twenty fourth Jun 2025
Studying Time: 5 minutes
Keep in mind examination time? The frantic cramming, the squeaky sneakers 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 may be a good way to make a little bit of fast money and virtually anybody can do it.
It’s not as straightforward because it seems to be although – you want tact in coping with burdened college students, to not point out the flexibility to maintain quiet for lengthy intervals and stay alert regardless of how slowly the minutes could go.
Oh, and a pair of non-squeaky sneakers is important…
The first step: Getting began
Most schooling authorities, faculties and universities will recruit folks for invigilating exams previous to their Might-June and January examination intervals, so the weeks or months earlier than then are the most effective time to start out trying. Nonetheless, in some circumstances exams can fall outdoors this time too.
Take a look at your native borough council web site for positions at native faculties, which is able to want folks to supervise GCSE and A-level exams. When you have a baby at college, hold an eye fixed out for any bulletins within the faculty e-newsletter, or it would even be price asking faculties in your space straight.
For faculties, universities and grownup schooling 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 probably the most present crop of positions).
Clearly, faculty exams shall be throughout faculty hours, whereas college exams could run till slightly later, making it an excellent momentary job for part-timers, retirees or stay-at-home mother and father.
You don’t want any expertise, as coaching is offered – mainly if you happen to’re accountable and accessible to work, you’re in with a very good shot. Some locations would require a CRB verify, relying on their particular person insurance policies. This may be tough to get at quick discover and if you happen to haven’t had one earlier than it might price you between £21.50 and £49.50 relying on which DBS degree 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 likely 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 fee, you possibly can end up with between £732 and £1760. Not too shabby for pacing up and down.
Step three: What’s concerned
There may be much more to invigilating exams than turning as much as open the doorways and shouting “pens down!” on the finish. Coaching will usually be offered earlier than the examination interval begins and every faculty or college will undoubtedly have their very own procedures to comply with, however listed here 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 probably embody:
- Inserting reply booklets and query papers on every desk
- Checking all seats are labelled accurately and that there’s a appropriate hole between every desk to make sure college students can’t copy others
- Figuring out what tools college students are allowed (Calculators? Further paper? Is it an open e-book examination?)
- Put up regulation notices, seating allocations, examination begin and end instances, 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 most likely be a couple 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 depart their baggage
- Confiscate any gadgets that aren’t allowed, resembling revision notes, textbooks, calculators (until in any other case allowed), and naturally, any cellphones
- Learn examination laws to college students and provides out any particular examination directions
- Be certain 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
Through the examination
That is the place slightly tedium could set in. You could stay alert all through the complete examination, to stay looking out for college students 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 commonly (that is the place these soft-soled sneakers come in 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 additional paper or reply booklets if requested
- Be certain there isn’t a speaking and that any disruptions (resembling loud noises outdoors) are taken care of as shortly as potential
- Give common time checks and announce when the examination time is nearly completed (often when there’s quarter-hour left)
Should you do suspect a scholar of dishonest, it’s probably every particular person establishment has their very own process for coping with it that it is best to comply with.
Relying on the size of an examination, you might be allowed to take a brief break. Some exams may 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 circumstances
- Gather all reply sheets and query papers BEFORE dismissing the scholars
- Be certain reply sheets are in the appropriate order (it is perhaps by ID quantity or lessons) earlier than returning them to the workplace
What else it’s essential know
The excellent news is invigilating exams means fast cash may be made for not doing an excessive amount of apart from observing, however this job most likely isn’t for you if you happen to bore simply or have a brief consideration span. Whereas it doesn’t take quite a lot of bodily effort, you actually do should be mentally targeted on the duty at hand.
For instance, if somebody raises their hand asking for assist it’s essential attend them instantly – they shouldn’t must attempt to get your consideration for 5 minutes after they’re in timed circumstances.
Additionally, you will want quite a lot of endurance and understanding. Exams may be extraordinarily nerve-racking for some, so it’s essential be ready within the occasion a scholar appears panicky. A little bit sympathy received’t go astray – likely they’ve sufficient to fret about with out having to cope with an unfriendly examination invigilator.
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