How do the breaks work?

[tomorrowgirl99]

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Hey guys. This may be a stupid question but I really don't understand how the breaks work. I have never taken a computerized standardized exam before (last set of people to have the MCAT on paper), so I have some questions:
After each block, do you just get up and leave the room for 5-15 minutes?
Can you just sit at your computer and not do anything for your break time?
I'm guessing you just time yourself?
If you finish early does it get added to your break?
If you go over, does it get subtracted from your time alloted for the block?
How does lunch work?

Thanks in advance.

 

[cgscribe]

After each block you have the option of going immediately to the next section or taking some of your allotted break time (60 or so minutes, which also serves as your lunch break that you take whenever you like). You can just sit there and breathe a bit, or go outside/sign-out, bathroom, etc. If you finish early, yes, the extra time is added to your total break time. You can't really go over because each section is timed and the break time is limited, so you're held to that.

 

[MonkeyDLuffy]

Unless things have changed since last year, this is how it works. At the beginning of the day you have 45 mins of break time. You can use this break time for whatever (bathroom breaks, lunch, etc). For each block you finish early, the remaining time you did not use is added to your break time. Unfortunately, if you can't finish blocks early you don't get any extra break time. I'm not sure this is enough time (apparently the people at the NBME eat and piss faster than lightening). My testing center only had a small dorm room fridge available for test takers, and if was FULL of the employees' food. It was also in a business park far from any food establishments. Lucky for me I brought a whole box of fiber one breakfast bars. As an added bonus, I was regular for a week (is that TMI?).

 

[tomorrowgirl99]

Is there a clock on the screen that is keeping track of your break time or what? If you finish a section early, does it automatically add it to your break time. Is there an option on the screen for taking a break or something?

 

[Re3iRtH]

Is there a clock on the screen that is keeping track of your break time or what? If you finish a section early, does it automatically add it to your break time. Is there an option on the screen for taking a break or something?

These 2 questions were already answered above. Just calm down and
read the responses instead of aimlessly asking the same questions
again. 👍

 

[lord_jeebus]

Here's another way to look at it.

When you start the test, the test end time is set exactly 8 hours later. You must complete 7 blocks of questions before that time. You can't spend more than 1 hour in any block, but the test end time does not change if you finish a block early. Breaks (and tutorial if you choose to look at it) come out of the remaining time, and can be taken between blocks.

 

[tomorrowgirl99]

I'm simply asking is there a TIMER on the computer for breaks?

 

[mshankman]

Can you leave the testing center for lunch? or do you have to stay right there and eat?

 

[lord_jeebus]

I'm simply asking is there a TIMER on the computer for breaks?

yes

 

[lord_jeebus]

Can you leave the testing center for lunch?

yes

 

[mshankman]

If you skip the tutorial does that add time onto your break time? I know it's like that for the GMAT, is it like that for this?

 

[tomorrowgirl99]

Thanks.😀

 

[tomorrowgirl99]

If you skip the tutorial does that add time onto your break time? I know it's like that for the GMAT, is it like that for this?

yes

 

[mshankman]

That's great, so I think they give you 15 min for the tutorial. So that will increase your originally 40 minutes to 55 min.
Are you allowed to listen to ipods at breaks? Kinda random, but music helps some focus.

 

[lord_jeebus]

That's great, so I think they give you 15 min for the tutorial. So that will increase your originally 40 minutes to 55 min.
Are you allowed to listen to ipods at breaks? Kinda random, but music helps some focus.

45 min -> 60 min

You can do whatever you want to during a break - anything.

 

[carn311]

Lucky for me I brought a whole box of fiber one breakfast bars. As an added bonus, I was regular for a week (is that TMI?).

If you had an entire box of fiber one bars in one day and did not take the test while ON the toilet then you must have bowels of steel!

 

[dingleberry007]

i took the practice test at the center and noticed that when i was "on a break", the screen went white with a "click to start" on it, but had no timer. since we aren't allowed watches, i found this really annoying because what if i want to take a break but not leave my chair and just relax for a couple of mins. when i sat there, i had no idea if how much time passed, was it 2mins? 5 mins? sorry if I'm being anal. is this the case on the real test too?

also, at the end of each block, there was a "take a break" or "start next section" option. can I just let it stand at this screen for a few mins? I'm afraid if I let it stay idle here, the provision of being idle for too long might cause an issue.

any thoughts....

 

[tomorrowgirl99]

i took the practice test at the center and noticed that when i was "on a break", the screen went white with a "click to start" on it, but had no timer. since we aren't allowed watches, i found this really annoying because what if i want to take a break but not leave my chair and just relax for a couple of mins. when i sat there, i had no idea if how much time passed, was it 2mins? 5 mins? sorry if I'm being anal. is this the case on the real test too?

also, at the end of each block, there was a "take a break" or "start next section" option. can I just let it stand at this screen for a few mins? I'm afraid if I let it stay idle here, the provision of being idle for too long might cause an issue.

any thoughts....

Damn it. That's what I was afraid of. No watch and no timer during breaks, are we supposed to count seconds to guestimate time. I hope that was a fluke.