| How to get the work | | | | - Placing answer booklets and question papers on |
| Most education authorities, colleges and universities | | | | each desk. |
| will recruit invigilators prior to their May-June and | | | | - Checking all seats are labelled correctly. |
| January exam periods, so the weeks or months | | | | - Knowing what equipment students are allowed |
| before then are the best time to start looking. | | | | (Calculators? Extra paper? Is it an open book exam?) |
| If you have a child at school, keep an eye out for | | | | - Put up regulation notices, seating allocations, exam |
| any announcements in the school newsletter. Anyone | | | | start and finish times, and ensure clocks are visible |
| can check out your local borough council website for | | | | and working. |
| positions at local schools, which will need people to | | | | - If it is a large exam hall, there will probably be a |
| oversee GCSE and A-level exams. You could even | | | | few invigilators so you can divide how many tables |
| contact your local schools directly to see if they | | | | each of you will oversee. Start of the exam |
| need extra help. | | | | - Direct students to their seats and tell them where |
| For colleges, universities and adult education | | | | to leave their bags. |
| authorities, search for vacancies on their individual | | | | - Confiscate any items that aren't allowed, such as |
| websites. Many also go through recruitment agencies | | | | revision notes, text books, calculators (unless |
| or advertise on job websites, so try your luck with | | | | otherwise allowed), and of course, any mobile |
| these (tip: a quick search on the Net for 'exam | | | | phones. |
| invigilators' should show the most current crop of | | | | - Read exam regulations to students and give out |
| positions). Gumtree might also be a good place to | | | | any specific exam instructions. |
| look for adverts. | | | | - Make sure no one starts reading or writing before |
| Obviously, school exams will be during school hours, | | | | the start time. |
| while university exams may run until a little later, | | | | - Check the ID of all students and marking their |
| making it an ideal temporary job for part-timers, | | | | attendance (you will generally have to inform the |
| retirees or stay-at-home parents. | | | | office immediately if any students are absent). |
| Training is provided so you don't need any | | | | - Make sure no-one goes in or out of the room |
| experience - basically if you're responsible and you're | | | | before the allowed time has passed. During the exam |
| available to work, you're in with a good shot. Some | | | | This is where a little tedium may set in. You must |
| places will require a CRB check, depending on their | | | | remain alert throughout the entire exam, to remain |
| individual policies. This can be tricky to get at short | | | | on the lookout for students who need help, or those |
| notice but if you ask around in advance you should | | | | who may be using less than honest means to finish |
| be able to get yours in time for exam season. | | | | their paper. This means you CANNOT use the time |
| Depending on whether you need a standard or | | | | to read or write yourself, and definitely not stand |
| enhanced CRB check, it takes between ten days and | | | | around chatting with the other invigilators. You will |
| four weeks to process. | | | | have to: |
| How much can you make? | | | | - Circulate the room regularly - this is where those |
| How much you end up with by the end of the period | | | | soft-soled shoes come in handy! |
| really depends on how many exams you can sit in on. | | | | - Observe the students, but try not to stand reading |
| The rates of pay vary but you can expect anything | | | | over their shoulders. |
| between £7 to £10 per hour - | | | | - Escort students to the toilet if necessary. |
| universities may offer more. | | | | - Hand out extra paper or answer booklets if |
| So, for example, if you were to sit in on two | | | | requested. |
| three-hour exams a day over a two week period at | | | | - Make sure there is no talking and that any |
| the maximum pay rate, you could finish up with | | | | disruptions (such as loud noises outside) are taken |
| £600. Not too shabby for pacing up and down. | | | | care of as quickly as possible. |
| What does it involve? | | | | - Announce when the exam time is almost finished. If |
| There is actually a lot more to exam invigilating than | | | | you do suspect a student of cheating, it is likely each |
| turning up to open the doors or shouting 'pens down!' | | | | individual institution has their own procedure for |
| at the end. As we said, training will generally be | | | | dealing with it that you should follow. |
| provided before the exam period starts and each | | | | Depending on the length of an exam, you may be |
| school or university will doubtless have their own | | | | allowed to take a short break. |
| procedures to follow, but here are some of the | | | | End of the exam |
| basics: | | | | - Collect all answer sheets and question papers |
| Before the exam | | | | BEFORE dismissing the students. |
| You'll have to arrive early, half an hour to an hour | | | | - Make sure answer sheets are in the right order (it |
| before the exam is due to begin, to set up the exam | | | | might be by ID number or classes) before returning |
| room. This will likely include: | | | | them to the office. |