Exam invigilator

Last updated
A proctor invigilating an exam in the US Navy US Navy 120119-N-GZ832-006 Chief Damage Controlman Ty Griffin proctors the chief petty officer exam aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ca.jpg
A proctor invigilating an exam in the US Navy
An invigilator proctoring an exam in Tanzania Invigilation of Examinations.jpg
An invigilator proctoring an exam in Tanzania

An exam invigilator, exam proctor or exam supervisor is someone appointed by an educational institution or an examination board to maintain proper conduct in a particular examination in accordance with exam regulations. Typically, the main duty of an exam invigilator is to watch examination candidates to prevent cheating. [1] The purpose of exam invigilating is to ensure each candidate sits the examination under equal conditions.

Contents

Exam invigilators are appointed to a position of trust and are expected to possess integrity and vigilance to conduct examinations in exact accordance with the board’s instructions.

Purpose

The purpose of exam invigilation is to ensure that all candidates are under active surveillance for every moment of the duration of the examination. Invigilators should also try to provide a suitably pleasant and supportive atmosphere for candidates. [2] However, they must also prevent any kind of communication between candidates (by copying, whispering or any kind of signal, exchange of paper or objects) and any kind of access to unauthorized books, papers or electronic media of any kind for the exam duration. [3]

Invigilators also need to ensure the security of the examination room before, during and after the examination. [4] From the moment the question papers are given out until all answers are collected, exam invigilators should patrol vigilantly. Particular emphasis should be given to multiple-choice and short-answer questions. The main goal should be to prevent possible academic dishonesty and administrative failures.

The minimum number of invigilators required for different kinds of examinations depends on the type of examinations held. For general written examinations, there should be at least one invigilator present against every 30 students for patrolling and vigilance in the examination room. [5]

Duties

General duties

The main duty of an exam invigilator is to support the Chief Invigilator, the Deputy Chief Invigilator, the Examinations Officer and the other invigilators at the examination venue.

Some of the other general duties may include: [6]

  1. Setting up the examination venues by placing candidate numbers, booklets, examination papers, stationery and equipment at desks in accordance with strict procedures.
  2. Implementing the exam rules and regulations and remaining vigilant throughout the examination duration.
  3. Assisting the candidates before, during and after the examination by directing them to their seats, advising them about possessions permitted at examination venues and dealing with queries raised by candidates etc.
  4. Invigilating carefully, making sure that candidates do not talk inside examination venues and also responding to any examination irregularities immediately.
  5. Checking attendance during examinations, recording details of late arrivals and ensuring that proper seating plans are followed.
  6. Escorting candidates during water breaks or washroom breaks as required and detecting any unauthorized materials inside the examination hall.
  7. Delivering and collecting scripts carefully at the start and end of the examination in accordance with strict examination procedures.
  8. Assisting with the packing of examination scripts, stationery and other equipment from the examination venues.
  9. Supervising candidates in leaving the examination venues in a quiet and disciplined manner and ensuring that candidates do not remove equipment or stationery from the examination venue without the permission of the authority.

Before the exam

Before the start of the examination, exam invigilators must be fully briefed and trained before carrying out the task of invigilation in their respective venues. It is essential that exam invigilators familiarize themselves with the appropriate examination regulations and procedures before attending the examination hall.

Exam invigilators should arrive at the examination hall at least one hour before the start of the examination to report for their duty and remain for an additional hour after the exams to collect and wrap up the examination scripts.

