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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to complain about this exam invigilationr?

316 replies

bibbitybobbityyhat · 20/05/2019 17:21

One of my children was in an A level exam today.

They started 15 minutes late.

Without announcing it, the invigilator turned the clock back at the front of the hall to the time it should have started. So turned it back from 2.15 to 2.00pm.

She did this without announcing it, I'll just say that again.

However, there was another clock in the hall telling the correct time.

My child was completely distracted by the question of what was the correct time and when would the exam actually end throughout the exam.

In the event, it ended 15 minutes before she was expecting and she missed out on answering her final question properly.

AIBU to be livid?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
callmeadoctor · 21/05/2019 19:22

Well done coconut!!!!!

placemats · 21/05/2019 19:24

You have to be discreet in issuing a 5 minute warning if there are multiple exams with different time endings, though the students do have to leave the hall!

Watches are either left on the desk or put in a tray depending on the exam officers wishes.

Ferrisbuellersdayoff · 21/05/2019 19:29

MagentaKitty

The rules about putting watches on desks is in the guidelines for JCQ and CIE. They both say that the head of centre can decide whether or not to allow candidates to bring standard wristwatches into the exam room.

The CIE guidelines make a 5 minute warning mandatory, the JCQ guidelines say it's permissible.

Regarding the OP:
JCQ says that invigilators may not change the time on the clock to put it in line with the planned start time for the exam. I believe this rule is new for this year. It also very clearly says in a coloured box and bold type that all clocks in the exam room have to show the same time.

indianbackground · 21/05/2019 19:42

I’ve taken exams at a number of ages. I found the stress meant little things such as a time difference would be much more difficult to deal with. That was true for all important exams even as an adult.
It’s easy with hindsight and no pressure to say a candidate should just ask, but not all will.

Musmerian · 21/05/2019 19:43

The actual start and end time of the exam should be written clearly on the board. I would expect an A level candidate to know how long the exam should be but it does sound a bit distracting.

Original poster
bibbitybobbityyhat · 21/05/2019 19:46

Thanks for all further input!

Just as an aside for the nitpickers over whether my 18 year old is one of my children. Is the only acceptable descriptor for you "my daughter" or "my son"?

OP posts:
Original poster
bibbitybobbityyhat · 21/05/2019 19:47

What can you ask questions about in an exam? It's a long time ago, I know, but I don't remember anyone asking a question in any of my exams at school or University.

OP posts:
mummyof2darlings · 21/05/2019 19:56

Depends was it only your daughter who experienced this issue?? If so I doubt they will do anything about it

Ferrisbuellersdayoff · 21/05/2019 19:59

Just off the top of my head:

You can ask to go to the loo, to leave because you finished (within permitted timeframes), for tissues, for extra paper, for (where available and permitted) a spare pen or pencil, for medical help.

You can complain about something that's disturbing you, either in or outside of the exam room, and you can report what you think is an error on the paper.

MumW · 21/05/2019 20:06

What can you ask questions about in an exam?
You can ask anything, within reason, we might not be allowed to answer, though.

Can I go to the loo? Depends on whether there is an extra invigilator available to escort you.
Can I have more paper? Of course.
How long left? Not allowed to answer that one.
Do I have to answer all these questions or just 2? Can't tell you that but I will probably close your paper and refer you to the instructions.
I've finished can I leave? Depends on centre policy but normally in a school, NO - too disruptive
My desk is wobbly. We'll find you some paper/card to fold under the leg.
I'm blinded by the sun - we'll pull the curtain or, exceptionally, move you if there's a spare desk
I've finished can I get a book to read? No.
What does this mean? Can't tell you why the hell would I know, it's you being examined not me?
Why can't I have a calculator? It's the bl**dy maths non-calculator paper.

Can I please ask you to remind your DC to put their hand right up so your elbow is level with your ear and not resting on the desk - it gives us a fighting chance at spotting you across the room.

bubblegumunicorn · 21/05/2019 20:15

The actual start and end time of the exam should be written clearly on the board.

If this wasn't done then 100% complain as that mixed with the clock would cause anyone to get confused!

MagentaKitty · 21/05/2019 20:17

MumW add a couple of questions about replacement rubbers, a newer protector and more tracing paper and you could have had one of my favourite students today!Grin
OP I usually say ask anything you need to, no matter how trivial or silly sounding and if an invigilator can tell you they will. The EO will be able to reassure your dd if she is anxious about asking. It's awful when a student worries and you only find out afterwards that you could have helped them.

