Important informaton about your Role Actors and what they are instructed prior to the examination
The Silent Candidate

Don't be frightened of silences. Give the candidate room to respond- They might be thinking. However, if the candidate is obviously hindered then the assessor tells the candidate that they still have some time remaining in their five minutes. If the candidate appears to be reading then the assessor says nothing. No longer does the role actor have any part to play when a candidate dries up.

The Out-of -Role Candidate.

If an out of role candidate asks the role actor a question such as, "I'm not sure what this station is about" or similar, then answer it in role if you can. One way to do this is to answer in role and to refer to the candidate in their adopted role or rank. If this is not possible or does not work then answer the question briefly and go back into character immediately. If the candidate speaks to the assessor, (not merely looks at him or her) and this is happening more often apparently, the assessor says, "Please address your remarks to PC Smith, Councillor Brown etc.," as appropriate.

The Deaf Candidate

Some candidates either do not listen or just pay no heed to the role actor and therefore fail to work in the 'scoring arena'. Avoid being so desperate to get the candidate working in the right area that you give them any of the Behavioural Statements and cause the 'Given Rule' to be invoked. (New for 1998) Stick to your script. If the candidate fails to respond just fall silent. Be prepared to respond immediately the candidate starts to perform again.

The 'Punchy' Candidate

Avoid getting into an argument with a candidate and avoid following any secondary issues. If in trouble, just fall silent and be prepared to respond when appropriate.

'The Disaster.'

If something goes wrong such as equipment failure, disturbance in the station, role actor forgets the lines etc., the assessor makes a note of it and tells the invigilator. There are all sorts of things which may be done to correct matters if so required.

"Stay Boy! Sit!"

Don't let anyone leave during a station. It's disruptive for the other candidates. Plus, the candidate involved loses possible marks.

Ah! The Old Wide- Question Ploy.

Many candidates now adopt a ploy of asking a very wide or a multiple-question. This causes the Role Actor a dilemma- which question or portion of a question do you answer and how do you avoid compromising the station and the candidate's chances? The answer is to tell the candidate which one of their questions that you are answering. Say, "In answer to your question,....." and then answer it. Simple really.

Help

The role actor should be prepared to use the services of the assessor during the one and a half minute break between the stations if, for instance, they find that they are getting into role. The assessor should be watching for this and for inconsistency etc. There must be no role-playing, just acting. Each candidate must have the same station.

Watch Your Language!

Make sure your body language is congruent with the words you speak. For it not to be so is extremely disruptive to the candidate. Check with the assessor that you look and sound like the character you portray. Stay in role as the candidate leaves. Let the assessor answer any farewells ensuring corporacy throughout the centre.

Watch Your Attitude!

Ensure that you adopt the right demeanour. Don't modify it unless the script requires it. A prevalent and often observed mistake is for male role actors to modify a strong station downwards when confronted by a female candidate. This destroys consistency and potentially robs the candidate of a scoring stimulus.

Know your stuff

Know the subject area well. Be conversant with theory and acceptable practice. Be aware of changes to methodologies. Things move on!

No Parrots or Tour Guide.

The old concept of hooklines and carrots has gone. Nationally there has been observed a tendency for the occasional Role Actor to repeat a line like a parrot until even the dullest candidate finally cottoned-on and did something worthy of a tick. This is wholly unacceptable. Give the lines only when the script requires you to and for only as many times as indicated. Allied to the above is the fact that some helpful Role Actors have been taking the candidates on a guided tour of the Marking Guide. This is wholly unacceptable. If there is a navigator in the station, it is the candidate.

Look Alive

Be responsive. Don't get lulled by a quiet or slow or uncommunicative candidate.

Right Hook

Be relevant. Failure to be relevant may 'hook' the candidate right out of the scoring arena. In other words, if you have to dig into the background material for an answer, don't use it as an opportunity to demonstrate your impressive memory. The shortest answer, most pertinent to the question, without opening up any extra avenues is best.

Assessors Assess.

Role actors must not become involved in the assessment process. Of course, if asked for confirmation of whether or not any particular behaviour occurred then this should be given.



Final Point

The only way to achieve all of the above is to learn the points and know the stations inside out. This coupled with an objective, impartial, truly professional approach will achieve the ends.