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2 Likes
Test Site Issues Sept 2016 Stricter than LSAC Rules - Beware...
twssmith
Alum ⭐
If anyone saw my posts under BR group PT77, I really tanked that test. But, I learned a lot because I took it without mentally preparing for it when I sat down and more importantly I rushed thru it with conditions similar to being at a SEC football tailgate party in my own home. That day, I had the proctor on and the minute pencils were down - I reset my watch and fast forwarded the proctor to already start the next section. Stupid huh?? Well not so much as it turns out after today.
My experience is not even a blip of Nightmare Test Issues:)
This is a Head's Up reminder that all test sites are different and to PT in all types of conditions!
- We had to stand outside a door until 8:30 am and then were told to use the 1900 era Dairy Queen next door if we had to go to the bathroom before the test started and make sure we were back in line before everyone was checked in when they would close the door. It was really funny to watch everyone crowd around to try to be first in line to go sit at a desk to only sit and wait for everyone else.
- Strict - Our water/beverage containers had to be zipped in the bag before they were inspected. It took almost an hour to check in 14 people...
- We were not allowed to get anything out of our bags or put anything on our desks until everyone was checked in. Then we were allowed to get our pencils, erasers and Kleenex.
- Then we were allowed to get out ONE watch and no one was allowed to wear it on their wrist - it had to be on the table.
- When proctor started reading the initial directions, someone's bag fell over and landed outside the square area under her chair. We had to stop until every bag was completely under each chair.
- I didn't realize until the 5 minute mark was called in the 1st section that the timing assistant would start the electronic timer when the proctor "First Started Reading the Instructions" not when it says you may start Now. We lost almost a minute on every section. Ever heard of a Southern drawl being spoken fast?
- In between the sections, from the time you heard pencils down to when the timer would start was under 15-20 seconds in the 1st half and less than that in the 2nd half.
- 3 proctors for 14 people with a wall of mirrors - visually disturbing but oh well. However, the proctors would walk by each desk, stand over you watching you as you took the test, turn their heads to look you in the eye, take another look at your ID and then look back at you. They continued this round-robin of inspection throughout the test. I just ignored them after the first time but it was very unsettling.
- Our break was on a strict timer in the test room with thankfully a bathroom and only a few people. When the break ended, we began section 4 in under a minute.
- *** This is what really got me - when the proctor started the directions - she told us to "pull out the answer sheet" that we had placed marking the end of Section 3 and the beginning of Section 4 for the break. Next thing we knew the timer was on and we were flipping thru our test books to find section 4 with all 3 proctors hovering over us to make sure we didn't look ahead to Section 5.
- Between Section 4&5 I couldn't even reset a 180 watch before we started. There was a clock but it was across the room and no way to see what time it was when we started. Section 4 was my hardest LR and I really just wanted to catch a breath. Stupid me to not take the precious seconds to go ahead and reset it but I was admittedly flustered.
So were the proctors wrong? No... It was up to me to be prepared for anything and this was nothing in the grand scheme of Test Center debacles.
I was beating myself up on PT77 and was almost so discouraged that I thought long and hard about withdrawing. But I kept at it and regained enough confidence to take it today. Did I crush it - No, not so much. Did I crash and burn - Not as far as I can tell. Did I panic yes, but I was able to reel it in to continue the best I could.
All and all - a great experience thanks to tanking PT77 and other testing situations that helped me stay composed and focused on the reason I was sitting in that chair:)
My experience is not even a blip of Nightmare Test Issues:)
This is a Head's Up reminder that all test sites are different and to PT in all types of conditions!
- We had to stand outside a door until 8:30 am and then were told to use the 1900 era Dairy Queen next door if we had to go to the bathroom before the test started and make sure we were back in line before everyone was checked in when they would close the door. It was really funny to watch everyone crowd around to try to be first in line to go sit at a desk to only sit and wait for everyone else.
- Strict - Our water/beverage containers had to be zipped in the bag before they were inspected. It took almost an hour to check in 14 people...
- We were not allowed to get anything out of our bags or put anything on our desks until everyone was checked in. Then we were allowed to get our pencils, erasers and Kleenex.
- Then we were allowed to get out ONE watch and no one was allowed to wear it on their wrist - it had to be on the table.
- When proctor started reading the initial directions, someone's bag fell over and landed outside the square area under her chair. We had to stop until every bag was completely under each chair.
- I didn't realize until the 5 minute mark was called in the 1st section that the timing assistant would start the electronic timer when the proctor "First Started Reading the Instructions" not when it says you may start Now. We lost almost a minute on every section. Ever heard of a Southern drawl being spoken fast?
- In between the sections, from the time you heard pencils down to when the timer would start was under 15-20 seconds in the 1st half and less than that in the 2nd half.
- 3 proctors for 14 people with a wall of mirrors - visually disturbing but oh well. However, the proctors would walk by each desk, stand over you watching you as you took the test, turn their heads to look you in the eye, take another look at your ID and then look back at you. They continued this round-robin of inspection throughout the test. I just ignored them after the first time but it was very unsettling.
- Our break was on a strict timer in the test room with thankfully a bathroom and only a few people. When the break ended, we began section 4 in under a minute.
- *** This is what really got me - when the proctor started the directions - she told us to "pull out the answer sheet" that we had placed marking the end of Section 3 and the beginning of Section 4 for the break. Next thing we knew the timer was on and we were flipping thru our test books to find section 4 with all 3 proctors hovering over us to make sure we didn't look ahead to Section 5.
- Between Section 4&5 I couldn't even reset a 180 watch before we started. There was a clock but it was across the room and no way to see what time it was when we started. Section 4 was my hardest LR and I really just wanted to catch a breath. Stupid me to not take the precious seconds to go ahead and reset it but I was admittedly flustered.
So were the proctors wrong? No... It was up to me to be prepared for anything and this was nothing in the grand scheme of Test Center debacles.
I was beating myself up on PT77 and was almost so discouraged that I thought long and hard about withdrawing. But I kept at it and regained enough confidence to take it today. Did I crush it - No, not so much. Did I crash and burn - Not as far as I can tell. Did I panic yes, but I was able to reel it in to continue the best I could.
All and all - a great experience thanks to tanking PT77 and other testing situations that helped me stay composed and focused on the reason I was sitting in that chair:)
Comments
Edited to add, I will probably sign up there for Dec as well now that I know what to expect to avoid 100 people ampitheaters
Not surprised you finished early!! In between some sections I just wanted to breathe, lol:)
The proctor actually told someone to take it off their wrist during the break and warned others that they would be in violation if a watch was anywhere but on the desk...
If you practice with a proctor app - then you are aware that that when they say "open your test book/or turn the page to the next section and read the directions" that gives you an advantage if you have any knowledge of the test so that you can start reading the first question before the Proctor says "and your time starts now."
If you are confident in your skills and abilities, then a a few seconds shouldn't matter. That was what @"Cant Get Right" was saying earlier that the proctor not calling the 5 minute mark could have some effect for people relying on that prompt while it was not an issue for him. Unfortunately I was not at that level of ability when I took the test today.
Despite all of the advice from JY, Sages and all of the up-and-coming Sages, I did not practice PT's under 35 minutes and was already concerned about finishing on time. Great lesson to prepare for Dec and unless something changes, I will retest at my site because I know what to expect. I will take strict over chaos any day:)