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Further education

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Original poster

Exam invigilator cocked up!

123 replies

JadeEmpress · 07/06/2023 23:35

Hi all,

DS has sat one of his exams today, in which he asked for extra paper for planning an essay. This request was initially granted, yet a second invigilator rushed over and confiscated the additional booklet, saying it wasn't allowed for his paper (an Edexcel language exam), and it seems to have put him off track and adversely affected his performance - not very happy at all, as I would've thought that it was common practice and its referenced all over the internet!! Now have a stressed DS who has 4 more papers to go.

He has done the same in mocks, and there has never, ever been a problem. Google searches and JCQ information go at odds with what the examiner has done. He has uni offers to meet and this frankly isn't acceptable...

We have put in an appeal with the school and are hoping for special consideration, though I'm not confident of whatever the outcome will be - does anyone have any experience with this sort of dilemma? What should we be doing? What sort of special consideration, if any, is accorded? Google seems to be saying 1-2%, but this is ridiculous, surely, there's more consideration?

Would appreciate any input, v stressed

OP posts:
Pollypetide · 07/06/2023 23:37

What's your Head Examiner said? They'll know the correct protocol and appeal procedure. Give them a ring tomorrow morning after the exams have started.

00100001 · 07/06/2023 23:47

I don't think you'll get a special one consideration for that... I mean you might...but it will only be around 2-3% if you're lucky....

It's not like he was given the wrong paper or anything. Just got a bit flustered.

So unless you really think it's going to be the difference in a grade or whatever.... Not much point.

00100001 · 07/06/2023 23:48

Most people apply for consideration for bigger things like... Emergencies or fainting in exam or whatever.

They can't really start giving out "big" consideration marks, otherwise it would start a precedent of loads of people claiming for all sorts of things in the hope of getting higher grades.

Alittlesummeroasis · 07/06/2023 23:52

Nope, sorry. I think he needs to work on his resilience, I can’t see that warranting any special consideration for exam marking.

ThereIbledit · 07/06/2023 23:54

Yep, one to chalk up to "get more resilient".

Original poster
JadeEmpress · 07/06/2023 23:54

Alittlesummeroasis · 07/06/2023 23:52

Nope, sorry. I think he needs to work on his resilience, I can’t see that warranting any special consideration for exam marking.

He needs an A* in the subject and its clear that they’ve cocked up - it may be petty, but I’m prepared to go to bat over this as this isn’t the first time we’ve had problems

OP posts:
Original poster
JadeEmpress · 07/06/2023 23:56

00100001 · 07/06/2023 23:48

Most people apply for consideration for bigger things like... Emergencies or fainting in exam or whatever.

They can't really start giving out "big" consideration marks, otherwise it would start a precedent of loads of people claiming for all sorts of things in the hope of getting higher grades.

JCQ seems to suggest it falls under “minor upset due to administrative errors”,

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 07/06/2023 23:56

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/GuidetoospecconnprocessJune222_FINAL.pdf

Suggests 1% max for "minor upset arising from administrative problems"

Given having concussion only gets you 2%, I think you need to be realistic!

Original poster
JadeEmpress · 07/06/2023 23:59

PatriciaHolm · 07/06/2023 23:56

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/GuidetoospecconnprocessJune222_FINAL.pdf

Suggests 1% max for "minor upset arising from administrative problems"

Given having concussion only gets you 2%, I think you need to be realistic!

Thanks for that. Just stumbled upon it. I’ll take what I can get.

he’s not done awfully at all, he’s an A student yet this exam was a “high A” but “deffo not an A” in DS’s words - yes, this might be a bit dramatic but I’m going to try it on to see where it goes. Worse they can do is say no

OP posts:
Original poster
JadeEmpress · 08/06/2023 00:00

JadeEmpress · 07/06/2023 23:59

Thanks for that. Just stumbled upon it. I’ll take what I can get.

he’s not done awfully at all, he’s an A student yet this exam was a “high A” but “deffo not an A” in DS’s words - yes, this might be a bit dramatic but I’m going to try it on to see where it goes. Worse they can do is say no

Show quote history

Sorry, A star, the formatting went weird there!!

OP posts:
IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 08/06/2023 00:00

You may get 1% - its a minor upset.

Tbh my daughter had worse and she has a chronic illness to cope with too.

Young person ought to have been able to coped with this situation.

Hannahsbananas · 08/06/2023 00:00

Why would this have adversely affected his performance?!
A friend of dd’s had a gushing nosebleed during one of hers and she just got on with it.
No request for any extra consideration whatsoever, and she managed to ace it Hmm

Original poster
JadeEmpress · 08/06/2023 00:02

IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 08/06/2023 00:00

You may get 1% - its a minor upset.

Tbh my daughter had worse and she has a chronic illness to cope with too.

Young person ought to have been able to coped with this situation.

Sorry to hear about your DD. DS has a friend with chronic illness too and she’s not having the best time.

it’s just that DS is used to this format and it ruined his flow. not saying he tanked it by any means but this just seems utterly inept on the part of the invigilator

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Hannahsbananas · 08/06/2023 00:05

it’s just that DS is used to this format and it ruined his flow
I’m flummoxed that you’d expect him to be awarded an extra grade percentage because he got in a tizz and it affected his “flow”.
This is indulgent nonsense, you know?

Original poster
JadeEmpress · 08/06/2023 00:07

Hannahsbananas · 08/06/2023 00:05

it’s just that DS is used to this format and it ruined his flow
I’m flummoxed that you’d expect him to be awarded an extra grade percentage because he got in a tizz and it affected his “flow”.
This is indulgent nonsense, you know?

