or members of the public cannot access
• you have the school’s permission to mark during school hours, where appropriate.

Check your PC requirements

Your contract offer will show you which of the systems you'll need to use. The individual systems are listed below. Select a tool name to see the PC requirements, and check that your PC meets these requirements before you return your contract acceptance form.

To check your PC system information:

1. click the Start icon (bottom left corner)
2. click All programs
3. click Accessories
4. click System tools
5. click System information.

List of systems and their requirements

Please note: If you have a Windows 7 PC, please be aware that Microsoft no longer provides security updates. Therefore AQA will no longer be able to support this operating system. We recommend updating your PC or operating system as soon as possible.

• Associate Extranet – a website where you can see confidential exam-related information and access online training tutorials. You access it through your web browser: you don't need to download anything to use it. You can update your centres of interest and set passwords for OLS, CMI+ and E-Marker 2®.
• CMI+ – if you're marking online using CMI+, the marking will be divided into items. We scan scripts, segment them into individual item responses, and add them to CMI+ for you to mark. CMI+ is downloaded and requires a Windows PC.
• e-Marker 2 – software used to mark whole scripts online, this requires a Windows PC.
• Learning Space – a web-based learning Management system that houses all of AQA’s e-learning materials, including the Associate compliance training and all other related training for your role, standardisation and marking platforms and general AQA systems – such as iTrent and the Associate Extranet. You can access Learning Space through your web browser; you don’t need to download anything to use it, but must ensure your browser is up to date and that any pop-up blockers are disabled.
• Mark Entry Portal (MEP) – if you're marking paper scripts, MEP to upload your marks each time you carry out some marking. MEP is accessed from a web browser and requires a Windows PC.
• Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Teams will be used for our remote standardisation meetings for our marking and moderated components. Microsoft Teams is web-based, it requires an internet connection. Before the standardisation date(s), you will receive an invitation with instructions to assist you. Microsoft Teams hardware requirements can be accessed here: Hardware requirements for Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Docs
• Moderator Marks Submission (MMS) – for Moderators only, this allows you to moderate centre-submitted marks in some subjects. We'll let you know if your component is moderated through MMS. You access it from the Associate Extranet and don't need to download anything to use it.
• OLS (for examiners) / M-OLS (for moderators) – a website that you'll use to take part in online standardisation. You access it through your web browser: you don't need to download anything to use it. After you use OLS or M-OLS for standardisation, you'll use either Mark Entry Portal (MEP), CMI+ or Moderator Marks Submissions.

Contact us

If you need help with PC requirements, email help@aqa.org.uk or call 0800 197 7163.