How Long is that "10 Minute Break", Really

[boaz]

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I heard the 10 minutes really includes all the BS of signing in and signing out, effectively leaving you with more of a 1 minute break. Is that true?

 

[SN2ed]

At my center it really was a 10 minute break. Then again, my center wasn't crowded.

 

[YH5]

I just had to sign my name and write down the current time. It took about as long as it takes to read this message.

 

[chicago88]

in my center, yes absolutely. the 10 minutes starts timing on your computer the second you are done with that section. the computer obviously doesn't know if you are spending that 10 minutes relaxing or waiting in a bogus line to sign in/out.

i always had a line to sign both in and out not to mention several problems with that stupid finger print machine. so yeah, the break came down to less than 5 legit minutes.

granted, it is not like your computer starts your next section without you either. so you can take a little more than 10 minutes.

 

[ksmi117]

You don't have to sign in and out to enjoy a nice break. Just sit at your computer, close your eyes, take some deep breaths, and relax. I did this before WS and BS, and it helped me tremendously. Between PS and VR, I signed in and out, had issues with the fingerprinty thing, and freaked. I never fully got to clear my mind before starting VR. I wish I had. So unless you need to eat or use the restroom, I say just sit there and chill.

 

[spence]

I just stayed at my computer and relaxed for all the breaks. I didn't really have a reason to need to go out of the room and I was having issues with fingerprinting also, so I didn't want to risk going over my 10 minutes.

 

[iwant2doctor]

technically, the next section doesn't start until you press 'next'...but has anyone actually tried to hold on longer?

 

[chicago88]

yea i definitely waited longer. not even intentionally. i went directly to my locker to refuel on snacks/drinks, directly to the bathroom and back and i wouldn't make the 10 minutes. i didn't push it more than 5 minutes past the 10 minutes you already get. but that being said, i think you can safely push it up to 5 more minutes. past that.. i'm not sure.

 

[carlson]

technically, the next section doesn't start until you press 'next'...but has anyone actually tried to hold on longer?

I don't think it would be wise to do that.

 

[rohan900]

You can just wait for half an hour if you like. The next section doesnt being until you press NEXT.
I took the test once, I would recommend not taking a break between PS and VS.

 

[DamienPro]

You can just wait for half an hour if you like. The next section doesnt being until you press NEXT.
I took the test once, I would recommend not taking a break between PS and VS.

Are you sure, Rohan? I do agree with you that limiting yourself to only one break (suggested between VR and WS) is a strategic move.

 

[rohan900]

As long as you are back in the testing room within 10 minutes, you are good because you sign in and sign out. But you can relax a few more minutes at the computer. The test will not begin until you press NEXT.
Taking a break between PS and VS broke my concentration and took ne a couple passages in VS to get comfortable, which hurt me. taking the test again on 7/31

 

[echidna]

Most of my breaks were closer to 15-20 minutes. I drank a lot of coffee before the test (don't know what I was thinking) and between trips to the bathroom, fueling up and signing in/out I took well over the allotted 10 minutes for each break. No penalty, just had to click "next." I can't vouch for all test centers of course but I don't think the next section is going to start without you.

 

[MaryLennox]

You don't have to sign in and out to enjoy a nice break. Just sit at your computer, close your eyes, take some deep breaths, and relax. I did this before WS and BS, and it helped me tremendously. Between PS and VR, I signed in and out, had issues with the fingerprinty thing, and freaked. I never fully got to clear my mind before starting VR. I wish I had. So unless you need to eat or use the restroom, I say just sit there and chill.

i went to the bathroom on every break even if i didn't have to, just because i was worried about having to pee halfway through a section and being distracted by it. and the eating thing is weird too . . . i forced myself to try and eat, but i felt so wrecked that it hurt going down. then my stomach started growling in the middle of the test anyway. in retrospect i should have brought something i didnt have to chew, like a smoothie.

but yeah i had enough time. even after signing out, going to the bathroom, eating half a sandwich, signing back in . . . i had a few min to spare. trust me, you wont want to take all that time. you'll want to get back in and get it over with.

