I took the test at a large, public university. I estimate a couple hundred people were tested in two large auditoriums with ample table space for each test taker.
I was one of the lucky twenty-five sent to a classroom with the little L-shaped desks that fold up in order for you to stand or sit. The folding ones are smaller than those used in high school, and they also force you to lean up and hunch over whenever writing. The entire writing space was approximately one test booklet tall, and 16 inches across. An open, unfolded test booklet would not fit onto the desk. Having assisted in administration of secondary school national tests, I am fairly certain that the room also failed to meet the minimum distance between test takers requirement.
As several other test-takers pointed out, it was literally impossible for us to adhere to the instructions that nothing should be below desk level while taking the test.
When several people complained, the test director came in and said, "I know you don't have a lot of room and that it's tight. I get complaints about this room every time, but it's the only room I could get in the building. If you want to cancel, I'll let you." This is basically, 'Screw you. What are you going to do about it?', and the fact that he alluded to previous administrations complaining about it only made me more livid.
I had to constantly flip the folded test booklet back and forth, as did everyone else in the room. It did not matter on LR and RC, but it noticeably slowed progress on LG. I would have gladly driven an hour to get an adequate testing center, but I know I was not one of the last twenty-five registrants. What is the best way to inform LSAC that this university of 30,000 needs to be given less testing slots, and the local director either replaced or retrained in the importance of this test to those taking it?
Everyone who tested in this room before December '16 dropped the ball and let me down, and I don't want to do the same for future test takers.
Comments
On 75% of the test, it simply a frustration for me.
The rationale on withholding your score is questionable, but not surprising. If I determine that something I am ultimately, though not directly, responsible for led to a situation that would make it difficult for a student to perform to their best, I would certainly let that student know what grade they are standing on before asking if they want to go through the preparation process again.
I'll probably keep whatever I get, but it pisses me off even more at every other person who did not care enough to speak up.