Prometric Testing Center Problems

[pillowhead]

So apparently the main prometric testing center for students at my school has been having computer problems meaning that some students haven't been able to take step 1 even though they have a confirmed appointment. One student went to take her exam and they told her that her assigned computer was down and she'd have to reschedule in July! (we have to take it by june 30th.) Another student had the same problem and had to reschedule and got the last june spot available anywhere in the state. This is ridiculous! I mean, why don't they call people to let them know their computer is down and they'll have to reschedule BEFORE they show up at the testing center!

i was freaking out for like half an hour while I was trying to get through to them, but it turns out i'm set for next thursday. (To add insult to injury, all I could get for like half an hour was a stupid recording saying "please confirm your appointment online." Clearly that doesn't work!!) still though, this whole thing is ridiculous. I wish it was like the MCAT or SAT where you just show up on a Saturday with a hundred other people and take an exam on paper with everyone else at the same time. It would just eliminate so much confusion.

sigh...just had to vent. i think my stomach actually feels sick...I was just imagining the possiblities...

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[4424]

So apparently the main prometric testing center for students at my school has been having computer problems meaning that some students haven't been able to take step 1 even though they have a confirmed appointment. One student went to take her exam and they told her that her assigned computer was down and she'd have to reschedule in July! (we have to take it by june 30th.) Another student had the same problem and had to reschedule and got the last june spot available anywhere in the state. This is ridiculous! I mean, why don't they call people to let them know their computer is down and they'll have to reschedule BEFORE they show up at the testing center!

i was freaking out for like half an hour while I was trying to get through to them, but it turns out i'm set for next thursday. (To add insult to injury, all I could get for like half an hour was a stupid recording saying "please confirm your appointment online." Clearly that doesn't work!!) still though, this whole thing is ridiculous. I wish it was like the MCAT or SAT where you just show up on a Saturday with a hundred other people and take an exam on paper with everyone else at the same time. It would just eliminate so much confusion.

sigh...just had to vent. i think my stomach actually feels sick...I was just imagining the possiblities...

there are plenty of problems with the system but it's not a bad setup. my main complaint was the flickering screen, very tiring

 

[nutmegs]

our exam started an hour late becuase they were having problems getting the exams to load in the new format. even still, and while I can definitely understand your frustration, being able to take it on your own schedule both day-of-the-month and throughout the day (breaks, etc) beats the HELL out of the SATs and MCATs...

 

[pillowhead]

there are plenty of problems with the system but it's not a bad setup. my main complaint was the flickering screen, very tiring

I guess I just disagree. I think it's a terrible set-up when problems are encountered and students aren't told about them until it's too late and there are absolutely no back-ups in place. Imagine showing up the day of your exam and being told you have to take it more than two weeks later when you already confirmed your appointment.

i'm sure it's not a bad setup when it works, but there should be some sort of plan B if it doesn't. Notifying students at a minimum would make things so much better.

 

[WISC-ite]

A friend of mine just south of me said that her classmate was told the night before at 4:45 that he would not be able to take his test as HIS ASSIGNED computer was having problems. This poor kid had vacation stuff planned too...

I went to the test center (the same place where I am going to take mine) that day and there were people taking the test.... but many empty seats.

I think they should let you know days in advance so you can find a test center that has an openning (even if it is 5 states away) as MOST of us have immediate vacation plans and then the start of rotations.

My 2 cents.
-WISC-ite

 

[Skeptic]

Ha. I took the test, was on question 338 of 350. Power went out. Never came back on. Prometric lied to us saying we could come back and finish. 3 weeks later, after being in contact back and forth with NBME, was informed that they couldn't recover my final block 7 test file. So instead of having time off, I'm studying again because I have to take the test over. Remind me, why have I gone into this profession?

 

[pillowhead]

Ha. I took the test, was on question 338 of 350. Power went out. Never came back on. Prometric lied to us saying we could come back and finish. 3 weeks later, after being in contact back and forth with NBME, was informed that they couldn't recover my final block 7 test file. So instead of having time off, I'm studying again because I have to take the test over. Remind me, why have I gone into this profession?

see now that is absolutely absurd. I'm normally pretty anti-suing if you will, but hearing stuff like this makes me feel like they deserve to get sued. No one should have to put up with that. Taking the exam is obviously stressful enough when everything goes perfectly smoothly. But being told you can't take the exam, having to cancel vacations, having to retake the exam--it's just totally unacceptable. At the very least, students who encounter these types of massive problems (I'm not talking about a test being delayed an hour or so, I understand stuff will happen sometimes) should have their money fully refunded.

I just don't think the NBME should outsource the responsbility of such an important exam for a for-profit testing agency that doesn't really give a crap about doing it right.

 

[Pox in a box]

I saw the same thing happen at the Prometric Center. Scheduling error.

