Los Angeles Center 0393

[atomic]

WTF!!!!????

If you were at the AT&T/Transamerica testing center for Fa06 Exam M, you could not have missed the ridiculous testing conditions. There was ongoing construction/remodeling of the building, and despite the promises of the proctors, the persistent sound of drilling was very audible and very distracting. On top of that, the proctors made it even worse, as they kept rapping on the windows in a useless attempt to get the builders to stop! I'm thinking, "oh great, now not only do we have to deal with the sound of the drilling, we have to listen to the proctors rap their knuckles on the windows!"

I am writing an official complaint to the SOA about this inexcusable situation. If you were there, I suggest you do the same.

[tommie frazier]

i imagine the builders with some huge contract to fulfill would have been suitably impressed by the man in dockers rapping on the window asking them to shush. "you know what guys, screw the deadline. that guy with the combover and mustache in the khaki pants asked us to not work for 4 hours. let's all just take a long break."

sorry to hear atomic. definitely complain. there are some things beyond thier control, but making them aware is a good idea. (tempering your expectations is also advised, as there might not be too much they can do.)

[g35sedan]

Originally Posted by atomic

WTF!!!!????

If you were at the AT&T/Transamerica testing center for Fa06 Exam M, you could not have missed the ridiculous testing conditions. There was ongoing construction/remodeling of the building, and despite the promises of the proctors, the persistent sound of drilling was very audible and very distracting. On top of that, the proctors made it even worse, as they kept rapping on the windows in a useless attempt to get the builders to stop! I'm thinking, "oh great, now not only do we have to deal with the sound of the drilling, we have to listen to the proctors rap their knuckles on the windows!"

I am writing an official complaint to the SOA about this inexcusable situation. If you were there, I suggest you do the same.

I was at the Los Angeles 393 test center location for Course C yesterday, and the conditions were also just as you describe. I was even lucky enough to be placed at the desk CLOSEST TO THE WINDOW!!! The construction noises broadcast in Surround Sound definitely did not help my performance.

[atomic]

Originally Posted by g35sedan

I was at the Los Angeles 393 test center location for Course C yesterday, and the conditions were also just as you describe. I was even lucky enough to be placed at the desk CLOSEST TO THE WINDOW!!! The construction noises broadcast in Surround Sound definitely did not help my performance.

Thank you for your input! This is what happened for M this morning: Several minutes before 8:30 am, we heard drilling noises coming from the floor(s) below. Before any materials were handed out, I specifically asked the proctors if they'd keep drilling and was told that it would not be a problem. She had mentioned that yesterday's candidates had complained about the noise and that after speaking with the construction crew, it would not be a problem today. Well, it was quiet for about 2 hours, and then the drilling started up in earnest.

I understand that sometimes things happen that are out of our control, but there really is no conceivable excuse for this to happen. The construction/remodeling on the AT&T building has been going on for at least 6 months (when I sat for FM). The SOA could not have been unaware that the exam site was under construction. Furthermore, given what happened on the 6th, there is no justification for it to continue on the 7th.

[tommie frazier]

the soa can't control the construction, unless it is on the soa HQ. but they can move or midify the center. it would be a nightmare to do it on exam day or last minute, but might have been better than taking exams in a construction zone.

good luck with it. real lousy situation.

[shakeyhands]

huh i sat for c there too and it was quiet as a mouse. Except for the dude next to me who might as well have been entering numbers into his calculator with a hammer.

[Reflection]

Originally Posted by shakeyhands

huh i sat for c there too and it was quiet as a mouse. Except for the dude next to me who might as well have been entering numbers into his calculator with a hammer.

Yeah, I took 8 last week and we had no problems. I'm wondering if they split up the candidates into two rooms for the larger exams, and only one of the rooms had that problem...

[shakeyhands]

yep i was in the m-z room.

[atomic]

Originally Posted by Reflection

Yeah, I took 8 last week and we had no problems. I'm wondering if they split up the candidates into two rooms for the larger exams, and only one of the rooms had that problem...

All the more reason to complain. The testing circumstances clearly put those people in the corner conference room at an unfair disadvantage.