Hey all,
Gonna take the test soon in NY, would appreciate if people could write a few words about their test experience at the NY sites.
1) How are the computers
2) Students taking test with you?
3) what kind of scratch paper?
4) Headphones or ear plugs?
Thanks & good luck on the scores!
Took the test May 16th, in NYC at 1 Penn Plaza, suite 1728.
1) Computers are okay. Fat computer screens, and they were flickery! It was really hard to focus. I told the proctor before the test started and she moved me to another computer. It was flickery too, but less so, so tolerable. First mouse had scroll wheel, second didn't. I was mildly worried about that since I'm so used to the wheel, but it proved not to be a problem.
2) It was separated in cubicles... kind of like in the music listening lab at college.
. I really did not notice other students much. Here's the layout. You enter a business office suite, and there's a reception desk where you sign in, and a comfortable waiting area with a TV on quietly, lockers off to the side, and a place to hang your jacket. The window overlooks a gorgeous view of midtown buildings and the top of Madison Square Garden. There is an office water dispenser. There are several small testing rooms. They call your name after you deposit the stuff in your locker. You can only take your ID and locker key with you. You can't carry a sweater; can only wear it; if you take it off they said you would have to bring it outside. But not to worry. The temperature seemed very carefully controlled. I wore a long sleeve shirt and TV shirt over it. At one point I was mildly stuffy, at another a tiny bit cold. So it was pretty good ventilation. The room seats maybe 25 cubicles in a squarish area. each cubicle felt like it was its own space... I didn't really notice or pay attention to other testers. It was very quiet: excellent. I put on the headphones (large orange ones) which made things silent, but I felt that I didn't need them, so did not use them, and found the slight ambient sounds companionable. THen again, I study in the city and my room faces the street, so I'm used to various sounds.
Breaks: took about 4 minutes for the sign out/sign in procedure, and 4 minutes for the bathroom/food break - in the hall - and 2 minutes to zone out and make sure i was back on time.
I heard horror stories of people leaving these things in tears. My experience was opposite that. The whole thing felt quiet, introverted, focused, and individual. In addition, the staff was genial.
3) Scratch paper was an 8 1/2 by 11 size booklet of about 8 pages (includes front and back) of light blue paper. They give you 2 pencils. They say you can raise your hand when you need more. I didn't even use mine up, and I tend to write a lot (hmm.... really).
4) Headphones... see #2. There were large orange headphones. Also maybe large black ones. I didn't use them.
