Warning about talking in GCSE exams.....

[seeker]

....massive kerfiuffle this morning- so warn your own GCSE takers! DD went into the exam hall this morning to fins somebody sitting in her seat by mistake. The papers hadn't been handed out. Dd said something like "I think that's my seat" and the other girl said "oops, sorry, yes it is" and moved. The invigilator came and told the off for talking, the girls apologised. Afterwards, the invigilator told their head of year, and said that she had considered sending them both out, which would mean that they couldn't sit any of their science GCSEs this sitting, but had decided not to. Head of year rang me in a flap to explain that there was no suggestion that dd had said anything that she shouldn't have- and the papers were still in the envelope anyway, but they mustn't say ANYTHING at all once they are through the door. And a even grumpier invigilator could have disqualified them for this.

Just thought I'd pass on the warning!

Your poor DD, that must have been upsetting for her. The school is really at fault for not making this all very clear to them. It's been years since my exams but I guess the protocol is to raise your hand an wait for an invigilator.

Well I think that 'No Talking' is obvious going into an exam hall (usually notices on the door) but you would automatically think it doesn't really apply until you have started the paper. A timely warning!

Poor dos by the teacher IMO. The papers hadn't been handed out.

Dd said the school actully had told them, but it didn't cross her mind that it would apply to something like this. I'm sure I would have done the same as she did, actually, no matter how many times I'd been warned!

That is ridiculous. Until the papers have been handed out there is no need for silence.

I'd be quite concerned about such a poor invigilator if they were threatening to remove pupils from exams.

Before the exam has started there will be plenty of occasions when pupils need to speak. Threatening them with fucking up their GCSEs is just throwing your weight around.

Are the school going to make a complaint to the exam board about this unfair threat to two hard-working pupils?

They should.

Does seem very hard on them if the papers were still in the envelope. Especially in a big room, surely students often sit in the wrong places when you are dealing with hundres of seats and stressed kids.

Its important to get the message right at the start of taking exams - i'm assuming your DD is in year 10. Its much easier to have a blanket no talking rule once they enter the hall. Is it really that difficult to not talk at all?
The invigilator was doing his job as was the head of year. If they need to ask a question, they can put their hands up and ask an invigilator. The exam boards make these rules not the school.

Bollocks, it's perfectly straightforward to make it clear that the exam starts now, and there should be no more talking.

The right message is not that if you have an issue to deal with that requires speaking before the start of the exam you will be punished severely.

Invigilators are supposed to use their judgment, not just terrify teenagers by making unnecessary threats.

In every school I have worked in, the rule is silence from when you enter the room. I've invigilated a lot and there is rarely a reason to talk once you are in the room.
If you don't follow the rules, you can be disqualified.

do you sit in specific seats then? are the papers named?

took O levels back in days of yore

Every exam desk at DD's school has a card with the candidates name and number on. They are sat in candidate number order. So it is assigned seating. It is all set out ready before the candidates enter the room.

The teachers aren't allowed in the exam room but they register the students in the lobby and get them lined up in the right order ready to go in.

Hope your DD is ok now OP.

The invigilator did use their discretion, as seeker's daughter has not been disqualified. The rules are there, she says she was told what they were but misinterpreted. She has been put straight. It seems to have been well handled to me.

Remember too, that the invigilator does not know the children. Your dd could be fantastic, or could be Troublemaker number 1, who needs to have things clear from the start.
Consistency is vital in school. Appearing to condone talking with one pupil can lead to less amenable pupils taking it as a cue to push their luck.

Absolutely. That's why I posted- because I suspect that a lot of people, me included, would have done what dd did-so maybe warn your children!

Sounds like a very stressy invigilator to me. The JCQ Information to Candidates says "Do not talk to or try to communicate with or disturb other candidates once the exam has started." See here: www.jths.co.uk/sites/default/files/5.4%20Information%20for%20candidates%20-%20written%20exams.pdf

If I were you, I would remind them of this. In no way did she contravene this rule.

I always try to keep the candidates as calm and relaxed as possible before the start of an exam. There is no need for this additonal stress and I am sure this could have been handled so much better on the part of the school.

DD1 was told off because she finished one exam quite early, then sat for 20 minutes or so daydreaming before checking over her paper. The invigilator claimed never to have come across anyone doing this ever before, so therefore DD must have been allowing someone near her to copy her answers.

She only backed down when it was pointed out that the only DC within eyeshot of DD were doing a completely different exam (DD had permission to choose her seat to avoid direct sunshine due to an eye condition, so was amongst another exam group). Poor DD was being threatened with not being able to sit any more exams at school ever again .

IshallWearMidnight How strange of the invigilator. Now that is what I would call unreasonable behaviour. Your dd did absolutely nothing wrong and fairly normal in my book.

I am quite alarmed at this thread - do students really not know that there is to be silence as soon as the exam room/hall is entered?

All this hyperbolic guff about 'complaining to the exam boards' etc - get over yourselves FGS!!

Evidently the students did not know, the onus is on the school to inform them.

wll if you read the thread Sauvignon you will observe that the OP has already said the school HAD informed students to that effect. This transfers the onus to the students.

(bangs head against brick wall)

Seeker says in her second post that her daughter says the school did tell her.

hey, did you also know that you aren't allowed to ring/text people in exams?

I'll have another glass of , perhaps you should too donnie, it might help your headache.

You'll be telling me you're not allowed your laptop next.

actually Sauvignon some students with statements ARE allowed laptops - they just ain't allowed to surf facebook and the like in the exam!