My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

Invigilator ended test five minutes early

181 replies

NameChange2745637 · 18/04/2021 13:47

I had a test yesterday that was meant to be 1 hour long. I was nearly finished and had four questions to go but was told by the invigilator that the test was finished and to stop what we were doing (there were only two other people left doing their exam at this point). I was a bit surprised because I thought you were normally given about 5 minutes notice, so I said "We're finished" which he replied "Erm yes". This was a computer based exam so I was told there and then that I failed.

I have just signed into my account to see what areas need improving and it said that the duration of the test was only 55 minutes. AIBU here? Should I complain? I didn't notice at the time because I was concentrating.

OP posts:
Report
howmanyhats · 18/04/2021 13:48

Yes, definitely complain! That's not on.

Report
howmanyhats · 18/04/2021 13:49

Could you have passed with the extra 4 questions answered correctly?

Report
TulipSandwiches · 18/04/2021 13:49

Absolutely!

Report
SOLINVICTUS · 18/04/2021 13:50

Sounds strange. Why did you say "we're finished" and not "is the time finished?" He probably thought you were telling him you'd finished.
Contact the organisation and point out the 55 minutes. Not much you can do about not having a five minute warning, they may be usual, but not obligatory.

Report
NameChange2745637 · 18/04/2021 13:52

@howmanyhats I think so. The pass rate was 75% I got 60% and there was only 22 questions

OP posts:
Report
Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 13:53

Could you have done the remaining questions in the 5 minutes, and passed the test?

Report
NameChange2745637 · 18/04/2021 13:53

@solinvictus He told me to stop what I was doing and that we had finished, so I just repeated it because I was surprised.

OP posts:
Report
NameChange2745637 · 18/04/2021 13:54

I'm not sure if I would have passed but I would have had a much better chance with the extra 5 minutes

OP posts:
Report
sunflowersandbuttercups · 18/04/2021 13:54

That's pretty shocking.

Every exam I've taken has had a five minute warning as well. I would have said something, though. Did nobody speak up?

Report
Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 13:54

i would definitely raise it. When can you retake?

Report
NameChange2745637 · 18/04/2021 13:57

@sunflowersandbuttercups

That's pretty shocking.

Every exam I've taken has had a five minute warning as well. I would have said something, though. Did nobody speak up?

I said something to my tutor but he said they don't normally give a 5 minute warning, I wasn't happy but accepted it. It wasn't until today that I noticed the test was finished 5 minutes earlier than it should have been
OP posts:
Report
SteveyFluff · 18/04/2021 14:02

With 22 questions, 13 correct would give you 59% and 14 correct would give you 63%. So not sure how you scored 60%?

Anyway, you’d need 17 correct questions to score over 75%. So you’d need to correctly answer at least 3 more questions in 5 minutes. That seems unlikely when the previous questions had taken you over 3 minutes per question. I’d still complain of course.

Report
Butwasitherdriveway · 18/04/2021 14:05

It sounds unlikely you'd have passed and it also sounds as if the invigilator thought you were saying you'd finished.

Report
NameChange2745637 · 18/04/2021 14:05

@SteveyFluff

With 22 questions, 13 correct would give you 59% and 14 correct would give you 63%. So not sure how you scored 60%?

Anyway, you’d need 17 correct questions to score over 75%. So you’d need to correctly answer at least 3 more questions in 5 minutes. That seems unlikely when the previous questions had taken you over 3 minutes per question. I’d still complain of course.

I think whether I would have passed or failed is irrelevant, the test was meant to be 60 minutes so I shouldn't have been told to finish 5 minutes early.
OP posts:
Report
NameChange2745637 · 18/04/2021 14:06

@Butwasitherdriveway

It sounds unlikely you'd have passed and it also sounds as if the invigilator thought you were saying you'd finished.

He definitely didn't think I had said I had finished. He told me to stop what I was doing.
OP posts:
Report
CuriousaboutSamphire · 18/04/2021 14:07

Do complain. Even if it would have made no difference to your fail/pass.

Invigilators are not supposed to make such errors, but can't be retrained if nobody knows when they do.

You say your test shows 55mins duration, so you have evidence to back up your complaint.

Report
Mxflamingnoravera · 18/04/2021 14:08

What outcome do you want? I'd wager that the only outcome you could be offered is a retake at the same attempt (ie it doesn't count as a retake but as a first attempt). A complaint is always easier to resolve if you know what you want as a result.

Report
NameChange2745637 · 18/04/2021 14:10

@Mxflamingnoravera

What outcome do you want? I'd wager that the only outcome you could be offered is a retake at the same attempt (ie it doesn't count as a retake but as a first attempt). A complaint is always easier to resolve if you know what you want as a result.

I'm not sure, really. I will definitely be allowed to retake but I don't like how the whole thing was handled. I would like a different invigilator next time.
OP posts:
Report
Butwasitherdriveway · 18/04/2021 14:10

It makes a world of difference if you'd have passed.

Report
sunflowersandbuttercups · 18/04/2021 14:11

I said something to my tutor but he said they don't normally give a 5 minute warning, I wasn't happy but accepted it. It wasn't until today that I noticed the test was finished 5 minutes earlier than it should have been

Ah, got you now.

That's not acceptable and I would say something. Five minutes early is still early - you should have been given the full amount of time.

Report
NameChange2745637 · 18/04/2021 14:12

@Butwasitherdriveway

It makes a world of difference if you'd have passed.

There's a time limit for a reason though, isn't there?
OP posts:
Report
Butwasitherdriveway · 18/04/2021 14:13

Yes, so that folk aren't there all day.
But if you would g have passed anyway, it's annoying, but it's not like it would be if you would.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

NameChange2745637 · 18/04/2021 14:15

@Butwasitherdriveway

Yes, so that folk aren't there all day.
But if you would g have passed anyway, it's annoying, but it's not like it would be if you would.

I don't think that that's the reason at all, it's so that everyone is given a fair chance and enough time to answer the amout of questions you are given.
OP posts:
Report
Soontobe60 · 18/04/2021 14:18

What was the exam?
I would complain, but be prepared to be told they will adjust your score by 8.3%, which is the amount of time you’ve lost. 8.3% of your score of 13 correct answers is just over 1 so you still wont score enough to get a pass I’m afraid.

Report
Butwasitherdriveway · 18/04/2021 14:19

But you have said yourself the five minutes wouldn't have given you enough time.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.