Examinations form an important part of the academic and professional calendar, providing the benchmark at which knowledge is assessed, skills are measured, and competencies are weighed. Consequently, it has become necessary that the examination process be as fair as possible and equally not compromised by those who take it. It is here that the role of an exam invigilator becomes quite indispensable.
This article will cover the key responsibilities and duties an exam invigilator has, their role in maintaining the integrity of the exams, and how Awign facilitates this growing demand for exam invigilator jobs.
Table of Contents
Key Responsibilities of an Exam Invigilator
#1. Preparing the Exam Room
Among the main duties of the exam, the invigilator ensures that the examination room is well set before the actual beginning of the test. This includes arranging the seating in accordance with examination regulations to try and prevent cheating or collusion, ensuring that all materials needed for the examination, such as papers, answer sheets, calculators, scraps, and identification forms, are present on each desk, and verifying that the environment is absolutely free from distractions.
Finally, the invigilators ensure that the necessary equipment, such as clocks and recording devices if necessary, is in order and functioning properly to keep the smooth flow of the examination process.
#2. Verifying Candidate Identity
Before the actual examination, the invigilators are supposed to confirm the identity of each candidate. This might be important in ensuring that impersonation is not carried out and that correct individuals sit for the test. They can use their student IDs, the permit for the exam, or any other identity to validate that they are the actual candidates.
Some professional or certification exams may require a biometric verification that is entrusted with the invigilator’s supervision.
#3. Monitoring the Exam Process
An invigilator once the exam has started would be providing a line of supervision, walk around the room and ensure that all candidates follow the rules, check for any cheating or misconduct, and maintain a quiet and orderly environment in the room. Invigilators are required to be observant throughout the duration of the test for irregular behaviour or suspicions of unfair material or communication between candidates.
Monitoring may also be done through the use of electronic devices while taking the exam online, or through proper utilization of the use of assistive technology provided to candidates with special needs.
#4. Handling Exam Irregularities
Even with the best planning, things can go wrong on the day of exams: a candidate might fall sick, online exams might face technical problems, or candidates may try to cheat. The invigilators should always remain cool and composed in such issues, taking quick action without disturbing the process of the exam at all.
In case of a technical failure during an online or computer-based exam, an invigilator has to quickly coordinate with technical support teams to resolve the issue. They take the necessary actions provided by the examination body if they suspect cheating; this includes the confiscation of prohibited materials or marking the candidate’s paper for further investigation.
#5. Ensuring Compliance with Time Limits
One of the other duties of an invigilator is the management of time needed for the examination. It is the work of an invigilator to make sure candidates begin and end within the set time for the examination. Usually, invigilators give warnings 10 or 15 minutes toward the end of the time to allow candidates to utilise whatever time remains.
At the end of the exam, invigilators collect all exam papers and materials, ensuring that no extra writing or changes are done after the exam has officially ended.
Skills Required for an Exam Invigilation
Thus, invigilators for examinations are required to have a variety of skills that enable them to maintain the integrity and flow of the examination process. Some of the key competencies necessary include:
- Attention to Detail: invigilators must ensure that they observe irregularities, such as unauthorized materials or unusual behavior of candidates, within the examination room, while at the same time strictly adhering to all procedures precisely according to the prescription of the examination body.
- Communication: This is due to the fact that invigilators usually need to address the candidates before, during, and after the exam. Miscommunication can be a cause of confusion with regards to the performance of the candidate or an unjustified disturbance.
- Problem-solving skills: Invigilators have to be on their feet and find a workable solution when facing anything from a technical glitch in an online exam to an illness of one of the candidates. Their ability to deal with situations that come up unexpectedly yet keep the process moving along with as little disruption as possible is critical to their job.
- Integrity and Fairness: An invigilator will have to uphold the standard of the examination ethics, ensuring a level playing field for all candidates and that the rules are followed without discrimination. Since any partiality or unjust treatment can destroy the credibility of the examination, an invigilator will have to perform his duty completely equitably and transparently in support of the integrity of the assessment process.
Awign: Transforming the Gig Economy
Awign is one of the pioneers in the gig economy in India and provides a marketplace to connect companies with a large pool of skilled, on-demand workers. It has also pioneered outsourcing services related to exam invigilators, data collection, and field operations for various organisations to ensure seamless scaling of business operations.
By harnessing a large network of freelance professionals, the company ensures that highly trained personnel can be made available for clients in support of temporary or project-type tasks without all the hassles associated with conventional hiring. The workforce management disruption by Awign introduces flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and reliable execution across industries.
Conclusion
The functions of the invigilator’s role are manifold: to ensure that the exams are taken with integrity, fairness, and smoothness. From preparing the examination room to the identity verification of candidates, monitoring the process of an examination to taking charge of each irregularity thrown in during it, an invigilator engages in a wide range of duties that guarantee the exam environment is conducive to fair assessment.
Whether it is the exam invigilator job operating within the physical classroom or through online proctoring platforms such as Awign, all you need to do is Download the Awign App and sign up for your dream applications! They are important agents in ensuring standards and credibility are maintained throughout an examination process.
