To ask if any one has done exam invigilator work?

[Pibplob]

If so, could I ask your experiences please? What duties did the job entail etc. I have worked in a school before as a TA but not done any invigorating before so want to try and make sure I can include anything relatable in my application form. Thanks so much for any help.

It is good to also mention your problem solving skills on the application form.

Last term, I was in charge of invigilating a practice exam in a room that had been locked by the teacher and I had to go to find the caretaker to open it! I ended up starting late and it was very frustrating. It has a knock on effect and you end up finishing late.

As per JCQ regulations, you aren't allowed to announce a time warning now for the end of the exam. The students have to manage their own time.

Don't fall asleep, or leave the room to go to the toilet during the exam - saw both last year!

I invigilated a few years ago at a 6th-form college and really enjoyed it. Had a tricky time with one girl I had to escort to the loo. She had a bad tummy ache and after some gentle questioning it seemed that what she really needed was a poo -but she had never ever done one away from home before. She was adamant that she couldn’t but clearly something had to happen soonish or she would have been disqualified from the exam. In the event I stood guard outside the door of the girls’ toilets - containing about 20 cubicles - once all the other pupils had left and gave her some peace and privacy while she performed. Poor girl - she was mortified beforehand but very grateful afterwards.

Other related duties are coordinating listening exams for languages or videos for media studies.
Some exam boards have particular procedures they want followed such as opening the envelopes with the exam papers in front of the students.
You also have to check students aren't wearing I watches and things like that.

Slightly off topic but I can relate the worst experience I had in an exam (and it wasn't even one I took.) I'm so old that they let the teachers invigilate GCSEs and A'levels. They also made 6th formers "run" for the exams, basically go out to get another teacher if there was a major problem - there were always two teachers and they went to the toilets and gave out paper.

I was running for GCSE maths
exam. There were two running, main and a resit (so in my year group.) A boy I knew came in 15 mins late and the teacher sat him at the wrong desk, different exam board, sat on different sides of the hall. I froze for about 5 minutes, seemed like a lifetime thinking the other teacher would realise or the boy himself. Then I began to doubt myself. Then I had to go up and point it out (was the deputy head, not someone I liked). I was mortified - a good reason to have people paid to do this stuff!

In my experience different schools pay quite different rates so ask around once you’ve got some experience!

Try schools directly and also teaching agencies will have roles. The work less than it used to be as the November exams pretty much ceased a little while back.