Taking exams with ear plugs

[FT2FLY]

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strange thing to ask about but I've recently started to use earplugs to study and take exams... I'm in my first year of university.

My inquiry:

-If I form the habit can I carry "taking exams with earplugs" into dental school?

I just don't want to become dependent on them as a student and then be forced to let go of them someday and find it weird or whatever to adjust.

-Would you recommend using earplugs for studying and exams? Just find it helps me focus more. OR should I work on having stronger focus without them?

 

[DentalLonghorn2014]

This is probably not the strangest thing I have read on SDN lol.
Talk to the professors and ask em before exams take place. I would think that it only becomes a problem if the professor tells you to take it out and you tell him/her to shove it.

 

[strep mutans]

Piggybacking off of this question (sorry OP)... I've seen people here on SDN talk about taking the DAT with their own earplugs because the testing center can be noisy and the provided headphones can be junk, but I read on the official ADA DAT FAQ that personal earplugs are prohibited. Anyone have any insight on this??

EDIT: From reading through some older threads, I guess the answer is call your testing center and ask their policy on it. If they don't allow them, it'd be a good idea to take practice tests in a library computer lab to get used to the noises.

 

[dds2b219]

The dat test center has these big headphones that block out pretty much all noise. Once you put them on you are so focused on the exam and the time limit that I didn't even notice I was wearing them. I think personal anything is prohibited at the testing center but their headphones will be fine to block out the noise.

 

[ajj70]

The testing centers usually supply the foam ear plugs as well. You are not allowed to take anything into the testing rooms with you. They will make you turn out your pockets even. You can't even bring kleenex into the testing room and I doubt any of the centers will allow you to bring in any personal headphones.

 

[Mad Jack]

strange thing to ask about but I've recently started to use earplugs to study and take exams... I'm in my first year of university.

My inquiry:

-If I form the habit can I carry "taking exams with earplugs" into dental school?

I just don't want to become dependent on them as a student and then be forced to let go of them someday and find it weird or whatever to adjust.

-Would you recommend using earplugs for studying and exams? Just find it helps me focus more. OR should I work on having stronger focus without them?

In my medical school, nearly everyone wears earplugs for both anatomy and written exams. I'd imagine most dental schools would be equally as okay with the practice.

Big fan of ear plugs myself, filters out all the rustling and coughing during exams, which distracts the hell out of me for whatever reason.

 

[BrazilianRider]

The testing centers usually supply the foam ear plugs as well. You are not allowed to take anything into the testing rooms with you. They will make you turn out your pockets even. You can't even bring kleenex into the testing room and I doubt any of the centers will allow you to bring in any personal headphones.

I brought my own foam earplugs into the testing room. They just had me squeeze them flat to make sure they weren't bugged.

 

[strep mutans]

The testing centers usually supply the foam ear plugs as well. You are not allowed to take anything into the testing rooms with you. They will make you turn out your pockets even. You can't even bring kleenex into the testing room and I doubt any of the centers will allow you to bring in any personal headphones.

If you read through previous SDN threads on the topic, you will see that many people brought their own squishy earplugs to the testing centers and used them. I realize the rules state otherwise, hence my question and subsequent edit.

 

[ajj70]

If you read through previous SDN threads on the topic, you will see that many people brought their own squishy earplugs to the testing centers and used them. I realize the rules state otherwise, hence my question and subsequent edit.

I used to work in a testing center, they are not supposed to even allow that...but each proctor might skirt the rules I suppose.