Before the candidates arrive, exam invigilators must prepare the examination venue by placing the required answer booklets, reference booklets, candidate numbers and other supplementary materials on candidates' desks. They must make sure that the time of the clock at the examination venue is set correctly and necessary instructions are clearly displayed at the front of the examination hall for the candidates. They should also help direct students to their seats and prohibit the entrance of forbidden items such as mobile phones, smart watch, headphones, portable audio/video/gaming devices and textbooks at the examination hall. [7]

During the exam

During the examination, all exam invigilators must give their whole attention to the examination process. At this time, they must be vigilant, mobile and attentive and should not perform any other tasks throughout the examination’s duration. [8]

At this time, exam invigilators must respond to queries from candidates immediately and assist the candidates as per their needs. Within the first 30 minutes of the examination, the invigilators should take the attendance of the candidates in the attendance record sheet and sign it before submitting it to the Chief Invigilator. While checking the attendance, they must also check the candidate's name, candidate number, passport, admit card or examination entrance card etc. [9]

Exam invigilators must deal with students who arrive late at the examination venue and record their attendance and consult with the Chief Invigilator to determine whether extra time will be granted to such candidates or not.

Invigilators must not permit candidates to leave the examination hall room during the first 1-hour and the last 15 minutes of the examination. They should also take immediate actions in case of candidates caught cheating during the examination and report to the Chief Invigilator. If unauthorized materials are found inside the examination hall, they should remove them immediately. In the event of an emergency or fire alarm, invigilators should follow the emergency exit procedures and lead the candidates safely outside the examination hall.

Invigilators must be as quiet as possible during the examination duration but also remain vigilant to the candidates. They should not explain any questions asked by the candidates or allow any other person to ask questions of, or read answers to, the candidates. [10]

After the exam

After the examination is over, the exam invigilators should collect the scripts, question papers, stationery and other reference booklets from the candidates and check that all the required information (name, candidate number, venue, date etc.) have been filled out by the candidates on their scripts properly. When all the scripts are collected, invigilators should release candidates and direct them towards the exit of the examination hall in complete silence.

E-proctoring

E-proctoring, also known as remote proctoring, [11] is a form of exam proctoring which involves monitoring student behaviour during exams administered electronically, including those given as part of e-learning or remote learning. [12] [13]

Concerns about the use of commercial e-proctoring services include the non-functionality of the software; it mostly fails to identify any actual fraud, while it can falsely flag innocent students for suspicious behavior. Some people claim it violates students' privacy, [14] [15] security, and impact to students' mental health. [16] They also claim it is prone to technical issues that can negatively impact students' exam performance. In addition, there have been multiple reports of user data from commercial e-proctoring services being hacked, resulting in thousands of colleges' and hundreds of thousands of users' data being released. [17] [18]

Ineffectiveness

There is clear evidence to that it is easily possible for candidates to circumvent e-proctoring software. [19] A scientific test of the Proctorio software at the Dutch University of Twente showed that the software was not able to detect any of the cases of examination fraud it was subjected to. It showed that classic, non-technical methods of exam fraud, such as the use of cheat sheets and notes, were nearly undetectable by Proctorio. Moreover, the software could also not identify any cases of committed digital/technical fraud, such as the use of a phone, chat apps and social media during the exam, looking up information on the internet while taking the test, and others. The conclusion was that the sensitivity of Proctorio should be considered at very close to zero. [20]

Controversy

Controversy over e-proctoring escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic, [21] when many universities, [14] [16] [22] [23] [24] K–12 schools, [25] and standardized testing organizations turned to commercial e-proctoring suppliers for services. [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] Students across the world protested the use of commercial e-proctoring services at their post-secondary institutions. [15] [14] [16] [32] [33] [34] It has been noted that online proctoring technologies use algorithms that discriminate against students of darker skin tones, including Black students and other persons of colour. [35] [36]

Proctorio lawsuits

In 2020, e-proctoring software company Proctorio sued a university employee at the University of British Columbia over alleged breach of copyright. [37] The employee was critical of Proctorio on social media and posted links to unlisted YouTube videos produced by the company. [38] [39] [40] A court ruling on the case was published on 15 June 2021 and another on 11 March 2022, dismissing the case. [41] [42] As of late 2022, the employee is appealing the dismissal. [34]

In 2020 a computer engineering student at a different college publicly shared excerpts of code installed by Proctorio on their personal computer. The student sued Proctorio after they had the material removed. Proctorio countersued arguing copyright infringement and defamation. [34] The case was settled out of court. [43]

Class-action lawsuits were brought up against Proctorio and two other companies. The companies were accused of failing to provide legally required data retention and destruction policies and failing to obtain consent for gathering biometric information. [34] The lawsuit against Proctorio was dismissed by a judge in August 2022.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GCSE</span> British public examinations, generally taken aged 15-16

The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of particular subjects, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986, and its first exams sat in 1988. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. However, private schools in Scotland often choose to follow the GCSE system in England.

