Minimizing break time

[voicesinmyhead]

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Took a test at the prometric today.

While signing in and signing off, the finger reader was not recognizing my index finger for some reason.

Wasted atleast 3 mins everytime i had to use the reader.

No wonder i exceeded the break time and had to compromise on exam time.

Has anyone else experienced this, or was it just my prometric center?

 

[Mad Jack]

Took a test at the prometric today.

While signing in and signing off, the finger reader was not recognizing my index finger for some reason.

Wasted atleast 3 mins everytime i had to use the reader.

No wonder i exceeded the break time and had to compromise on exam time.

Has anyone else experienced this, or was it just my prometric center?

This problem is either unique to the testing center or you have weird, hard to read finger ridges. I suggest you stare at your fingers for a good 5 minutes and ponder which of the two is correct, then get back to us.

 

[J ROD]

Took a test at the prometric today.

While signing in and signing off, the finger reader was not recognizing my index finger for some reason.

Wasted atleast 3 mins everytime i had to use the reader.

No wonder i exceeded the break time and had to compromise on exam time.

Has anyone else experienced this, or was it just my prometric center?

Take less breaks where you actually leave the room. I just sit there and rest my eyes. You should not have to pee after every block. If you do, you might have a...........(cant give medical advice). But you get the idea.

And you will not make it through your surgery rotation without having a catheter put in place. Talk about a bad couple of weeks. 😵

 

[Apoplexy__]

Took a test at the prometric today.

While signing in and signing off, the finger reader was not recognizing my index finger for some reason.

Wasted atleast 3 mins everytime i had to use the reader.

No wonder i exceeded the break time and had to compromise on exam time.

Has anyone else experienced this, or was it just my prometric center?

Yes, I experienced this. It was an unforeseen change of plans, since I expected to take a break between each and every block for a caffeine refill and mental break. Ended up having to cut back on my breaks to accommodate.

Plan accordingly.

 

[Psai]

Yeah I tried to take a break after 2 instead of after each one. Got tired near the end though

 

[thehundredthone]

I second taking some time at your cubicle, especially if you're finishing blocks ahead of time. Going through the motions of signing in and out can be tricky especially if a delay is going to get you flustered.

 

[001100010010011]

I don't think that signing in/out should be an issue. If their mediocre finger scanner doesn't work and there are students lined up then they just do the pocket check and send you in.

If you are concerned then try and take a 2-3 minute break at your seat by putting your head down on the desk and closing your eyes--it can be helpful. You can also take a block back to back if you're feeling an adrenaline rush (I did this for my last two blocks even though I had about 6-8 minutes of break time left).

 

[Ismet]

I don't think that signing in/out should be an issue. If their mediocre finger scanner doesn't work and there are students lined up then they just do the pocket check and send you in.

That depends on the center. My fingerprints have always been difficult to read, getting the FBI fingerprinting thing before starting med school was an ordeal because they had to try each finger at least 5 times. Scanning my finger at each break took 30s to 2 minutes, plus waiting in line, so I lost a lot of my break time and used up every last second. Plus the guy working my testing room moved at a snail's pace and seemed unnaturally insistent on getting my fingerprint. What a stupid policy.

 

[Bancrofti]

Yes, I experienced this. It was an unforeseen change of plans, since I expected to take a break between each and every block for a caffeine refill and mental break. Ended up having to cut back on my breaks to accommodate.

Plan accordingly.

For anyone here: I've seen it asked once, but not answered directly. The extra time you have at the end of the block, if you exit the block and choose to go into break time, does the extra block time get added to the break time automatically? I think we can be reported if we leave the room with a block still in progress right, so it only makes sense? Just making sure.

 

[SBR249]

Any extra time remaining in a block after you end it will be immediately added to your break time. If you leave the room with a block still going, you will go to automatic unauthorized break if you don't move your cursor within a certain amount of time (1 min I think??). If you don't have that much time left, then your block will end, and then 30s after that you will be put on break. But remember, you are video recorded, so if you leave your terminal logged in, it may be noted and reported.

Back to topic though, I must be an exception because I rarely took breaks. In fact, I had something like 35min break time left when I got down. Must be because I kinda fell into the UWorld mentality at the end of "screw it, I just want to get this over with and 1) find out the answer (UW) or 2) go on my European vacation (Step1)". Highly not recommended.