We are back with another edition of VGN Spotlight, the series where we interview some of the amazing people we work with in our VICTVS Global Network.

With thousands of members across the world, our network is filled with inspiring individuals making a difference every day, and we hope highlighting their incredible stories and achievements will inspire you.

In this interview, we hear more from VGN member Wajid Mohammad, who is our top cheater catcher here at VICTVS and is an expert in identifying suspicious behaviour.

Wajid, what made you want to work as an invigilator? 

I’m surrounded by major injustice in all aspects of my life, especially here in Iraq.  One example of this is that my academic work was equal to those who didn’t work for it.  In college, in school and previous to that, anyone who would cheat would get a similar degree as I have.  So that was frustrating for me, because I work hard on anything I do, and I was simply equal to a lot of those who cheated their way through education.  It was really annoying.  

There was an incident during college, I noticed someone in the bathroom after getting out of an exam.  It was for a big number of candidates, about a hundred, and I noticed someone relaying information to two students whose exam was ongoing (the same exam I just finished).  Both of the two people in the exam were expelled for the year.  I feel proud about that actually, but the interesting thing is, I have never found someone or talked to someone who thinks I did a good job there.  Everyone was against me on that incident.  It’s a cultural thing.  Most people just say “Try to be merciful”.  Even now, when I share my experience in these examinations working with VICTVS, everyone I know (except from maybe my mother and sister) is saying “Why not try to be merciful with them?  Why not look the other way?”  It’s unbelievable and an injustice to those who work hard.  

Do you have any idea why there is that kind of cultural response?  

Yes, I believe it’s very deeply ingrained in their upbringing because it’s a cultural thing in Iraq.  Everyone considers cheating as being smart or being clever about how to get things.  I think this is a cultural thing — it’s how they are raised.  It’s really annoying, to be honest!  And I’m surrounded by it.  That’s the way it is. 

When you’re doing exams, are you mostly doing online exams or are you doing in-centre exams as well? 

I started with in-centre paper examinations during 2019, and then after COVID I began delivering online assessments.  For the past couple of years I started with V3, and I didn’t go back to in-centre exams. 

When you’re doing virtual exams, are you mostly paired with other people in Iraq or do you monitor people from other areas as well?  

Mainly the Middle East because of the language and understanding of cultural norms.  Arabic countries like Oman, UAE, Egypt, Iraq, those are the main areas.  But I do have courses with global candidates, and I have a lot of notes about the cultural differences.  It’s quite interesting. 

You obviously have good insight into dealing with candidates from lots of different areas and I find that very interesting, because there definitely are certain regions where we find that cheating happens more often. Do you think that you have noticed more cheating attempts in remote exams compared to test centres? 

Definitely. In test centre’s, it’s all about the invigilator and if you are in control of your assessment room.  I would say that I’ve only witnessed a couple of cases of cheating in test centres.  One was a candidate taking a bathroom break and during that break, I checked and noticed someone picking up their notebooks in the bathroom.  I reported that and took pictures.  Another candidate carried their cell phone during a break and was hiding it behind their badge, below their shirt.  I caught him and he was expelled from the assessment.  

When you’re invigilating online in remote assessments, is there any type of cheating method that you see most frequently?  

Yes, use of remote software [when no lockdown browser is being used].  I haven’t witnessed other types of cheating other than I remember someone picking up some papers and a notebook [during the exam].  I was actually surprised as the gentleman was older, in their 70s.  It was really shocking to see someone that age attempt to cheat!  In that exact session, I thought “That’s cool, someone is older but continuing to get an education and improve their skills.”  But during that same session, he attempted to cheat and was stopped for doing so!  Other than that, with another candidate, I saw a paper with some numbers that weren’t there during the first check.  But aside from that it’s completely remote software. 

How do you notice that? Are there certain behaviours that make it obvious? 

I previously worked with a VR machine company.  I worked at a game centre that wanted to implement these games and I was contacting the manufacturer in China, so I had an experience with remote control software because they would log into my computer and would control that, so that was the kind of reference point.  I have a background knowledge about what remote software is doing.  

During the checks is when I notice the candidate’s behavior.  In contrast to other candidates who are not so much prepared, candidates using remote software seem very prepared.  They have the session and the correct tabs all open at the same time, perfectly correct and perfectly connected. But when you speak to them, you know they lack the technical details to do this.  That’s the first indication that something is wrong. And they prove that something is wrong when they’re glued to the mouse or other attachment.  

You mentioned that there’s obviously cultural differences to cheating as well. I’m wondering if there’s regions where people are more inclined to cheat. What has been your experience? 

Candidates that work in the Middle East, they are prone to cheating.  I don’t know exactly why or how…[but] I believe that’s the case.  

What do you think is the hardest part about being an invigilator?  

Maybe the most challenging part for me now, with remote invigilation, is that I’m not as in control as I was when I was invigilating in test centres.  Because back then, even with technical issues, I would simply take control of their computer and would fix anything I know is an easy fix.  Guiding the candidates via remote technology is very difficult, especially when you’re talking to those who lack any knowledge about technology.  

I have witnessed this only in the Middle East, but anyone who was born in the 70s, there’s a 30% chance that they would know anything about technology. In the 80s, 50/50 chance.  The millennials in the 90s, mostly they know. Gen Z, all of them know, regardless of their background. With older people in the Middle East, the technology wasn’t quite available to our parents, their generations, older generations, mostly due to different backgrounds.  They wouldn’t have had such access to technology as we started to do in the 2000s. Us millennials started to get that since childhood so it was very easy for us. 

What do you think is the best part about being an invigilator? 

It’s enjoyable because it’s the right thing to do.  It’s about ensuring people get the grades they deserve.  And actually, it’s quite amazing to be facilitating such a great experience to those good candidates.  To take an exam from home relieves a lot of the stress of actually going to an assessment room at some test centre.  This is the greatest way of using our technology. 

I like to work with people that share the same intentions, same beliefs and ideologies.  So it’s rewarding in that aspect the most, to work with you and the entire VICTVS team.  I’ve spoken to a lot of the VICTVS team, and I do feel like I’m a part of the VICTS company.  I’m not just an outsider performing something on behalf of VICTVs — I feel like I’m a part of VICTVS.  It’s quite amazing, and I love doing it.