The Leaving Certificate Examination, commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert or (informally) the Leaving, is the final exam of the Irish secondary school system and the university matriculation examination in Ireland. It takes a minimum of two years' preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior Cycle examination. These years are referred to collectively as "The Senior Cycle". Most students taking the examination are aged 16–19; in excess of eighty percent of this group undertake the exam. The Examination is overseen by the State Examinations Commission. The Leaving Certificate Examinations are taken annually by approximately 60,000 students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graphing calculator</span> Electronic calculator capable of plotting graphs

A graphing calculator is a handheld computer that is capable of plotting graphs, solving simultaneous equations, and performing other tasks with variables. Most popular graphing calculators are programmable calculators, allowing the user to create customized programs, typically for scientific, engineering or education applications. They have large screens that display several lines of text and calculations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College Board</span> US educational nonprofit testing organization

The College Board is an American not-for-profit organization that was formed in December 1899 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) to expand access to higher education. While the College Board is not an association of colleges, it runs a membership association of institutions, including over 6,000 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations.

Electronic assessment, also known as digital assessment, e-assessment, online assessment or computer-based assessment, is the use of information technology in assessment such as educational assessment, health assessment, psychiatric assessment, and psychological assessment. This covers a wide range of activities ranging from the use of a word processor for assignments to on-screen testing. Specific types of e-assessment include multiple choice, online/electronic submission, computerized adaptive testing such as the Frankfurt Adaptive Concentration Test, and computerized classification testing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Magic Circle (organisation)</span> British organisation for amateur and professional magicians

The Magic Circle is a British organisation dedicated to promoting and advancing the art of magic.

Proctor is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another.

Prometric, also known as Prometric Testing, is a U.S.-based company operating in the test administration industry. The corporate headquarters are located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The company manages a vast network of test centers, with thousands of sites in 160 countries, where various examinations are conducted, including those for India-Common Entrance Test, North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, and Secondary School Admission Test.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comprehensive examination</span>

In higher education, a comprehensive examination, often abbreviated as "comps", is a specific type of examination that must be completed by graduate students in some disciplines and courses of study, and also by undergraduate students in some institutions and departments. Unlike final examinations, comprehensive examinations are not linked to any particular course, but rather test knowledge across one or more general fields of study.

The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a national competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to higher Civil Services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, and Indian Police Service. It is also colloquially referred to as the UPSC examination, and UPSC CSE. and is conducted in three phases: a preliminary examination consisting of two objective-type papers, and a main examination consisting of nine papers of conventional (essay) type, in which two papers are qualifying and only marks of seven are counted; finally followed by a personality test (interview). A successful candidate sits for 32 hours of examination during the complete process spanning around one year.

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) is an academic certificate awarded to candidates upon completion of secondary education in Kenya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All India Pre Medical Test</span> Medical entrance examination

The All India Pre-Medical test/ Pre-Dental Entrance Test was an annual medical entrance examination in India. The exam was conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) but is now replaced by NEET-UG by National Testing Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-stakes testing</span> Test with important consequences for the test taker

A high-stakes test is a test with important consequences for the test taker. Passing has important benefits, such as a high school diploma, a scholarship, or a license to practice a profession. Failing has important disadvantages, such as being forced to take remedial classes until the test can be passed, not being allowed to drive a car, or difficulty finding employment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical Council of Canada</span> Canadian organization

The Medical Council of Canada (MCC; French: Conseil médical du Canada, CMC) is an organization charged with the partial assessment and evaluation of medical graduates and physicians through standardized examination. It grants the qualification called Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), which is a requirement to independently practice medicine in Canada. The MCC's role in physician assessment has been repeatedly criticized as obsolete for several decades.

