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Original poster

Are there any Exam Officers here today? Help needed. Please?

85 replies

Guardsman18 · 12/05/2019 16:07

I haven't worked in a year or so. I applied for a job as an exam invigilator in my son's school and am due to start on Tuesday.

Having gone to the training, I don't want to do it! It's more responsibility than I thought and am having dreams about the children looking to me for guidance and I won't know what I'm doing!

Would it be really bad if I explained tomorrow that I just don't feel confident enough? Would an Exam officer have enough people to fill in my gaps?

Any advice would be gratefully received. Thanks

OP posts:

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/05/2019 14:01

Newjobnewname 8.15 is an unusually early start for an exam I would think you were setting up the room at this time. Did you try asking for a chair? There is no rule against sitting down as long as you can see everyone and move from time to time. Or you could have asked be put down for shorter sessions, I suppose if you don't want to do it then that's it but the poor Exams Officer is left with a headache filling your post at such short notice.

Original poster

Guardsman18 · 13/05/2019 14:15

Oh no Newjobnewname! I was relying on you to tell me it was a doddle!

Why on earth can't you sit down? I do have a bad back so that'll be nigh on impossible for me.

That seems a long time - was that two exams? Were they ok about you not going back?

OP posts:

Newjobnewname · 13/05/2019 14:42

No...you can’t sit down as there are over 50 students all taking the exam, and only a couple of invigilators. You don’t realise just how achey your back gets just wandering up and down if you’re not used to it I guess!
No...it was one exam...for 2.5 hours, but of the 50 pupils, there were about 10 SEN pupils also included, and they all get an extra 25% of the exam time added for their various reasons.
So the exam time was over 3 hours.
Add to that the half an hour before the exam start that you have to be there setting everything up, and the half an hour afterwards, putting the things away, and that’s a very long time standing!
No...they were understandably annoyed, as it had cost them for the training and DBS . They said I hadn’t mentioned a back problem when I applied! That’s because I haven’t GOT/HAD a back problem before!
And I have no intention of giving myself one ...which is why I regrettably have resigned!
You will probably be fine....please don’t be put off...and let us know how you get on.

Newjobnewname · 13/05/2019 14:52

CaptainMyCaptain...( sorry I can’t work out how to bold)...
it was setting up, yes. Exam was 9-12.08.
There were dozens of spare chairs in the room. We were instructed not to sit.
The other invigilators seemed to have a crafty 1 minute perch on the side of a desk every so often, and suggested I do so too, ( they were very nice, tbf) but definitely no sitting down!
And despite the huge notices stating no mobile phones allowed in the exam room, I spent a lot of time collecting over 40 mobile phones off of students, then reissuing them afterwards.

BrightonBB · 13/05/2019 16:53

Please don’t be put off. It is quite acceptable to perch on the edge of a desk at times as long as you can see the students or ask the Exams Officer for a high stool to perch on occasionally. Walk slowly to change position in the room too. Losing an Invigilator at the last minute is a nightmare.
It really is an easy job and a good way to get work on your CV after a break. Can also really help at interviews if you decide you want to work in a school.

Haggisfish · 13/05/2019 16:54

Wow! I hope exam board were informed if exam had started and they still had their phones.

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/05/2019 17:01

Collecting and returning the phones before the exam is a routine job, we have envelopes with a numbered card in them on each desk. Student keeps the card and hands in the envelope.

I have heard some schools forbid sitting down and sometimes there isn't room for a chair but it isn't actually in the Exam Board rules. We're not allowed to walk up and down all the time as it bothers the students. We just shift position now and then.

KittyMcKitty · 13/05/2019 17:12

Haggisfish if the exam had started their papers would be disqualified if they had phones on them.

Newjobnewname what exam was it? I thought it was only computing this morning and that was between 1hr30 and 1hr45 depending on the board.

The secret is to wear the right shoes - ones with a tread which won’t make noise when you walk (soooooo distracting when people’s shoes are noisy) and ones with a soft sole are much more comfy.

I honestly find in general the time goes quickly - setting up exam room, checking all AV up and working, collecting phones, getting bags into changing rooms, registration, admitting them into hall / room, giving out instructions etc etc. Even during the exam there’s keeping on top of who has access arrangements and filling out necessary paperwork.

If your back hurts you’re far better off walking then standing still. Good shoes is definitely the key!

Original poster

Guardsman18 · 13/05/2019 17:21

Kitty - you are not helping me here! That sounds like so much responsibility. Would all that be a senior?

OP posts:

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/05/2019 17:24

It all becomes routine when you get used to it but I'm sure you will be working with someone else until you are more confident.

KittyMcKitty · 13/05/2019 17:29

Guardsman18 yes I’m a lead invigilator- you’ll be fine!

Captain I’m really surprised at your phone policy- JCQ reg 18.1 says ideally all unauthorised items should be left outside the room. To be collecting phones from desks with papers on sounds unusual.

