What we expect from assessors
Specifically, our assessors must:
- understand our mission as outlined on our About Us page;
- be able to evaluate books against our Assessment Criteria in an objective fashion;
- be well read in mainstream books so that they know what would be considered an acceptable standard by a mainstream publisher; and,
- be aware of stylistic differences that impact on the weight given to various aspects of the criteria.
The assessor will not be required to read more than necessary to reach a fair conclusion as to the book’s quality. For example, you might be allocated a book that is littered with errors in the opening chapters! However, you should only recommend a book for approval if you have read and assessed the complete book including the front and back page material.
Assessors are not expected to note every error or proofread the book to bring the book up to the required standard, but assessors should note the errors if they are few and minor.
Who we are looking for
For us to be sure that those recommending books do have this kind of knowledge and understanding, we ask that our recommendations come from people who:
- have a degree or certificate in creative writing, English literature, linguistics, editing, journalism, or a closely related field; or
- are an established professional editor; or
- an editor or publisher who is, or has been, employed in professional editing role by a mainstream publishing house; or
- have demonstrable knowledge of writing, a clear understanding of our assessment criteria and, preferably, have extensive reviewing experience.
It’s not easy to find assessors with these qualifications, and this makes it frustrating for authors who want their book evaluated for the list. Gaining approval from AIBA is an important confirmation of quality for authors as well as readers.
Assessment Criteria
Please read the criteria for evaluation. More details on the criteria can be found here.
Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
AIBA does not charge submission fees and does not pay assessors.
In some cases, where substantial issues are identified, assessors may independently offer professional editorial services. Any such arrangement is entirely separate from AIBA and has no influence on assessment outcomes.
Engagement of any such service does not guarantee approval.
Assessments are conducted independently and are based solely on the merits of the submission.
Assessors are expected to declare and avoid any conflicts of interest. They should not assess any submission where a prior or ongoing professional, personal, or financial relationship with the author exists.
Resubmissions of book copies for reassessment are not accepted, even if errors have been corrected.
Other Important Information
AIBA operates under a strict code of honesty and integrity. This standard is applied consistently to all submissions, regardless of the author’s background or credentials. This includes submissions from members of the assessor team. If a book does not meet the required standards, it will not be approved.
We recognise that assessments may not always meet an author’s expectations. All feedback, concerns, or complaints are taken seriously and reviewed carefully. To maintain fairness and consistency, most correspondence is handled by the administration team. Assessors will only be contacted where clarification is required.
Unless an assessor chooses to make direct contact, all assessments remain anonymous. As such, assessors are unlikely to receive direct communication from authors.
YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, NAME, OR OTHER DETAILS WILL NEVER BE DISCLOSED TO THE WRITER WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT.
Assessors are not required to provide a full review of a submission. However, brief written feedback outlining the reasons behind the recommendation is encouraged.
Due to how search engines interpret listings without ratings, AIBA assigns a star rating to approved books for consistency and visibility. The indicative scale is as follows:
- 4 stars: meets the required standard of editing and proofreading
- 5 stars: excellent in all respects
Books that receive 5 stars in preliminary assessments may undergo additional evaluation, where appropriate, to determine eligibility for the AIBA Seal of Excellence.
It should be emphasised that AIBA assessments are editorial in nature and focus on whether a book meets the required standards for approval or the Seal of Excellence. An assessment is not a review. However, authors may choose to use extracts from an assessment as an editorial review if they wish.
Recognition for Assessors
AIBA accepts only free submissions, and no payments are made to assessors.
From time to time, appropriately qualified professionals who contribute as volunteer assessors may be listed on the AIBA website for the benefit of the community.
From 2026 onwards, active assessors may also receive a digital certificate of appreciation in recognition of their contributions.