 

[Baylor83]

Most of my breaks were closer to 15-20 minutes. I drank a lot of coffee before the test (don't know what I was thinking) and between trips to the bathroom, fueling up and signing in/out I took well over the allotted 10 minutes for each break. No penalty, just had to click "next." I can't vouch for all test centers of course but I don't think the next section is going to start without you.

I strongly suggest that you guys double check with the testing center proctor before deciding to take a break that is going to be more than 10 minutes long. You don't want to regret seeing the timer of the next test already ticking down by the time you return to your terminal.

 

[dragon529]

The general consensus is not take a break between PS and VS? It might be that you won't lose concentration as much... but wouldn't you be burned out after PS? Would it be wise to break after each section?

 

[ksmi117]

The general consensus is not take a break between PS and VS? It might be that you won't lose concentration as much... but wouldn't you be burned out after PS? Would it be wise to break after each section?

They don't mean don't take a break. They mean don't leave the computer area. It's stressful and VR def. requires a good focused mindset. You don't need to be worrying about getting back in time or that stupid fingerprint thing. Just sit there and relax, take some deep breaths, and clear your mind of PS. Just focus on VR.

 

[Longshanks]

The general consensus is not take a break between PS and VS? It might be that you won't lose concentration as much... but wouldn't you be burned out after PS? Would it be wise to break after each section?

I got to get my legs moving and use the bathroom after each section, so I'd take the break. But in my experience, one section I got tied up waiting for two people ahead of me to sign in and thought I'd be late for a section and it never started on its own, eventually clicked next and no time disappeared.

 

[boaz]

Thanks guys. Just took it this morning and had plenty more than 10 minutes.

 

[newtonsfriend]

umm i dk but i went to the bathroom and then snacked and it took forever to get back into the testing room b/c everyone was signing out so when i got back to my computer i had 10 secs left

 

[rohan900]

OK thats the first I have heard about the computer automatically continues, thats impossible. The test should not start until you press NEXT, I am pretty sure about this.

 

[Longshanks]

OK thats the first I have heard about the computer automatically continues, thats impossible. The test should not start until you press NEXT, I am pretty sure about this.

If it didn't then you could have indefinite breaks. I'm positive someone could easily write a code where you have a visible timer for 10 minutes and then have the true timer countdown in the background for another minute or two to give the test taker leeway with signing back in, after which the test taker is either a fool or obviously abusing the system and the test will progress.

 

[DocHomer]

If it didn't then you could have indefinite breaks. I'm positive someone could easily write a code where you have a visible timer for 10 minutes and then have the true timer countdown in the background for another minute or two to give the test taker leeway with signing back in, after which the test taker is either a fool or obviously abusing the system and the test will progress.

The next section doesn't continue without the user pressing the "next" button. But I don't know how long it will wait for you. My guess is that the adminstrators can see if you are waiting too long to press the button and would consider it as a "testing irregularity", which would basically void your scores.

Also, I guess your scheme is possible, but how would you upload the code into the system?

 

[jayhawkjbc]

I took one break after the WS so I could re-focus myself for BS (since it actually matters, opposed to WS).

I had 9 minutes remaining on my WS when I finished my second essay, and I was considering just leaving with that screen up to take a 19 minute break. That might be something to consider.

 

[Longshanks]

I took one break after the WS so I could re-focus myself for BS (since it actually matters, opposed to WS).

I had 9 minutes remaining on my WS when I finished my second essay, and I was considering just leaving with that screen up to take a 19 minute break. That might be something to consider.

not a bad idea, as long as you click save right?

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

At my center we had to give a fingerprint when entering the room, plus signing a book when you enter and exit. If there were a couple people it could take 2 minutes or so. In general I'd say you'll get a 8-9 minute break. It's annoying but not too bad.

 

[quynhhuong]

I actually went over once after my WS. I went out for some air n when I came back, the screen said it was 13 mins. So i guess it's ok to go over. I don't know whether they take the 3 mins out of the BS or not 'cause I didn't really notice the time.