5 Legit Online Test Scoring Jobs

Companies have been outsourcing their project-based work to online contractors for many years. Now more than ever, however, employers are recognizing the real value that online workers can bring to their businesses.

In the current climate, where work is increasingly precarious, the digital space provides platforms through which clients and contractors can connect and work cohesively without ever needing to meet in person.

This realization has brought about benefits not only for the businesses but also for workers. Through online work, freelancers are afforded more income stability, extra earnings, and the freedom to work from home or wherever else they choose.

A huge number of jobs are available to online remote workers, and online test scoring jobs are an extremely viable option. With good earning potential and a large number of job opportunities to be found, it’s definitely worth looking into if you’re hoping to secure a second stream of income.

What Are Online Test Scoring Jobs?

Unsurprisingly, online test scoring jobs are exactly that. Jobs that are completed and submitted online, that involve grading papers, exams, or tests for a specific company or examining board.

You might find yourself grading SAT papers, ESL tests, or any other standardized test or piece of writing. The work is varied and you’re able to choose the type of jobs that suit you and your expertise.

The majority of the work tends to be seasonal, coinciding with school examination periods, however, there are jobs available year-round, depending on the area you choose to specialize in. The great thing about this kind of job is that if you carry out the work to a high standard, companies are likely to invite you back and keep you in the loop with regards to upcoming opportunities.

In terms of applications and requirements, again these vary based on the type of online test scoring jobs you’re undertaking. Some will require that you have a Bachelors Degree in English or a related subject, although this isn’t always the case. It’s important to look into the specific requirements of the company you’re applying to, ensuring that you fit the criteria.

The work is by no means easy. It requires high levels of concentration and skill and also comes with a good amount of responsibility. However, it can be extremely interesting and engaging to read the ideas of a huge range of individuals through their essays or test answers. It’s rewarding and could be a great little side hustle for the right person.

How Much Can You Earn?

Rates of pay vary, with most companies offering around $9 to $15 per hour worked, although some offer as much as $20 per hour. Again, this really depends on the type of jobs you’re taking and the company you’re working for.

With most companies, the pay isn’t affected by the experience levels or qualifications of the contractor and is instead dictated entirely by the specific job that is being completed and the perceived level of complexity or time it takes to complete.

With this kind of work, you won’t necessarily be given specific working hours, but you will usually need to meet strict deadlines. Often failure to do so will result in pay deductions or loss of contract, so be sure to meet your deadlines and always read the terms and conditions of your contract.

5 Online Test Scoring Jobs 

There are plenty of companies offering online test scoring jobs to suitable applicants, here are five of the leading options:

1. ACT

ACT requires the services of skilled ‘readers’ to score student writing tests. The ACT writing test assesses individuals writing skills and is often taken alongside other reading or English exams.

As an ACT reader, you will score the piece of writing based on ACT’s writing domains. The full grading criteria are provided prior to scoring your first paper and ACT agents are always on hand to offer support to readers. Each paper is scored by two individual readers who are not in contact. This is to ensure each paper is scored fairly and accurately. 

All applicants need to hold a Bachelors’s Degree in English and ACT does favor those with teaching experience, although this isn’t necessarily essential.

According to ACT, their readers average $12 per hour, although this will increase with the number of tests scored accurately and efficiently, so the earnings can end up much higher for those with extensive experience working as an ACT scorer.

2. ETS

ETS, or Educational Testing Service, provides a range of online test scoring opportunities. They provide tests for various institutions including high school SATs, proficiency tests, and many other online and offline exams.

As an ETS scorer, you might find yourself working on a range of different tests, the requirements and rates of pay will vary depending on the specific job.

Some of the jobs will require applicants to hold a Bachelors’s Degree, while some will require a Masters’s Degree. Some will ask that applicants hold relevant teaching experience, while some require no prior experience or specific qualification.

Due to the wide range of opportunities and the varied nature of the jobs available with ETS, this is one of the most popular sites amongst online test scorers.

Pay also appears to be relatively good, averaging between $10 and $20 per hour.

ETS does ask that you commit to a dedicated work schedule, so this might be less convenient for those with other demanding responsibilities. You will also be required to carry out training prior to receiving your first job and this can last up to four weeks.

3. Write Score

Like ETS, Write Score is one of the more popular sites of this kind. Their website allows prospective applicants to sign up for job alerts, but often you will be added to an initial waitlist due to the high number of applications they receive each year.

The work is seasonal with Write Score but tends to run throughout the entire academic year, so more widely available than some other providers.

As a Write Score contractor, you will be reading and scoring extended writing written by students of elementary, middle, or high school age. The work is extremely rewarding and engaging as you get an insight into the minds of young thinkers and get to view the world through their eyes while grading their work.

To apply, you will need a degree qualification of some description and access to a computer and a stable internet connection. Deadlines can be tight and Write Score doesn’t pay their contractors for training hours, which is off-putting for many prospective scorers.

Pay falls somewhere around $10 to $15 per hour depending on the specific job, which is fairly standard.

4. Pearson

With over fifty years of experience in test scoring, Pearson is regarded by many education institutions as the leader in reputable test scoring. In more recent years, Pearson has begun offering online test scoring jobs to workers.

Unlike the other companies listed here, Pearson doesn’t use freelance contractors, instead, workers are taken on as part-time employees. This means more stable and consistent work and benefits such as sick pay. It does, however, mean that you’ll need to commit to working a minimum of twenty hours per week, which might not fit in with everyone’s schedule.

All applicants must hold a Bachelors Degree and pay is set at $10 per hour. There is also the opportunity to earn more if you’re willing to extend your availability to off hours and can complete a high number of jobs efficiently and accurately.

5. Measurement, Inc.

Like Pearson, Measurement, Inc. hire test scorers’ as company employees, usually on temporary contracts. The online test scoring jobs are seasonal and recruitment tends to take place between March and November each year.

The work is largely project-based, but you’ll likely be required to work Monday to Friday on a pretty strict schedule. If you can fit this into your lifestyle, Measurement, Inc. offers good rates of pay and the jobs are varied and interesting.

You could be scoring anything from English exams to art projects. Pay averages around $10 per hour and you will need a Bachelors’s Degree in any subject to qualify for work.

For more money-making opportunities, please see:

• Best Part-Time Jobs for Retirees
• Online Proofreading Jobs
• Best Typing Jobs from Home
• Websites That Pay Your for Microtasks

Final Thoughts

Online test scoring jobs are a great way of earning some extra cash while engaging with rewarding and challenging work. The earning potential is high and you’re free to set your own working hours, making this a great option for those with other commitments, whether that be another job, childcare, or just keeping up with your social life!

This might not prove to be a full-time job opportunity, but it is an excellent side hustle for a lot of people. The work isn’t always consistent and tends to be largely seasonal, but if you’re able to gain work year after year, you could end up really maximizing your annual income.

Whether you choose to use one of the companies listed here, or another of the plethora of companies offering online scoring jobs, this kind of work could afford you more freedom, flexibility, and earning potential, as it has for many others.