The General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level, or A Level, is a main school leaving qualification in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is available as an alternative qualification in other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exam</span> Educational assessment

An examination or test is an educational assessment intended to measure a test-taker's knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical fitness, or classification in many other topics. A test may be administered verbally, on paper, on a computer, or in a predetermined area that requires a test taker to demonstrate or perform a set of skills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TrackTest</span> English test for non-native English speakers

TrackTest Online English Assessment Center or TrackTest is an online English language assessment solution launched in November 2012 that measures the English skills of non-native English speakers. The test is using the scale based on Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It wants to create a 21st-century alternative to expensive pen&paper tests provided by established companies like ETS.
Services for companies and language schools include an easy-to-use online management console for managing tests, analysing results and the progress of their students or candidates. In 2014, TrackTest English Test was used by students from 173 countries and speaking 136 languages. The organisation is an institutional affiliate member of Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE), EAQUALS and others.

Electronic exams offer benefits such as ease of marking, reduced need to read illegible handwriting, saving of time

National Testing Agency (NTA) is an Indian government agency that has been approved by the Union Council of Ministers and established in November 2017 to conduct entrance examinations for educational institutions. The government appointed Vineet Joshi as the first Director-General of the agency. NTA is responsible for Joint Entrance Examination – Main, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate, University Grants Commission–National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), Common Management Admission Test (CMAT), Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT), Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and All India Ayush Post Graduate Entrance Test (AIAPGET).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland</span> Irish professional medical qualification

Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCPI) is a postgraduate medical qualification in the field of general internal medicine awarded by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) thorough examination. The MRCPI in general internal medicine is accredited by the Irish Medical Council as the foremost knowledge-based assessment for internal medicine in Ireland. In addition, many countries worldwide recognize the qualification as a postgraduate degree in internal medicine and designate its holder as a specialist physician. The 3 parts of the MRCPI examinations are held throughout the Republic of Ireland and its overseas centers. As of April 21, 2022, according to the RCPI's examination calendar 2022, the RCPI does not seem to conduct any examination in India. The MRCPI in general internal medicine is the flagship qualification and examination of the RCPI and should be differentiated from its other postgraduate qualifications awarded through examinations in other specialities.