DS is autistic. Having paper in an exam room is a totally reasonable expectation and something that should not be overlooked. It’s not on the parent to ensure the invigilator is doing their job correctly.

OP posts:
Alittlesummeroasis · 08/06/2023 00:10

For most students I’d say this shouldn’t make any difference, and that having parent rush in to complain would not be beneficial to their overall development of independence.

However, if you feel that he is less capable of coping with such an incident due to his ASD, then it may be worth discussing it with the school SENCO / ALNCO. Particularly with a view to supporting / preparing him for the exams he has yet to sit.

Original poster
JadeEmpress · 08/06/2023 00:16

Alittlesummeroasis · 08/06/2023 00:10

For most students I’d say this shouldn’t make any difference, and that having parent rush in to complain would not be beneficial to their overall development of independence.

However, if you feel that he is less capable of coping with such an incident due to his ASD, then it may be worth discussing it with the school SENCO / ALNCO. Particularly with a view to supporting / preparing him for the exams he has yet to sit.

He’s very recently diagnosed, we had a hell of a time doing it as he was already 18 when the assessments began and local services wanted nothing to do with it - school SEN aren’t interested at this stage (and frankly are utterly useless)

We’re looking into it for his university studies and sfe are now aware. Thank you for the suggestion though.

honestly, most of my annoyance comes from the fact that two invigilators came to different conclusions and something as simple as paper wasn’t provided. no matter how my DS coped with it, i would expect the school to adhere to what seems to be a pretty simple rule.

this isn’t him being “delicate” - the exam paper barely had enough pages to cover the main body of his essays and i dread to think what they would have done if he’d ran out of response sheets for his actual essay!

OP posts:
MumblesParty · 08/06/2023 00:19

That’s a bad error by the invigilators, pretty basic stuff they should know. I’d try and get it taken into consideration because it would definitely affect my DS if it happened to him.

Hannahsbananas · 08/06/2023 00:21

JadeEmpress · 08/06/2023 00:16

He’s very recently diagnosed, we had a hell of a time doing it as he was already 18 when the assessments began and local services wanted nothing to do with it - school SEN aren’t interested at this stage (and frankly are utterly useless)

We’re looking into it for his university studies and sfe are now aware. Thank you for the suggestion though.

honestly, most of my annoyance comes from the fact that two invigilators came to different conclusions and something as simple as paper wasn’t provided. no matter how my DS coped with it, i would expect the school to adhere to what seems to be a pretty simple rule.

this isn’t him being “delicate” - the exam paper barely had enough pages to cover the main body of his essays and i dread to think what they would have done if he’d ran out of response sheets for his actual essay!

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I dread to think what they would have done if he’d ran out of response sheets for his actual essay!
If he’d filled his booklet they’d have given him extra sheets.
You’re making such a hooha about this…

DumpedByText · 08/06/2023 00:26

In the nicest possible way he needs to work on his resilience. Asking for special consideration for that is ridiculous, my friends daughter as applied for SC as her dad passed away 10 days before the AS levels, that's the type of thing SC is for. Not a booklet being taken away 🙄

Original poster
JadeEmpress · 08/06/2023 00:29

Hannahsbananas · 08/06/2023 00:21

I dread to think what they would have done if he’d ran out of response sheets for his actual essay!
If he’d filled his booklet they’d have given him extra sheets.
You’re making such a hooha about this…

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You’re being rather bitter here - i advise you to try 2 essays of 300 words and a translation in a language you’re not a native in, and the majority of your competitors on the boundaries are native speakers.

it is perfectly reasonable to expect access to extra exam sheets whenever - every single exam board makes this very clear indeed.

It’s such a simple requirement it’s ridiculous that my son should be met with a refusal - there’s no reasonable grounds upon which it could be refused. He shouldn’t have to fill out the whole booklet for additional sheets - that isn’t the point. He wanted a separate planning document he could concurrently refer to - as is the practice in virtually every essay writing exam he sits!

he isn’t being puerile - he’s frustrated and rightfully so, imo.

OP posts:
Original poster
JadeEmpress · 08/06/2023 00:31

DumpedByText · 08/06/2023 00:26

In the nicest possible way he needs to work on his resilience. Asking for special consideration for that is ridiculous, my friends daughter as applied for SC as her dad passed away 10 days before the AS levels, that's the type of thing SC is for. Not a booklet being taken away 🙄

My condolences for this - but the are clearly layers to special consideration.

I’m not asking for 15%, just consideration for unneccessarily stunting an exam when there was no valid reason for it.

OP posts:
Hannahsbananas · 08/06/2023 00:34

He shouldn’t have to fill out the whole booklet for additional sheets - that isn’t the point.
I was responding to your “dread” at what would have happened if he’d run out of paper, by telling you they’d have given him more paper.
You raised that particular point yourself, so it’s bizarre that you’d then tell me it isn’t the point 🤷🏻‍♀️

OutdoorPillow · 08/06/2023 00:35

JadeEmpress · 07/06/2023 23:54

He needs an A* in the subject and its clear that they’ve cocked up - it may be petty, but I’m prepared to go to bat over this as this isn’t the first time we’ve had problems

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I’ll bet it’s not.

Original poster
JadeEmpress · 08/06/2023 00:37

OutdoorPillow · 08/06/2023 00:35

I’ll bet it’s not.

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Not me being unreasonable - they lost the entirety of his history coursework and tried to pawn off responsibility.

OP posts: