to want to complain about this exam invigilationr?

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

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?

But the dd wasn’t unsure was she? She was going by the clock she could see.

Yes she was unsure. The OP says she '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'.

OP, I would raise it with the school as it sounds as though it wasn't made clear, but TBH she should have just asked.

Zakidoodles23 is spot on re the JCQ inspection...

Look, it matters not what any poster here thinks about it, or OPs daughter's resilience. JCQ have rules and regs that cover such stuff, as many teacher's invigilators and Exams Officers are clearly posting. They have them for a reason: to ensure that each student has the same exam conditions as every other. That uniformity is a pre-requisite of all exams. Nobody has the right to say "Ah well!" about any of them.

OPs DD may not get any additional marks but the Exam's Officer MUST know about this. They are the only person who can put in any kind of claim for consideration to the exam board and they need to get this right before they are inspected.

If your 17/18 year old who had sat through countless exams, both mock and real is unable to ask a question about something like this, then I worry about them entering the adult world!

They're not 6.
This won't have been her first exam.
She will know to ask if she had ANY problems.

If your 17/18 year old who had sat through countless exams, both mock and real is unable to ask a question about something like this, then I worry about them entering the adult world!*

Tbh this is irrelevant- the invigilator breached several very clear regulations - they were clearly at fault.

Yes, a 17 year old is a child. In lots of ways. Come and meet some of the ones I teach!!

Again, it breaches the JCQ regulations. If a clock was 15 minutes out when the inspector visits, it is a problem. Students are entitled to expect the JCQ standards to be upheld. Whether they should know they can ask questions or not.

Come and meet some of the ones I teach!!

I thought young people matured more quickly nowadays thanks to the internet and global awareness! Back in my day (early 90s) I think we'd have been highly offended to be thought of as 'children' at A-Level stage.

This is the introduction to the JCQ regulations - notice it says 0any breach and n these regulations can constitute malpractice” as opposed to “surely they know how to ask questions and it really doesn’t matter whether individual centres choose to follow our instructions”

Regulations are detailed and specific so that all candidates are examined fairly and under the same conditions.

It's not clear if there was 15 minutes less.

But the DD should have just asked if she was distracted that much.

But the DD should have just asked if she was distracted that much You do know there is no logic to that?

If DD was so distracted getting herself settled in she wouldn't have known what was said, what she had missed. So what would she have asked?

And it was probably done after the "Sit down, shut up and get settled" speech. So asking any question would have seemed out of place!

It's not clear if there was 15 minutes less. Which is precisely the point!

My son did his A Level Physics Exam this afternoon. I just showed him this thread and he said in his college there was only 1 clock. He did say other exams were taking place at the same time in the same hall, so could this be another clock for that? FWIW, my DS thinks she is telling fibs, I mean who spends all their time getting distracted at a clock when they could of just got on with their exam?

Just to clear a few things up.

She is an extremely capable girl who is fully equipped to go on to University. I don't believe she had a problem in any of the 12 gcses she took - otherwise this thing of "asking the invigilator" might have come up before.

I don't know if she realises she can ask a question after the exam has started but I will make sure she now does as a result of this thread.

The arguing over the descriptor "child" - pfft. If someone asks my mum she'll say she has two children - and we are 62 and 56 .

FWIW, my DS thinks she is telling fibs, I mean who spends all their time getting distracted at a clock when they could of just got on with their exam? Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Oh, never mind!

No, there was not 15 minutes less. She didn't know which clock was right but as the exam had started 15 minutes late she had a feeling the clock on the wall (which was showing the correct real time) was the one to go by. When in fact the invigilator was going by the clock at the front which she had put back by 15 minutes.

Thanks for your DS's input IronMan. That's extremely helpful.

You could also ask how any invigilator who isn't able to follow simple instructions is going to make it in the real world. Just a thought.

slipperywhensparticus

No, she didn't see any clock being changed. That's the whole fucking point of this thread.

You have told laugh about the fact that every Exams Officer, Invigilator and teacher has said this is wrong and the OP should raise it with the EO yet people are still telling the OP she’s BU and needs to get over it

^^No, there was not 15 minutes less. She didn't know which clock was right but as the exam had started 15 minutes late she had a feeling the clock on the wall (which was showing the correct real time) was the one to go by. When in fact the invigilator was going by the clock at the front which she had put back by 15 minutes.

Thanks for your DS's input IronMan. That's extremely helpful.

So she must have thought the exam was finishing 15 mins earlier than it did ?? So then had an extra 15 mins at the end to finish off ?!

I can quite see how that would be unnerving especially under exam pressure. Sorry this happened.

There is no reason a clock should be turned back - an exam is a set length - if it starts late then so be it, it is still given the set length to complete. All clocks in the room should be radio controlled and set to the same time. It is at the discretion of the senior invigilator whether or not to give an xx minute warning but is discouraged by the JCQ..

I would report it or encourage her to do so. The regulations are there to protect everyone from malpractice (intentional or otherwise). This means that JCQ/Exam boards can take the appropriate action and keep on ensuring that the exams are fair for everyone.

Am I missing something? If she was going by the click with the correct time on it she knew it started at 2.15, so would finish at 4.15? If she was going by the click that had been set back it would finish at 2.
She saw the invigilator putting the clock back so was aware there was a difference and the reason why.
If it goes against guidelines then report it but I don't understand how your daughter thought she had an extra 15 minutes

@Piggywaspushed they are 18 year olds, certainly not children