The Exam House —

the importance of an exams officer

It is little known fact that the most important role in the in a school or college around GCSE and A level exam time is the role of the exams officer and their support team. Here at the Exam House we have written a blog on the responsibilities of the role.

Administering exams and assessments can be a demanding task that calls for continuous effort and the ability to tackle unique challenges.

Ofqual the Government regulator too acknowledges the integral part exams officers play in ensuring the efficient organisation of exams and assessments in schools, colleges, and other examination centres.

Exams officers aim to identify ways to facilitate a seamless, trouble-free exam series.

Exams: A Year-Round Commitment GCSE and A level exams are usually scheduled during May and June.

For some schools and colleges, this means that exam halls are disassembled for the rest of the year, and "silence" signs are removed.

For other schools, colleges, training providers, and examination centres, exams and assessments take place throughout the year.

Regardless of the scenario, an exams officer's responsibilities extend far beyond supervising exam venues during assessments. They work all year to guarantee, among other things:

  • timely registration of the right students for the appropriate qualifications or assessments

  • smooth organisation of mock exams and practice assessments

  • accurate exam results and proper distribution

  • timely submission of marking reviews and appeals

Exams officers require a diverse set of skills and knowledge. The top 10 abilities identified by exams officers themselves for successful performance in their role include:

  1. time management

  2. people management

  3. contingency planning and risk management

  4. task prioritisation and workload management, as well as multitasking

  5. problem-solving

  6. communication skills

  7. managing difficult conversations

  8. presentation skills

  9. meeting deadlines

  10. collaborative work

Contingency Plans While exams officers are adept at handling emergencies in the exam hall, it is crucial to have a backup plan in case the exams officer is unexpectedly unavailable. Identifying another staff member who could temporarily take over in an emergency offers peace of mind that everything will continue to run smoothly.

To address this, exams officers may want to discuss contingency plans with their senior leadership team and ensure they are familiar with the key priorities and processes. It is also important to have clear, accessible documentation of these processes.

Preventing Mobile Phones, Watches, and Internet-Enabled Devices in Exams and Assessments

One of the main challenges exams officers face is keeping students' mobile phones and other communication or internet-enabled devices out of the exam hall. Students must understand the consequences of their actions. Bringing a mobile phone or other communication or internet-enabled device (such as a smartwatch) into an exam hall or assessment room can result in:

  • deduction of marks from that assessment

  • disqualification from that subject

  • disqualification from all subjects the student is taking

This is considered malpractice and is simply not worth the risk. Reasons for bringing mobile phones and other communication devices into the exam hall, and the motivations may not be as expected. For many students, their phone is the most expensive item they own, and they don't want to lose sight of it. They have become so accustomed