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 21/05/2019 20:41

Best question ever

Year 7 french exam

Child puts their hand up and asks

What colour are my eyes miss?

Im like this 😳

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 21/05/2019 20:42

Whatever colour you can spell Grin

TheFallenMadonna · 21/05/2019 20:44

Today my 17yo DS, doing A levels, old enough to know better, etc etc, managed to leave his pencil case in his bag. Sauntered into the exam hall with nothing. Nerves make you do daft things.

TheFallenMadonna · 21/05/2019 20:46

He had to put up his hand mid invigilator spiel to get a pen...

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 21/05/2019 20:51

Dd refused to put her hand up in mocks when she realised she had her phone...cos she was embarrassed!

Muppet!

justoneday · 21/05/2019 20:52

I’m confused. If the clock was turned back to say 2o’clock and this one was used to nap the (2 hour) exam or however long it was. The clock telling the correct time would say 2.15. So if she looked at the wrong clock at 4.00, then she would still have 15 minutes left. Or if she looked at the other one that said 3.45. I don’t see how she lost 15 minutes. Or was it that she felt she rushed to get it done by the correct clock and didn’t put enough detail into her answers?

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 21/05/2019 20:56

Whatever colour you can spell grin

Grin

I had a whole imaginary family for Spanish GCSE in order to show off the fact that I knew the word for half-sister. (The girl who sat next to me had one so I had learnt it.)

The teacher doing my oral exam was very confused as my brother was best friends with her son and she had never noticed the adorable baby half sister who liked to play on her bike!

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 21/05/2019 21:00

mum

Grin
Stiffasaboard · 21/05/2019 22:40

OP you haven’t replied to the numerous posters who have pointed out that the mistake your daughter described would have meant she had MORE time left than she originally thought not less

sadeyedladyofthelowlands63 · 21/05/2019 23:07

Depends was it only your daughter who experienced this issue?? If so I doubt they will do anything about it

Yes they will. As numerous PP have said, the invigilator broke the very clear guidelines of the exam board. Once this is pointed out the school will fall over themselves to report it. because they won't want it to happen again during a JCQ inspection.

TheFallenMadonna · 21/05/2019 23:21

Scenario:
2hr exam
OP's DD saw exam start at 2.15 on the clock.
Starts writing.
While she is not looking, invigilator changes clock back 15 minutes.
OP's DD expects clock to say 4.15 at end of exam.
Later on looks at clock - it says 3.45. Thinks she has 30 minutes left. Actual time is 4.00 and she has only 15 minutes left.

scubadive · 21/05/2019 23:26

OMG I have never read anything so comical as the posts in this read trying to work out the impact of the clock change, is there any wonder ops daughter was affected in an exam.

  1. exam starts at 2.15pm instead of 2pm, ops daughter knows this
  2. ops daughter knows it’s a 2 hour exam so knows exam will now finish at 4.15pm
  3. invigilator moves clock back at start of exam to 2pm from 2.15pm
  4. ops daughter does not know clock has been moved.
  5. ops daughter still expecting exam to finish at 4.15pm
  6. exam finishes at 4pm on changed clock, ops daughter has run out of time and hadn’t answered the last question

Anyone who has sat many exams knows that with the best will in the world to allocate your time evenly across marks, as per an earlier post, as the exam draws to a close you pace yourself according to the minutes left and marks still to be answered. If the exam suddenly finishes 15 mins earlier than you were expecting (regardless of how much time you have actually had) this would be a massive blow.

The fact the ops daughter knew there were 2 clocks in the room that showed different times and could/should? have queried this is a side issue but wouldn’t have helped ops daughter gain clarity.

Katzia · 21/05/2019 23:28

No, students cannot ask to go to the loo. This is not allowed unless you have a loo pass. Students cannot ask what time has passed or is remaining. Students cannot ask for any help on the exam paper other than to have instructions read to you. So Invigilators cannot tell students which question or how many questions to answer or in what order. Students may ask for extra paper, fix wobbly desks, close blinds. Students may ask for equipment like rulers, rubbers etc if they have forgotten theirs, but if the centre has no spares, then the students must just do. It is their responsibility to have the necessary equipment for the exam and the centre is not under any obligation to supply equipment. ( Most centres have a box of a few spares but when they're given out that's it). Students in my school may not leave the exam room until finish time. Students are not permitted watches of any kind. Students must remain upright at all times, no slumping on desks. Students must not wear hoodies, are allowed only plain unmarked water bottles and must remain seated and looking forward until dismissed row by row. I'm in a very strict school.

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