Questions about the Computer Based Exam / Prometric

Submitted by JeffNC on Fri, 10/28/2011 - 14:48

Hi All.   Scheduled to take the exam next week at a Prometric location.   Have a couple of questions about exam day and  how the test is administered.   Hope to get some insights from y'all.

1.  Calculators.   Is a physical calculator provided during the exam?  Computer based?  None at all?

2.  Scratch paper.   Is scratch paper provided and how much? (Meaning if it is provided do I need to be concerned about conserving space on the paper if I'm allotted one sheet).

3.  Test Center.  How are the computers set up?   In cubicles?  Are the PCs with monitors?   Touch screen?  Other?

Thanks and any other thoughts about Prometrics and how the test is administered would be great appreciated.

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jgnyc

Sat, 11/19/2011 - 05:30

I had the same questions before taking the exam but I was too busy to investigate it, so I take this question to post a reply although JeffNC has by now hopefully passed the exam.

At the Prometric center, where I took the test (NYC, 1 Penn Plaza, 17th floor), a calculator was built into the software, similar as the windows calculator but unfortunately it did not accept the numeric keys for entry.  You had to click on each button.  And you better verify that all figures you have clicked (or at least thought to have clicked) also disappear on the screen before moving on with the calculation.

Scratch paper was provided, 4 pages and you can request more as often as you want but they will only exchange it with your previously used scratch paper.

Computers are in cubicles, PCs with flat screen monitors, no touch screen but keyboard and mouse input.

Headphones are provided but the room was quiet.  Sitting there for four hours barely moving and concentrating on what I had in front of me I considered the room very chilly after a while.  Not in the beginning, though.  I was glad I wore my thick sweater.  You have to decide before you enter the room, either to wear your sweater or leave it off.

nicolae

Tue, 07/24/2012 - 18:50

It`s an online exam so I hope you will not have many problems. Exams on computers are more difficult to take from my point of view. You have to worry even for the quality of add-ons browser has. I always search on http://www.activextest.com/activex-control-download.html to see if they release new versions of the old add-ons.