References

  1. ↑ "invigilator" – via The Free Dictionary.
  2. ↑ Anonymous (13 July 2012). "What I'm really thinking: the exam invigilator". TheGuardian.com .
  3. ↑ "British Council Invigilators Job requirements – Job description / Code of Practice". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Exams administration: information for exam centres – Detailed guidance – GOV.UK".
  5. ↑ "Invigilators FAQs". Cambridge International Examinations. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  6. ↑ "The Ridgeway School Examination Invigilator Job Description" (PDF).
  7. ↑ "What does an Invigilator do? (with pictures)".
  8. ↑ "Express Invigilators". Archived from the original on February 1, 2010.
  9. ↑ "How to be a School Exam Invigilator". careerpath360.com. June 23, 2009. Archived from the original on June 28, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Invigilator – English Language Tutorials". February 13, 2010.
  11. ↑ McCorkle, Rory (2018-08-13). "Dispelling the concerns around utilizing remote proctoring systems". EdScoop. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  12. ↑ Bacow, Lawrence; Bowen, William; Guthrie, Kevin; Lack, Kelly; Long, Matthew (2015). "Barriers to Adoption of Online Learning Systems in U.S. Higher Education". Ithaka S+R. doi: 10.18665/sr.22432 . Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  13. ↑ James, Rosalind (2016). "Tertiary student attitudes to invigilated, online summative examinations" (PDF). International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education. 13 (1): 19. doi: 10.1186/s41239-016-0015-0 . ISSN   2365-9440. S2CID   5640.
  14. 1 2 3 Alden, Charlotte. "Facing student privacy concerns, UBC maintains relationship with Proctorio". The Ubyssey. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  15. 1 2 Chrysanthos, Natassia (2020-05-21). "'You're being watched and recorded, every breath': Students unsettled by exam software". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  16. 1 2 3 Waitson, Byline: Emily (2020-05-27). "UPDATED: Students raise concerns over an increase in academic misconduct allegations". The Cord. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  17. ↑ "Hacker leaks 386 million user records from 18 companies for free". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  18. ↑ "ProctorU confirms data breach after database leaked online". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  19. ↑ "How ProctorU and Examity make cheating on college exams easier than ever". blog.rchase.com. 2018-01-18. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  20. ↑ https://ris.utwente.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/275927505/3e2a9e5b2fad237a3d35f36fa2c5f44552f2.pdf
  21. ↑ "E-Proctoring: Understanding the debate about invigilating remote exams". Learning, Teaching and Leadership. 2020-05-12. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  22. ↑ Alden, Charlotte. "Facing student privacy concerns, UBC maintains relationship with Proctorio". The Ubyssey. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  23. ↑ Waitson, Byline: Emily (2020-05-27). "UPDATED: Students raise concerns over an increase in academic misconduct allegations". The Cord. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  24. ↑ Harris, Sherina (June 29, 2020). "Canadian Medical Students Demand Change After 'Inhumane' Exam Conditions". HuffPost. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Mass school closures in the wake of the coronavirus are driving a new wave of student surveillance". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  26. ↑ Strauss, V. (2020, April 16). College Board says it can give valid, secure online SATs at home. Washington Post.
  27. ↑ "Perspective | An open letter to the College Board about online, at-home AP tests". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  28. ↑ "Online proctoring is surging during COVID-19". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  29. ↑ Hubler, Shawn (2020-05-10). "Keeping Online Testing Honest? Or an Orwellian Overreach?". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  30. ↑ Lee, Shereen. "Proctorio CEO releases student's chat logs, sparking renewed privacy concerns". The Ubyssey. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  31. ↑ Swauger, Shea (2020-06-07). "Taking Back the Narrative of Ed Tech". sheaswauger. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  32. ↑ Waitson, Byline: Emily (2020-05-08). "Laurier math department faces backlash over mandatory external webcams needed for spring exams". The Cord. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  33. ↑ Harwell, Drew. "Cheating-detection companies made millions during the pandemic. Now students are fighting back". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  34. 1 2 3 4 "'I'm afraid': critics of anti-cheating technology for students hit by lawsuits". the Guardian. 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  35. ↑ Parnther, C., & Eaton, S. E. (2021, June 23). Academic integrity and anti-Black aspects of educational surveillance and e-proctoring. Teachers College Record. https://journals.sagepub.com/pb-assets/cmscontent/TCZ/Commentaries%20Collection/2021%20Commentaries/Academic%20Integrity%20and%20Anti-Black%20Aspects%20of%20Educational%20Surveillance%20and%20E-Proctoring-1650325575.pdf
  36. ↑ McKenzie, L. (2021, April 6). Proctoring Tool Failed to Recognize Dark Skin, Students Say. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/04/06/proctoring-tool-failed-recognize-dark-skin-students-say#
  37. ↑ "Software company sues UBC employee over tweets involving confidential videos". vancouversun. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  38. ↑ Chin, Monica (2020-10-22). "An ed-tech specialist spoke out about remote testing software — and now he's being sued". The Verge. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  39. ↑ "An Exam Surveillance Company Is Trying to Silence Critics With Lawsuits". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  40. ↑ "Ed-Tech Specialist Fights Proctorio Lawsuit | Inside Higher Ed". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  41. ↑ "2021 BCSC 1154 Proctorio, Incorporated v. Linkletter". www.bccourts.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  42. ↑ "2022 BCSC 400 (CanLII) | Proctorio, Incorporated v Linkletter".
  43. ↑ "LEGAL UPDATE". Proctorio. Retrieved 2022-09-29.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.