Ear Plug Question

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You're allowed to bring your own. I've heard that they can provide some for you too, but I don't have first hand knowledge of that. Also, if you intend to use earplugs, I suggest you take your practice tests with them in too. For me at least, they took some time getting used to.
 
At my test centre, they've provided me with not ear-plugs, but similar to ones that workers have at the airport. It was very good, the only thing that I heard was the pounding of my heartbeats 🙂 .
 
Some centers provide a variety of ear plugs, if you are concerned call in advance. You can also bring yours. I wouldn't do anything suspecious in the room, because the chances are you are going to be video recorded. And you'll need those plugs for sure: I had two people near me making a variety of exotic sounds, i believe one person was extatic with his score, while some girl was crying. And then there is the constant opening and closing of doors.

Good luck
 
My center gives the airport 'ear-muffs' for the exam. Thank the Lord since the ***** behind me was a little drummer boy with his pencils and I was about to impale him with one of them.
 
msummar_smc said:
My center gives the airport 'ear-muffs' for the exam. Thank the Lord since the ***** behind me was a little drummer boy with his pencils and I was about to impale him with one of them.

I just check the rules for the DAT on ada.org.

Rule #9 says it's acceptable behavior to throw pencils, ear plugs, or crumbled scratch paper at annoying people who make drum-like noises with their pencils.

Also, Rule #10: Farting is allowed as long as it does not make a noise disturbance or create an inordinate amount of odor. If asked, it is recommended that you blame your neighbor.

The term "inordinate" seems very subjective to me and leaves too much room for interpretation.
 
Doesn't it feel weird having those plugs in your years and trying to concentrate? I tried them once and got a bit dizzy. I cannot believe it's so loud in that exam room. I think we have all gone through college and should have gotten used to distraction noises around us.
 
Noise does not bother me that much b/c i can get lost in whatever i am doing but here are some tips that i used to have min distractions:

1. schedule your exam in the morning and on a week day. More people tend to take their exams on weekends and afternoons and that tends to make the center more crowded. Most people tend to function better in the morning too.

2. when possible, ask to be placed at the last computers, where there would be less poeple walking in front/behind you. seeing people walk around you can be a major sourc of distraction for many people.

3. fold and put away the stupid keyboard... you wont need it anyway. ( i like my workplace to be spacious.)


4. RELAX, RELAX, RELAX and take your time.

good luck to all.
 
my test center would not have allowed earplugs, as they did not even let me bring in my own pencil. however they provided big foam earmuff-things that worked fabulously.
 
drelf,

i brought my own earplugs to the testing center. i suggest practicing with earplugs if you are going to be using them on the testing day because they do take some getting used to [you can hear yourself breathing and stuff =) ]

GOOD LUCK!! 😀
 
At my test center, we weren't allowed to bring anything but our ID's in... not even own pencil.

They had earmuffs, tho. But beware, sound may not be your only distraction. Fellow next to me, frustrated w/ his exam, started pounding his feet, shaking me and the cubical. Nothing you can do about that, but it probably couldn't hurt to get used to a little distraction.
 
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