NYC Candidates

[NY_Seahawk]

I remind anyone who took the exam in NYC to write in and complain about the noise (there was construction going on outside). Out of the 4 hours of the test we had about 2 1/2 hours worth of pile driving including the last 1/2 hour when you are trying to think hard and do the questions that you couldn't do the first time. The room was shaking and the noise was unbearable.

Proctor could not get another room.

Since everyone thinks the pass mark will be high, each point is crucial and I urge people to write. Perhaps if enough people write something will be done.

But I doubt it!

[joeorez]

I agree - I don't know if the CAS will do anything, but it can't hurt to write.

The CAS is supposed to be a professional organization - part of their responsibility should be to obtain suitable exam sites.

[egg]

I had that problem a couple years ago on Part 5. They moved rooms and gave us an extra 30 minutes to finish the exam. I am fairly certain that they did take the noise into consideration. If the proctor was trying to change rooms he should definitely let the CAS know and they will take it under consideration.

[kunjumol1]

The same situation was true for Chicago site as well. it was in a Hotel. The exam room was not lighted enough (even to see the numbers off the calculator). This place is a run down place with squeaky floors.

I am hoping that more people will complain about it, and CAS will take some action (at least for next exams).

[sonicblue]

I didn't sit in NYC but just wanted to add my concern. At points in my sitting, some rustling/discussion/passersby was making noise outside our room, and even a little is distracting. I realize it's very tough for the CAS to make any quantitative adjustment, but if it can help future sittings....

[egg]

The same situation was true for Chicago site as well. it was in a Hotel. The exam room was not lighted enough (even to see the numbers off the calculator). This place is a run down place with squeaky floors.

I am hoping that more people will complain about it, and CAS will take some action (at least for next exams).
The site was not optimal but they won't do anything for us. The normal location is under construction. I don't know how long the construction will be, so it is possible next sitting will be affected as well.

[mister nacho]

I feel bad for you guys. That sucks.

On the other hand, I hope a lot of you were taking the exam at that center! ;)

[bg23516]

The Hartford center was similar. They were digging outside and moving furniture in the rooms above us. Very distracting.

[NY_Seahawk]

I feel bad for you guys. That sucks.

On the other hand, I hope a lot of you were taking the exam at that center! ;)

NYC is probably one of the biggest if not the biggest. Two rooms of about 25 people each.

[frank_exams]

I took exam 8 at work. It was "Take your kids to work day". I didn't, but about 50 or so people did. 'nuff said!

The site for exam 3 last fall had a proctor who ate continuously throughout the exam. Cheese, ham, biscuits, crackers, more cheese...around noon, I started getting very hungry and couldn't focus.

It's somewhat humorous to imagine a pile driver going off every few minutes while you're trying to think. Sounds like something out of a sitcom...but I'm sure it was no fun trying to pass an exam under those conditions. Best of luck to those of you in NYC, Chicago, and other affected sites.

Frank

[Maphisto's Sidekick]

The Hartford center was similar. They were digging outside and moving furniture in the rooms above us. Very distracting.

Agreed.

I've already written in about that. While it wasn't as distracting as (say) heavy construction would have been, it was definitely noisy. It didn't bother me personally, but if it annoyed enough other people to impact their performance, I certainly wouldn't mind special dispensation being given. ;)

I also wrote in b*tching about incomplete directions being given to the exam room. Perhaps it's because I don't work at one of the larger employers in town and didn't get the 411 through the grapevine, but once on the campus, it would have been nice to have a few signs posted or further directions provided about which building the exam was being given in...or signs blatantly pointing the way to the room. Glad I came early.

[GefilteFish144]

Unfortunately lots of stuff goes on at the NYC site. A couple sittings ago there was a job fair outside. While there is nothing the proctors could do about construction, at the very least they can try to control the outside noise a bit. Someone outside our room was using a 2-way pager; at the very least the proctor could walk outside and politely ask the individual to do their paging away from the exam, or at the very least use a phone like civilized people so that others don't have to hear that annoying beep.

[NY_Seahawk]

I have to say our proctor in NYC was very good.

He was very sympathetic about the construction (said he would write to the exam chair about it) and if anyone outside our room made more than a whisper he was up and out there asking them to keep it down.

[White Teeth]

I took exam 8 at work. It was "Take your kids to work day". I didn't, but about 50 or so people did. 'nuff said!

The site for exam 3 last fall had a proctor who ate continuously throughout the exam. Cheese, ham, biscuits, crackers, more cheese...around noon, I started getting very hungry and couldn't focus.

It's somewhat humorous to imagine a pile driver going off every few minutes while you're trying to think. Sounds like something out of a sitcom...but I'm sure it was no fun trying to pass an exam under those conditions. Best of luck to those of you in NYC, Chicago, and other affected sites.

Frank

Was also "Kids at work day" at the suburban Chicago site where I took exam 8. Other than a few instances where the children could be heard the room was otherwise quiet (except for the sound of the air conditioner!)

[GefilteFish144]

I have to say our proctor in NYC was very good.

He was very sympathetic about the construction (said he would write to the exam chair about it) and if anyone outside our room made more than a whisper he was up and out there asking them to keep it down.

Your room apparently had more construction noise than ours, but good thing he was considerate about outside noise. I mentioned something in the exam survey about the noise; hope other New Yorkers followed suit.

[miaomiao]

Did not feel the noise.