Exam invigilation has long been considered a casual side job – something a family member might do as a favour to a student’s school. Growing up, I certainly never viewed my exam invigilators as professionals. Instead, they were familiar faces, a source of comfort rather than authority.
These days, my perception of invigilation has shifted drastically. Working at VICTVS, I have seen first-hand the rigorous training invigilators undergo and understand that this is a legitimate profession requiring complex skills, lateral thinking, vigilance, and dedication. I have also invigilated exams myself, both remotely and in-person. Yet, the public perception is still that invigilation is a low-skill, easy way to earn some money by just watching people taking an exam.
The Media’s Role in Shaping Perception
Last year, the BBC published a piece about an SQA exam invigilator who claimed she had only caught “three exam cheats in 24 years.” Those of you who listen to The VICTVS Podcast will have already heard me and global technology expert Geoff Chapman discussing this piece, but for those who haven’t, I’ll summarise the key points here:
- Invigilator Dr Laird claims she has only witnessed three instances of cheating in her 24 years in the role
- She states that cheating in exams is ‘very rare’
- Various challenges faced by invigilators are discussed, including noisy environments and unexpected disruptions
From my own experience, this invigilator’s claims seem unlikely. In the article, Dr Laird states that the incidents of misconduct she witnessed included a student leaving their phone in their pocket and another sneaking in notes. But these are common forms of malpractice – I have personally witnessed multiple cases of both within a single exam session. If an invigilator has only identified three instances of cheating in nearly 25 years, it raises concerns about the level of vigilance and training expected of invigilators in some settings.
While the BBC article acknowledges the importance of invigilators, it fails to present the role as a professional one. Rather, the casual tone of the piece and its focus on light-hearted anecdotes – such as avoiding squeaky shoes and dealing with amorous pigeons – overshadows the serious responsibilities of invigilators. By portraying the job as an informal, part-time gig, media coverage like this risks reinforcing misconceptions about the job and the expertise it requires.
Why Professional Exam Invigilation Matters
The integrity of assessments depends on properly enforced exam conditions. Without well-trained, alert, and dedicated invigilators, exams would be vulnerable to malpractice, and qualifications could lose their credibility.
Ultimately, a person’s qualifications are only as meaningful as the conditions under which they were gained. If you found out your brain surgeon had become qualified in an exam hall with no invigilators, where students were allowed to talk to one another and notes were smuggled in freely, would you trust them? I know I wouldn’t.
Similarly, it would be hard to trust a self-proclaimed expert on anything in the academic world if it later became know that their exams had not been properly monitored, and instances of cheating had gone unchecked.
As well as safeguarding academic integrity, good invigilators also ensure that all institutional and legal regulations are being complied with. This means making sure students abide by the rules of their specific institution, as well as the awarding body providing the exam.
Beyond this, invigilators can be seen as protecting students from themselves. After all, when given the opportunity, it’s easy to see why anxious or pressured students may be lured to try and artificially improve their exam results. Invigilators can prevent this from happening and serve as impartial enforcers of fairness, ensuring that students earn their qualifications honestly.
Why Invigilation Matters to Your Candidates
Good invigilation is a key part of the candidate experience during an exam. Invigilators serve as on-site representatives of awarding organisations, embodying key values such as honesty, integrity, and professionalism.
A well-trained invigilator not only ensures that exams run smoothly, but also reassures candidates, providing guidance and answering any practical questions they may have. Exams are stressful enough and any extra support that can be given during this time is invaluable.
A strong invigilator presence also increases candidate confidence in the value and credibility of a qualification as they can see that everyone is sitting the exam under the same strict conditions.
The Consequences of Undervaluing Invigilators
Despite their critical role, invigilators are often treated as an afterthought. The perception of invigilation as a “side hustle” is not only dismissive, but also detrimental to the quality of exam administration. Articles like the BBC piece mentioned earlier perpetuate this issue by trivialising the job rather than recognising the expertise it demands.
When invigilation is undervalued, institutions may underestimate the level of training required, leading to inconsistent exam monitoring standards. This, in turn, creates a self-fulfilling prophecy: if invigilators are not given the tools, training, and respect they deserve, they may not meet the high standards necessary to uphold academic integrity.
Meanwhile, experienced, well-trained invigilators (such as those at VICTVS) are left underappreciated, despite their expertise and commitment to fairness.
The Skills and Expertise Required for Professional Invigilation
There are a number of skills needed to become a professional invigilator, all of which are vital to doing the job at a high standard. These are:
• High Attention to Detail – Invigilators must stay alert, recognising even the subtlest signs of malpractice while ensuring candidates and venues comply with all regulations.
• Strong Knowledge of Exam Protocols – A well-trained invigilator understands the specific rules set by awarding bodies and knows how to handle potential cheating incidents appropriately.
• Effective Communication – Invigilators must clearly relay information to candidates while maintaining a professional, non-disruptive presence in the exam hall.
• Crisis Management – Whether dealing with student disputes, medical emergencies, or external disruptions, invigilators must remain calm and enforce safety protocols.
Ensuring candidates with accessibility requirements and disability needs are looked after is also a vital part of being an invigilator. This is especially important now, as the number of SEN requests continues to rise across institutions in the UK. Proper invigilation should ultimately support accessibility and inclusivity in exams.
Our Invigilators
Invigilators at VICTVS go through a comprehensive recruitment and selection programme to ensure they can deliver everything that I have described above, to all of our candidates, anywhere in the world. Each invigilator is a valued member of the VICTVS Global Network and acts as our ambassador. They receive comprehensive guidance on the specific requirements and expectations of the awarding bodies we work with, enabling them to adapt to varying guidelines and deliver consistent excellence in exam management.
Each year, our invigilators oversee exams for hundreds of thousands of candidates, from major cities to remote locations – including, quite literally, the middle of the desert. Our focus is on creating equal access to education while safeguarding the integrity of the exam process, ensuring that every assessment is conducted with professionalism and care.
VICTVS is raising the bar for professional invigilation services. We aim to set a benchmark for the industry and highlight the critical role skilled invigilators play in shaping the future of education.
Final Thoughts
Invigilation is a job which requires in-depth training and dedication to be done well, just like any profession. Without skilled invigilators, educational integrity would be undermined, and the value of qualifications would be eroded.
Educational institutions, policymakers and media outlets should acknowledge and invest in the professionalism of exam invigilation, and give invigilators the appreciation and respect they deserve. Either that, or we devalue the educational and assessment system as a whole.
It’s time we stop treating invigilators as an afterthought, and start recognising them as the essential professionals that they are.
But what I didn’t expect happened. In December 2016, my mother passed away. That moment shattered me. I couldn’t comprehend it, especially since she wasn’t sick. It happened suddenly. I was so worried about my father, knowing how much my mother meant to him and with no one else there, as my only sister had migrated to Germany before me. I had to return alone to Syria for a month to care for my father and gather the necessary documents to bring him to the Netherlands. Despite many attempts, the government rejected our application. Two years later, my father passed away as well.
Additionally, at the bottom of the used note paper there is a designated box where invigilators will record the collection date alongside their initials, confirming that the paper was retrieved on time by a member of the VICTVS team. This ‘return box’ at the bottom of the page also acts as an extra deterrent to candidates as it reiterates to them that the pages will be collected in and potentially referred to later.
