Usual Temperature in Testing Center

[labrat10]

For those of you who have taken the MCAT, can you tell me what the usual temperature is? Do they turn on their AC super high during the summer? I am cold intolerant and would probably be better off without the AC because I can't think when I freeze up.

Thanks!

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[spyderracing32]

Bring a layer?

 

[lastcall]

Hey labrat10, I'm cold intolerant too. I would just bring a light sweater to the test center just in case. That's what I'm gonna do.

 

[Raryn]

The temperature is always set to -40 degrees. Which scale? Doesn't matter.

Its a true endurance test for us premeds.

 

[student1799]

Hey labrat10, I'm cold intolerant too. I would just bring a light sweater to the test center just in case. That's what I'm gonna do.

Just be aware: if you wear a sweater/jacket/etc. into the testing room, YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT ON THE WHOLE TIME. They are very strict about this. If you want to take it off during the test, you have to sign out, go to your locker, put the sweater away, and come back--all while the testing clock is running. There's no such thing as removing the sweater and hanging it on the back of your chair.

I've already taken the MCAT once, and my test center was air-conditioned like a typical office building (somewhere in the mid-high 60's). But this center was in an urban high-rise. I've heard stories on SDN of people in other places whose centers were sweltering due to problems with the A/C (like the DC center on 7/8, where there was no A/C at all). So dressing in layers is probably wise--just remember about the jacket rule I just mentioned.

 

[pitt1166]

Just be aware: if you wear a sweater/jacket/etc. into the testing room, YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT ON THE WHOLE TIME. They are very strict about this. If you want to take it off during the test, you have to sign out, go to your locker, put the sweater away, and come back--all while the testing clock is running. There's no such thing as removing the sweater and hanging it on the back of your chair.

I've already taken the MCAT once, and my test center was air-conditioned like a typical office building (somewhere in the mid-high 60's). But this center was in an urban high-rise. I've heard stories on SDN of people in other places whose centers were sweltering due to problems with the A/C (like the DC center on 7/8, where there was no A/C at all). So dressing in layers is probably wise--just remember about the jacket rule I just mentioned.

Man that sounds like a load of crap. I mean, not you. But some of these rules and regulations...

 

[lastcall]

thanks student1799, I wasn't aware of that (I thought I could just hang my lil hoodie over my the back of my chair)..I'll have to resort to layering too! 🙂

 

[spyderracing32]

The temperature is always set to -40 degrees. Which scale? Doesn't matter.

Its a true endurance test for us premeds.

Kelvin. They managed it somehow. Good luck clicking your mouse.

 

[BlueElmo]

Just be aware: if you wear a sweater/jacket/etc. into the testing room, YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT ON THE WHOLE TIME. They are very strict about this. If you want to take it off during the test, you have to sign out, go to your locker, put the sweater away, and come back--all while the testing clock is running. There's no such thing as removing the sweater and hanging it on the back of your chair.

I've already taken the MCAT once, and my test center was air-conditioned like a typical office building (somewhere in the mid-high 60's). But this center was in an urban high-rise. I've heard stories on SDN of people in other places whose centers were sweltering due to problems with the A/C (like the DC center on 7/8, where there was no A/C at all). So dressing in layers is probably wise--just remember about the jacket rule I just mentioned.

Is this for every test site? If it is, then this is ****ing bull. Wow, a test where you can't even take off your sweater without all that bull****? Give me a break. Little things like this makes me hate AAMC more and more

 

[student1799]

Is this for every test site?

I'm pretty sure it is, because they even mentioned it in the Stanley Kaplan online course I took.

It seems like a ridiculous rule to me too, but they must believe that if you have a jacket with you which can be removed, you could conceal something in there (crib notes?) and look at it during the test--or something like that. Personally, I don't see how anyone could get away with that, because (as they tell you on the way in) the entire testing session is monitored by video cameras and taped.

But get used to the insane, draconian rules. Here's another example: The center where I took the test (in NYC office building) had huge signs in the waiting area saying "no eating"--and there were similar signs in the hallway leading to the test center entrance. Meanwhile, there was no way in the world you could actually go down to the building lobby and outside to eat something, because that would take up MORE than your 10-minute break. So what did people do? Gulp down energy bars in the BATHROOM--the only available place. (At least it was one of those "fancy" bathrooms with a little anteroom in front with just a mirror and sinks. It felt a little less strange to eat in there.)

 

[dhbighit]

At my testing site they allowed us to take off our jacket/sweater during the test and hang it on the back of the chair, but once we did so they would come in and take it and we would not be able to have it again untill a break.

 

[futuredoctor10]

At my testing site they allowed us to take off our jacket/sweater during the test and hang it on the back of the chair, but once we did so they would come in and take it and we would not be able to have it again untill a break.

Ah at least that's not AS bad as making you go back out, log out, put it in your locker, and sign back in! Hopefully most test sites do this... that would be the logical solution to me.

 

[Raryn]

I'm pretty sure it is, because they even mentioned it in the Stanley Kaplan online course I took.

It seems like a ridiculous rule to me too, but they must believe that if you have a jacket with you which can be removed, you could conceal something in there (crib notes?) and look at it during the test--or something like that. Personally, I don't see how anyone could get away with that, because (as they tell you on the way in) the entire testing session is monitored by video cameras and taped.

But get used to the insane, draconian rules. Here's another example: The center where I took the test (in NYC office building) had huge signs in the waiting area saying "no eating"--and there were similar signs in the hallway leading to the test center entrance. Meanwhile, there was no way in the world you could actually go down to the building lobby and outside to eat something, because that would take up MORE than your 10-minute break. So what did people do? Gulp down energy bars in the BATHROOM--the only available place. (At least it was one of those "fancy" bathrooms with a little anteroom in front with just a mirror and sinks. It felt a little less strange to eat in there.)

Thats really strange.. At my testing center they at least let us eat in the waiting room. During every break I was eating a bag of chips/drinking a soda/pacing the waiting room.

 

[Snurping]

At my testing center, the guy told me it was set to 72˚F. I brought a zip up to wear over a t-shirt, and ended up taking it off and on several times. The only limitation they gave us was that it had to be on us at all times, meaning that tying it around your hips was just fine. I'd definitely recommend one or two layers just because you may get nervous and the last thing you want is to be uncomfortable.