For three long, nerve-racking hours, these folks are in charge of our lives. They decide everything from where we sit in the classroom to when we can use the bathroom.

At the end of each term, 120 exam proctors hired by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences arrive on campus to bring order and tranquility to the test-taking process.

The only question many students have is... who are they?

Carol A. Clarke, an Arlington resident who has proctored for two semesters, said there are no specific requirements for the job.

"You need some wits about you and some common sense," Clarke said.

Many proctors return year after year to administer undergraduate exams.

Joseph A. Danieli, who has served as both a head and assistant proctor, said that he plans to continue proctoring "as long as they need me".

"[Our job] is to make sure nothing holds up students in making maximum use of their exam time," he said.

Rita T. Ghany, who has been proctoring exams for FAS for six semesters, said that she finds the job rewarding.

"The students sometimes need help--I can answer their questions," Ghany said, as fellow team members stacked blue books behind her.

According to Danieli, there are many highlights to being an exam proctor.

"I see two aspects," he said. "One is having a chance to assist students who are going through exams--hopefully smoothly--and then there's the camaraderie."

Several proctors spoke of friendships that develop between proctors, who work together diligently to administer exams across campus each term.

Many students do not realize what goes on behind the scenes, after test-takers have left the room. Proctors stick around after the exam ends, meticulously counting and recounting tests, ensuring that no exams are misplaced, and sorting the blue books to make life easier for the professors.

They take the job very seriously.

"Sometimes you may be delayed in completing your final administrative work," Danieli said. "You have to be very deliberate in your counting."

There are other advantages to being a proctor as well, such as wages as high as $8 per hour.

"The extra money is good too," said Clarke, who described herself as a homemaker and gardener when she is not busy proctoring.

However, proctoring exams is not always easy. The job often entails responding to students who become ill or decide to cheat.

But proctors said cheating is rare.

"I've never had any cheating," Ghany said. "They are nice students."

Clarke said she once found some notes lying on the floor near a student.

"I put them up on the windowsill," Clarke said, adding that she didn't suspect the student of cheating but wanted to make sure the student was not tempted.

There are other disadvantages to proctoring as well.

"It can be boring at times," Clarke said. "I do mental exercises like counting heads over and over."

Most proctors are retired Boston area residents. Several said they heard about the opportunity to proctor through friends who either do it themselves, or have other connections to the College