Logistical aspects test day: number of breaks, food, etc

[nope80]

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A few questions about test day:

1. What is the situation with breaks? How much time total do we have and how do people typically split them up?

2. What type of food do people typically bring?

3. If test starts at 9am, when should I plan on arriving?

Any other key points for people to know about the actual test day? 🙂

 

[PBandJ]

1. You decide how you want to use your break time. You get 45 minutes, plus whatever is leftover from the 15 minutes you get from the tutorial (for a maximum of 1 hour break time). So if you have gone through the tutorial with the free 150 questions, you shouldn't need to do the tutorial at the test center (just check your sound).

People do the split many different ways. I had planned to try to do 2 blocks and then take a break, but I ended up needing to break after each one. I took a longer break (~20 min) after block 5 for my "lunch" (it was actually around 5 pm, so not really lunch). Make sure to take a short break before the last section and don't rush through it. Also, keep in mind that you have to sign in and out for each break, so this will cut into your break time.

2. Bring high-energy foods that you can eat quickly as a snack between blocks, and then bring something a little more substantial for your lunch (but not too much food). I brought 2 granola bars (but only ate one) and a banana, plus nuts and dried fruit. I had a half a bagel and some pasta salad for my "lunch". Small sandwiches are good too.

3. The prometric centers require you to be there at least 30 minutes before your exam time. Usually, the earlier you get there, the earlier you can start, as long as they have a seat for you. I had a 12:30 scheduled start time but I got to go in at 11:40, which was really nice because then I got out almost an hour early too.

 

[nope80]

i've bought the practice tests online, so do I need to go through the tutorial or is it the same?

 

[CptCrunch]

i've bought the practice tests online, so do I need to go through the tutorial or is it the same?

It's exactly the same as the free 150 questions they provide as a download. Just make sure to check the volume of your headphones and then you can breeze through the rest of the tutorial.

I brought a bunch of granola bars and cereal bars, and 2 peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. I started crashing during my 6th block, so I bought a cup of coffee at a coffee shop near my testing center.

 

[nope80]

So for people that tend to finish each block early, how does that work in terms of being added to break time? Also, do you have to do the timing/math yourself or do they tell you when to return to the room? In other words, is all this timing business obvious during test day or do you have to monitor it carefully yourself to figure out how much time you have between breaks and for lunch?

 

[xd2005]

So for people that tend to finish each block early, how does that work in terms of being added to break time? Also, do you have to do the timing/math yourself or do they tell you when to return to the room? In other words, is all this timing business obvious during test day or do you have to monitor it carefully yourself to figure out how much time you have between breaks and for lunch?

the computer has 2 timers: time left for the day (starts from 8 hours and never stops), and time left for the block. If you end a block early, that gets "added" to your break time.

you have to sign in/out, and since you can't have your cell phones/watches on your person it's hard to keep track of *exact* time.

 

[nope80]

that actually sounds annoyingly confusing - like i really want to be worrying about that on test day!!

 

[doogoshly]

it's not that confusing. you get 10min for every block you've completed so i just took the 10mins btwn each block to clear my mind, take a swig of my energy drink, and go back in. lunch, i'd go chill out and get something light.

some people felt they could do 2 blocks in a row, and more power to them, but i can't risk burning out too early. i'd recommend simulating it in the week(s) before your actual test so you figure out what type of a schedule you wanna be on.

 

[nope80]

so you did 10 minutes between every block and then 10 minutes for lunch as well? because its 60 min total.

i think im going to do 2 at a time...

 

[Whats_up_doc]

so you did 10 minutes between every block and then 10 minutes for lunch as well? because its 60 min total.

i think im going to do 2 at a time...

I think I will be pretty pumped at start so I may do 2 at once. From there on it will be one with its corresponding break, I don't want to have that feeling of "let's get this over with" because I don't want it to cost me easy points. Studying a lot during these past weeks is as important as having a clear mind on test day.

 

[PBandJ]

I think I will be pretty pumped at start so I may do 2 at once. From there on it will be one with its corresponding break, I don't want to have that feeling of "let's get this over with" because I don't want it to cost me easy points. Studying a lot during these past weeks is as important as having a clear mind on test day.

agreed. it's easy to think "i just want to get this over with," but you want to make sure you clear your head before each block. even if it's just a few minutes of a stretch break in front of the computer station.

 

[doogoshly]

so you did 10 minutes between every block and then 10 minutes for lunch as well? because its 60 min total.

i think im going to do 2 at a time...

oh no sorry. i took like 45mins for my lunch. i walked to jason's deli (right next to the testing center), got lunch, chilled, sat there and talked w/ other people taking the test (not talking about the test itself) and went back.

and go for it if you think you can do 2 at a time. we're all different, just make sure that's really how you want to do it and not just bc you wanna get it over with.

 

[a winner is you]

I did roughly:

2 blocks at the start
15 min break
1 block
10 min break
1 block
10 min break
1 block
30 min break
2 blocks

Had about 20 min of break time left at the end since I finished every section a few minutes early