twenty fourth Jun 2025
Studying Time: 5 minutes
Bear in mind examination time? The frantic cramming, the squeaky footwear of the examination invigilator striding between the desks or sitting purposefully on the head of the room. Properly, they weren’t simply doing it for kicks – invigilating exams might be a good way to make a little bit of fast money and nearly anybody can do it.
It’s not as simple because it appears to be like although – you want tact in coping with confused college students, to not point out the flexibility to maintain quiet for lengthy durations and stay alert regardless of how slowly the minutes could cross.
Oh, and a pair of non-squeaky footwear is crucial…
The first step: Getting began
Most training authorities, faculties and universities will recruit individuals for invigilating exams previous to their Could-June and January examination durations, so the weeks or months earlier than then are the perfect time to start out wanting. Nonetheless, in some circumstances exams can fall exterior this time too.
Try your native borough council web site for positions at native faculties, which is able to want individuals to supervise GCSE and A-level exams. You probably have a baby at college, maintain a watch out for any bulletins within the faculty publication, or it’d even be price asking faculties in your space immediately.
For faculties, universities and grownup training authorities, seek for vacancies on their particular person web sites. Many additionally undergo recruitment businesses or promote on job web sites, so attempt your luck with these (tip: a fast search on Google for ‘examination invigilators’ ought to present essentially the most present crop of positions).
Clearly, faculty exams will likely be throughout faculty hours, whereas college exams could run till a little bit later, making it a perfect short-term job for part-timers, retirees or stay-at-home mother and father.
You don’t want any expertise, as coaching is supplied – principally if you happen to’re accountable and out there to work, you’re in with a great shot. Some locations would require a CRB examine, relying on their particular person insurance policies. This may be difficult to get at brief discover and if you happen to haven’t had one earlier than it may price you between £21.50 and £49.50 relying on which DBS stage is required. See our full article on DBS checks.
Step two: How a lot are you able to earn?
The speed varies however you’ll be able to anticipate something between £12.21 to £30 per hour (universities are inclined to pay extra). How a lot you find yourself with will depend upon what number of exams you’ll be able to sit in on.
So, for instance, if you happen to had been to take a seat in on two three-hour exams a day over a two-week interval on the most pay charge, you could possibly end up with between £732 and £1760. Not too shabby for pacing up and down.
Step three: What’s concerned
There’s much more to invigilating exams than turning as much as open the doorways and shouting “pens down!” on the finish. Coaching will usually be supplied earlier than the examination interval begins and every faculty or college will undoubtedly have their very own procedures to observe, however listed below are a few of the fundamentals:
Earlier than the examination
You’ll must arrive early, half an hour to an hour earlier than the examination is because of start, to arrange the examination room. This can seemingly embrace:
- Inserting reply booklets and query papers on every desk
- Checking all seats are labelled appropriately and that there’s a appropriate hole between every desk to make sure college students can’t copy others
- Understanding what tools college students are allowed (Calculators? Additional paper? Is it an open e book examination?)
- Put up regulation notices, seating allocations, examination begin and end occasions, centre and paper quantity and guarantee clocks are seen (even for these on the far finish) and dealing
If it’s a massive examination corridor, there’ll in all probability be a number of invigilators so you’ll be able to divide what number of tables every of you’ll oversee.
Begin of the examination
- Direct college students to their seats and inform them the place to go away their luggage
- Confiscate any gadgets that aren’t allowed, corresponding to revision notes, textbooks, calculators (except in any other case allowed), and naturally, any cell phones
- Learn examination laws to college students and provides out any particular examination directions
- Be sure that nobody begins studying or writing earlier than the beginning time
- Checking the ID of all college students and marking their attendance (you’ll usually have to tell the workplace instantly if any college students are absent)
- Not letting anybody in or out of the room earlier than the allowed time has handed
In the course of the examination
That is the place a little bit tedium could set in. You need to stay alert all through your complete examination, to stay looking out for college kids who need assistance, or those that could also be utilizing lower than trustworthy means to complete their paper. This implies you CANNOT use the time to learn or write your self, and not stand round chatting with the opposite invigilators. You’ll have to:
- Flow into the room often (that is the place these soft-soled footwear turn out to be useful!)
- Observe the scholars, however attempt to not stand studying over their shoulders (it may be off-putting to college students)
- Accompany college students to the bathroom if wanted
- Hand out further paper or reply booklets if requested
- Be sure that there isn’t a speaking and that any disruptions (corresponding to loud noises exterior) are taken care of as rapidly as attainable
- Give common time checks and announce when the examination time is sort of completed (normally when there’s quarter-hour left)
If you happen to do suspect a scholar of dishonest, it’s seemingly every particular person establishment has their very own process for coping with it that it is best to observe.
Relying on the size of an examination, it’s possible you’ll be allowed to take a brief break. Some exams might be as much as three hours lengthy!
Finish of the examination
- Inform candidates that they need to cease working and remind them that they’re nonetheless in examination situations
- Gather all reply sheets and query papers BEFORE dismissing the scholars
- Be sure that reply sheets are in the proper order (it could be by ID quantity or lessons) earlier than returning them to the workplace
What else it’s worthwhile to know
The excellent news is invigilating exams means fast cash might be made for not doing an excessive amount of apart from observing, however this job in all probability isn’t for you if you happen to bore simply or have a brief consideration span. Whereas it doesn’t take lots of bodily effort, you actually do should be mentally centered on the duty at hand.
For instance, if somebody raises their hand asking for assist it’s worthwhile to attend them instantly – they shouldn’t must attempt to get your consideration for 5 minutes after they’re in timed situations.
Additionally, you will want lots of persistence and understanding. Exams might be extraordinarily disturbing for some, so it’s worthwhile to be ready within the occasion a scholar appears panicky. A bit sympathy gained’t go astray – likely they’ve sufficient to fret about with out having to cope with an unfriendly examination invigilator.
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