Hi there!
So, I am now on my extra long summer
break after finishing my GCSE examinations. After taking so many exams
(seventeen, plus January exams and last years) I think I am more than qualified
to say that there are plenty of things that are frustrating about this process
– actually doing the exam and issues related to exams. Here we go then…
1.
It’s Essentially A Memory Test!
People look at your exam results and then judge how
smart you are based on them, but I don’t think this is right. If, like me, you
have a rubbish memory for the important things then you are more likely to do
better in coursework as you can have all the information you need to compile a
project. However, I’ve heard that some exam boards are thinking about taking
out coursework so I feel sorry for anyone taking their GCSEs in the next few
years. Also, you have more time to complete coursework! Most exams I’ve found
are either too long or too short for what has to be completed in the time
period, sometimes I find myself counting the ceiling tiles just to pass the
time!
2.
The Spread Of Exams
As I previously mentioned I have taken seventeen
exams in the last month and a bit. This is a lot of exams to start with, not to
mention the fact that I had six of them in the first week! I swear exam boards
just sit down and say “lets put all the hard exams in the same week” because
that is what it seemed like! Although after that initial week I have only had
three a week and sometimes they would be one day after another or two on the
same day, it has been weird.
3.
People Cracking Their Knuckles
This is just one of my pet hates. I really cannot
stand the sound that the bones make if someone cracks their knuckles and most
of my friends understand this so they only do it when they know I can’t hear.
However, in the exam, where it is silent, there is nothing I can do to stop the
person three seats away from cracking their knuckles. This is the biggest
distraction EVER for me…
4.
Invigilators (Or Security Guards…)
Now for those of you who don’t know invigilators are
the people who oversee the exams to make sure that no one cheats and give you
extra paper when you need it. For me, there are so many things that annoy me
about these people. I know it must be boring sitting in an exam hall for long
periods of time but really, do they have to wear high heels that click on the
floor every time they walk? Even worse, do they have to stroll around the room
and read what you write over your shoulder? Another thing that bothers me is that
they always seem to take ages to find you extra paper and, when you have to
write a lot in timed conditions, this is not fun. Finally, every invigilator
has an annoying habit that is so much more obvious in the silence of the exam
hall: biting their nails, reading through the exam and turning the pages really
loudly, staring at the students, etc.
5.
Late Arrivals and Seat Numbers
Okay, the people who arrive late to exams are so
annoying! They distract everybody else in the hall and it’s like do you not own
a time telling device? Then the invigilators have to fuss over getting them
started at the right time. EGH. Also, there are so many people in my year group
that turn up to exams not knowing their seat numbers – it’s a letter and a
number how hard is it to remember! The process of the invigilators having to
find their name in a long list to tell them a tiny number just prolongs the
time that everyone as to spend in the exam hall, which is so nice…NOT!
If there is anything that annoys you when you're taking exams, leave a comment and let me know!
- Amy Caitlin xo