Jux · 13/05/2019 17:32

On good luck tomorrow. I'm sure you'll find it worth doing. I'd love to do it but there's only one school looking for initiators near here and I can't get to it - no public transport

Jux · 13/05/2019 17:33

Invigilators, not initiators fgs!!

BrightonBB · 13/05/2019 17:36

If it is a standard secondary school then there will more than likely be a small number of experienced Senior Invigilators who take control and start the exam assisted by a team of Invigilators. You would almost certainly not be given any big responsibility on your first day so don’t fret. Please don’t be put off and give it a try. Just keep an eye out for a raised hand - most likely to say ‘my pen has run out’. If they ask anything you are unsure of just say ‘I’m sorry I can’t help you with that but I’ll double check with my colleague’. If they ask for help with a question or which question to answer you cannot advise so just say ‘sorry Invigilators can not help with any part of the exam paper - try re-reading the question and front of the paper’.
Please email your Exams Officer and tell her you are keen but nervous and ask if there is a tall stool available for occasional perching. They would much rather help you than lose you

Original poster

Guardsman18 · 13/05/2019 17:36

Ok Kittty. Thank you. I'm going for it tomorrow. Up at 6.15 am, clothes sorted tonight, son sorted. Wish me luck!

OP posts:

Original poster

Guardsman18 · 13/05/2019 17:40

Thank you BrightonBB. I feel a lot better. They are not horrible people who want to see me fail for goodness sake! That's what i'm telling myself.

The EO is a lovely, very busy person and whilst I don't want to let them down, I don't want to let myself down either. My son is a bit proud of me too!

OP posts:

Nonnymum · 13/05/2019 17:40

I'm an exam invigilator, really it is fine. It's a no pressure job really. I assume you are not the chief invigilator? If there are any problems just let the chief know. Even if you are the chief just let the exams officer know who will get a teacher to come in the room to sort out the trouble makers. The kids where I work are really good generally but that's what happens where if there are any major issues.

YesItsMeIDontCare · 13/05/2019 17:42

That sounds like so much responsibility. Would all that be a senior?

At my school we're all responsible for little bits of it so it's not much at all. Seriously, it's the piss easiest job on the planet and I do have a back problem 😁.

JumpingFrogs · 13/05/2019 17:43

I've invigilated for years and I love it. We are allowed to sit, as long as between us we can see all parts of the hall. We also walk up and down the aisles (you need to do this in a large hall to check nothing untoward is going on but we don't do it constantly as it can distract some candidates). I do a mixture of large exams (where I lead) and smaller rooms, some 1 to 1 with candidates with special needs. I also do language aurals, practical exams, and even Braille exams, so I find it quite varied.

sawyersfishbiscuits · 13/05/2019 18:02

Are you a Lead invigilator?

Most people start as invigilating with others in a team and then if they want to, they lead a room. I'm doing it and have so far been with 1-4 people in halls or rooms. I'm booked to d a small room on my own in a couple of weeks but they asked me first.

Honestly, once you've learned the ropes you'll be fine. It's easy. I was a broken ex teacher when I started but it's really helped my confidence. I'm with a lovely team.

Please don't worry. It's not bad at all. Also the teenagers are much nicer when they're silent

sawyersfishbiscuits · 13/05/2019 18:04

Feel free to ask me any questions and let us know how it goes x

Alwaysgrey · 13/05/2019 18:12

@Guardsman18 I start tomorrow. I’ve never done it before but with two children with disabilities this is one of the few things that will fit with the kids and help me make a little bit of desperately needed money. I’m nervous but from our booklet and training I’ll be in with several other people as it’s a huge hall and with a lead invigilator. So that’s put my mind at rest. I am nervous as I’m worried I’ll be so nervous I’ll put the wrong cards down and exams etc. But we’ll see how it goes.

HiHoToffee · 13/05/2019 18:25

I have been invigilating for a few years now but I was just as nervous when I started. In the end it was all ok, I just followed the other invigilators and it was all pretty straight forward. Invigilating is mostly boring, you observe, hand out pens, paper, tissues and occasionally escort a student to the toilet. Anything you are not sure about, just ask.

Oh and boring is good, that means there is no incident and students can do their exams in peace without any distractions.

Newjobnewname · 13/05/2019 18:33

Kitty, you are correct, it was a computing exam, which was for 2.5 hours. And with extra time of 25%, just over 3 hours
I was slowly walking up and down, not standing still, but that still didn’t prevent the low backache which kicked in after about an hour.
I had bought comfortable new shoes, with rubber soles.
It just wasn’t suitable for me!
I did offer to go in until they could arrange a replacement, but as they hadn’t even sorted my contract out yet ( although all references and DBS received weeks ago) it seemed a more sensible solution to let them know now.
Unfortunately you don’t know that the job isn’t suitable until you’ve tried it.
I did say that I regretted letting them down, but they said they would be able to fill the position using an agency.
Hope it all goes well tomorrow for Guardman18 and Alwaysgrey.

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/05/2019 19:09

Kitty the phones are collected before the exam starts. I've had an Inspector watch me start an exam and it was all fine.

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