It’s exam time at Trinity College. The final 3 weeks of April are dedicated “study time”, and then exams hit with a vengeance. The library is packed from opening to close, and pubs see a considerable drop in student visitations. All modules for the year are assessed in the spring, so some students have 6 or even 8 exams. Since I was only here for a term, I only had 4: Linear Algebra II, Biology 2, Counterpoint I, and Rudiments of Music. Of these, 3 are happily over. I have my last exam Tuesday, my final musicology paper to finish, and then I’m done!
The first major difference was the time I had to study. Back at home, class transitions instantly into finals. I may have a weekend to study, or only a day between exams. Here, even with a week vacation to Switzerland and having my parents visit for a week, I still had another week before my first exam. This led to a special challenge: where to study. As previously mentioned, the library was packed. I’m not a fan of the library anyway because it’s way too quite and there’s no place to get coffee. Add to this the need to spend 40+ minutes searching for a seat, and it was a situation I’d rather avoid.
I’d had success before studying at the food court in the St Stephen’s Green mall. It has free wifi, a coffee shop (though all espresso based, so not my favorite), and a good background volume created by enough conversations to create white noise without letting me focus on particular voices. Unfortunately, there aren’t any outlets, and it’s not the best place to sit alone for hours. What I needed was coffee.
On the recommendation from a friend, we decided to try a Starbucks across the canal just off Baggot Street. I’m a fan of Starbucks anyway, so it wouldn’t have taken much to make me happy. This study space exceeded all expectations. First off, apparently Starbucks Gold cards are valid in Europe, which meant I got reduced price coffee AND a free refill, an obvious score. Next, this Starbucks had a second basement level with tons of outlets, comfy chairs and tables, little pedestrian traffic or disturbances; in short, the perfect atmosphere for extended studying. Once discovered, there was no chance I was letting this space get away. Consequently, I’m now known by multiple baristas, one of whom started bringing frappuccino samples down to my group of friends studying, and then let us pick the next sample flavors. If I managed to pass or do well on my biology exam, I dedicate that success to this Starbucks.
Did I mention White People love Starbucks?
You now understand part of this title. But what are invigilators, you ask? To explain, let me describe an examination experience at Trinity.
Exams are conducted in large rooms throughout campus and on certain off-campus locations. Multiple modules are assessed at the same time. Before entering the room, each student must find his or her name on a huge list of seat numbers to know where to sit in the room. Visiting students have their own sections separate from the rest of the class list. It probably would’ve been nice to know this in searching for my own name. Really, it would’ve been nice if I’d heard of these “seat numbers” before my first exam. But now I’m basically an expert on exam protocol, so no worries.
You can’t take anything into exams except writing instruments, an eraser (known as a “rubber” in Ireland), a non-programmable calculator (if required) and a bottle of water. Pencil cases are not allowed. Calculator covers are not allowed. Professors do not proctor exams. And it is here that we come to the second part of the title.
Invigilator: someone who supervises candidates during an examination.
That’s right, we don’t have proctors, we have invigilators. And if the name isn’t enough, they wear robes. They actually wear black robes to supervise our tests. I couldn’t decide whether I should have flashbacks to 8th grade graduation or start imagining I was taking my OWLs. It probably would’ve been my best decision to just concentrate on the exam, but where’s the fun in that?
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