 

[wam_256]

I agree with you pillowhead 100% 👍

 

[Skeptic]

Don't get me wrong, I've definitely thought about suing. Let me put it to you this way...they scored my 6 of 7 blocks, you know, for sh--s and giggles, and basically, you could have extrapolated that score to indicate I was on pace for over a 250. Now, all of you are probably thinking that I've got nothing to worry about, and maybe you are right. I'm scheduled to take it again, but free of charge this time around, on Wednesday of this week. I am definitely not where I was over a month ago when I first took it (can't believe I'm saying that), but I'm hoping it's still there in my head. I suppose it's not the fact that this happened to me that really bothers me, but the point that incompetence or rather, poor preparation by others can affect you pretty bad. You think I would learn that from our current govt, Redneck inc, but I guess this was the straw that broke the camel's back. So I'm crossing my fingers that this doesn't happen again, because if it does, my foot will be through every prometric computer in the building, and I'll be out of medicine for good on back into comedy. Peace.

 

[Skeptic]

Don't get me wrong, I've definitely thought about suing. Let me put it to you this way...they scored my 6 of 7 blocks, you know, for sh--s and giggles, and basically, you could have extrapolated that score to indicate I was on pace for over a 250. Now, all of you are probably thinking that I've got nothing to worry about, and maybe you are right. I'm scheduled to take it again, but free of charge this time around, on Wednesday of this week. I am definitely not where I was over a month ago when I first took it (can't believe I'm saying that), but I'm hoping it's still there in my head. I suppose it's not the fact that this happened to me that really bothers me, but the point that incompetence or rather, poor preparation by others can affect you pretty bad. You think I would learn that from our current govt, Redneck inc, but I guess this was the straw that broke the camel's back. So I'm crossing my fingers that this doesn't happen again, because if it does, my foot will be through every prometric computer in the building, and I'll be out of medicine for good and back into comedy. Peace.

 

[HiddenTruth]

Don't get me wrong, I've definitely thought about suing. Let me put it to you this way...they scored my 6 of 7 blocks, you know, for sh--s and giggles, and basically, you could have extrapolated that score to indicate I was on pace for over a 250. Now, all of you are probably thinking that I've got nothing to worry about, and maybe you are right. I'm scheduled to take it again, but free of charge this time around, on Wednesday of this week. I am definitely not where I was over a month ago when I first took it (can't believe I'm saying that), but I'm hoping it's still there in my head. I suppose it's not the fact that this happened to me that really bothers me, but the point that incompetence or rather, poor preparation by others can affect you pretty bad. You think I would learn that from our current govt, Redneck inc, but I guess this was the straw that broke the camel's back. So I'm crossing my fingers that this doesn't happen again, because if it does, my foot will be through every prometric computer in the building, and I'll be out of medicine for good and back into comedy. Peace.

you have to take all of it..or just one block? Dang, if doing about 85% of the exam correlates to a 250, and there is a screw up on their part, I would def. try to sue to have them accept the score. You have already proved that you have the minimum knowledge to be a licensed practicing physician. Heck, I bet if they didn't even count the last block, with those numbers, you'd still pass the sucker with no prob. That's really jacked though. Good luck. Sorry to hear about your troubles.

 

[wam_256]

Best of luck Skeptic!!! I'm sure you are going to be fine

 

[Oslersghost]

Where in God's green earth did these catastrophies happen?
We should all protest those sites!

 

[Pox in a box]

you have to take all of it..or just one block? Dang, if doing about 85% of the exam correlates to a 250, and there is a screw up on their part, I would def. try to sue to have them accept the score. You have already proved that you have the minimum knowledge to be a licensed practicing physician. Heck, I bet if they didn't even count the last block, with those numbers, you'd still pass the sucker with no prob. That's really jacked though. Good luck. Sorry to hear about your troubles.

I feel really horrible about what happened but I don't think that you can say that the next block would extrapolate to a 250. I had several blocks that I thought were incredibly more difficult than others. If I were you I'd still do all I can to get back at them but I bet you're just going to have to retake and hope to do as well. It's probably more Prometric's fault than NBME's. I would think that NBME has contracted the test administration to the Prometric service. Best of luck!

 

[Pox in a box]

Damn, you beat me. The entire test, or just block 7? If you're shooting for a top score I guess it doesn't matter. Good luck.

Looks like your words came true. Sorry guy. Sounds like you had problems before you even began with scheduling. Perhaps you can file a grievance for some extra time to study again. You might have an edge on what the NBME is after in terms of content. You're going to have a general idea on 700 (assuming no repeats) of the NBME's bank of questions. If I were you I'd brush up on what you considered difficult on the exam because they might give you the same questions again since they apparently have no record of your test existing.

 

[pillowhead]

check out the compiled experiences thread for more fun prometric times from thursday.

apparently all the people from my school who went today (friday) were told they couldn't take the exam because of "programming malfunctions." they have to push back to JULY 15th!

 

[Pox in a box]

Is it possible to file a class-action lawsuit? There's obviously a major problem here.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Hearing all these horror stories makes me nervous...and I don't take my boards until next year! I really hope something changes for next year. This just can NOT happen 2 years in a row. Somebody HAS to get fired and a formal letter better be sent out apologizing for their f*ck up.

Good luck to everyone still waiting to take their exam.