Invigilator ended test five minutes early

[NameChange2745637]

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.

[Incywincyspinsters]

@DGRossetti

Quite astounded that no one accepts that the fucking software should have enforced any time limits, rather than leaving it to human error.

Over the years I've taken more online exams than I care to remember, and not one - not a single one - was ever ended by an invigilator (not all had invigilators).

I'm still curious as to what outfit is peddling such a crap system - that would have been outdated in 2001 - in 2021.

It was a word processing qualification. Ergo, it was completed on a word processor.

The OP quite clearly stated it wasn’t completed ‘online’, just in a computer.

[Jangle33]

Never taken an exam where I’ve been given a warning that there’s 5 mins to go...never knew it was a thing!

I can’t work out why the OP didn’t have a watch and wasn’t already aware exactly of the time left. Isn’t that the first rule of exam technique?

[NameChange2745637]

@Jangle33 I didn't have a watch, no. That's something I will do differently next time. The time was written on the board but not clearly and the way that the room was set out I had my back to it anyway.

[Everyday21]

Dont know why you're getting a hard time op. I'd make a complaint. It might not have been the difference between a pass and fail for you but might be for someone else. The invigilator was in the wrong and it should be brought up. I've been doing CBEs lately and the invigilators do give a little time warning even though the ones I do have it on the screen to

[Pottedpalm]

@NameChange2745637 of course you should complain, and your exam fee should be refunded. As for those saying you would have failed anyway, we can’t say for sure. It’s possible those last few questions could be answered quickly using the tables, etc. already set up.
Let us know how you get on!

[Mmn654123]

[quote NameChange2745637]@Mmn654123 I'm re sitting next week so it's not an issue. I should have had 60 minutes. I wasn't going to complain so I could could pass, it was the fact that the invigilator handled things wrong that I didn't like. He was rude about it all.[/quote]
Him being rude is worth complaining about - no excuse for that.

Wear a watch. Do a sweep through the paper and answer any ‘easy win’ questions first if they need not be done in sequence, if the questions show how many points are awarded per question, be familiar ahead of time how much time should be spent per point to be awarded so you can quickly see for example that a 20 point question has a ten minute time allocation and if you can move onto the next task without completing the last one, do so as soon as that allotted time is up. If there is time at the end go back and finish them but usually the bulk of your points will be gained in the first draft so it’s better strategy to get something done for every question rather than getting a few ‘big’ ones perfect. Good luck with the resit.

[HappyThursdays]

How ridiculous - it's nothing to do with whether she would have passed or failed but more to do with the exam not being carried out correctly.

It is definitely worth complaining - you don't want to get the same invigilator who does the same thing again! And also the college should pay for your resit not you!

Good luck with the next exam!

[Mmn654123]

@HappyThursdays

How ridiculous - it's nothing to do with whether she would have passed or failed but more to do with the exam not being carried out correctly.

It is definitely worth complaining - you don't want to get the same invigilator who does the same thing again! And also the college should pay for your resit not you!

Good luck with the next exam!

In terms of complaining, until she has passed it would be wise not to complain unless she would derive some personal benefit. Which she wouldn’t. Otherwise complain after passing.

[Postdatedpandemic]

Was it one of those dreadful computer exams where the questions are on paper?
There were still a few around three years ago. If so the time is measured from when you open the paper and not from first keystroke.

If not, complain. You have the evidence and exam officers are usually great at sorting things.

[Pottedpalm]

What a ridiculous suggestion! If there is a fee for the exam, it should be refunded and the invigilator given appropriate training.
Why should the OP stay quiet? It’s not as if she is in school and will upset the teacher!

[Pottedpalm]

That was to the suggestion that she say nothing until she passes. Copy failed

[billy1966]

Of course you should complain.
You paid for a test thst should take 60 minutes.
The test through being cut short was NOT carried out correctly.
You queried it and you were told it was finished.
He was rude to boot.

Of course you should complain.
You have proof.
Contact them and complain.

[sonjadog]

I work in education and have organized many exams, and an exam being cut short by 5 minutes would be a big deal here. I would definitely complain about this. They need to be a lot more careful. Where I work, any student who experienced this would be offered a resit as soon as possible. Doesn't matter if they were likely to pass or not in the next 5 minutes, they still get to resit because we failed to carry out the exam correctly.

Even if it makes no difference to you right now, OP, I would do it for future students. What if next time you are about to pass and you lose the last question because they cut you off again 5 minutes early? Or it is some other student who fails because of this? It is something the exam office needs to be aware of has happened so that they can make sure it doesn't happen in future.

[NameChange2745637]

You queried it and were told it was finished

This is pretty much the point I've trying to make

[NameChange2745637]

** I've been

[CirclesWithinCircles]

@sonjadog

I work in education and have organized many exams, and an exam being cut short by 5 minutes would be a big deal here. I would definitely complain about this. They need to be a lot more careful. Where I work, any student who experienced this would be offered a resit as soon as possible. Doesn't matter if they were likely to pass or not in the next 5 minutes, they still get to resit because we failed to carry out the exam correctly.

Even if it makes no difference to you right now, OP, I would do it for future students. What if next time you are about to pass and you lose the last question because they cut you off again 5 minutes early? Or it is some other student who fails because of this? It is something the exam office needs to be aware of has happened so that they can make sure it doesn't happen in future.

Same here. The exam conditions haven't been met, and the invigilator has been incompetent. Really needs to be dealt with. Whether or not it makes any difference to the OP's result is irrelevant.

[rawlikesushi]

How did you get on complaining today op?

[NameChange2745637]

@rawlikesushi I haven't complained yet. I zoom meeting with my tutor on Thursday so I will mention it then.

[LindyLou2020]

@NameChange2745637

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.

I'm an invigilator at an FE college.
I'm confused - you say it was a "computer-based exam".
Does this mean it was an online exam? Where you are completing your exam on a screen?
If so, the exam runs for the amount of time stated, eg, if the exam is for 1 hour, it runs for an hour.
Although you can leave if you finish before then. And you have a continuous digital time rundown
An invigilator cannot override that at all.
And in my experience some online exams, eg City and Guilds, have a pop-up warning telling you you have 5 minutes left.

[NameChange2745637]

Sorry I can't type today **I have a zoom meeting

[LindyLou2020]

SORRY!!!
Didn't RTFT.
It wasn't an online exam?
COMPLAIN!!!
I have to undergo refresher training every year, and that was appalling invigilating.

[NameChange2745637]

@Lindylou2020 I mentioned earlier in the thread that the invigilator was meant to tell us when we were meant to finish but I'm not actually sure that is the case now.

I have done my level 2 at the same college with the same Invigilator before but I always finished my exams before the end. I have a feeling the computer is meant to automatically stop the test at 60 minutes. I think I was a bit taken a back that I just didn't think about that at the time. It does seem really odd and I will definitely be raising it with my tutor on Thursday

[NameChange2745637]

@lindylou2020 Basically there was an icon on the screen that said to end the test and he told me to click on it. When I clicked on it said "Are you sure you want to end the test".

[Dcadmam001]

Don’t raise it with your tutor on Thursday! Contact the exams officer tomorrow - it is her job to investigate and report malpractice which this is

[NameChange2745637]

@Dcadmam001Is there a reason why I shouldn't mention it to my tutor? They are also an invigilator .