New rule at Prometric

The receptionist at my Prometric center told me they had a new rule. No talking to yourself or reading out loud, even when you're alone in the little area. This is because they caught someone with some type of mic or something and he was reading all the questions into it. The dumpers will find any way to get their stuff.

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Comments

za3bour

Hmm good rule, but why do you need to talk to yourself in the first place ?

Forsaken_GA

This is next:

Nukees - Friday, February 19, 1999

Reseven

za3bour wrote: »

Hmm good rule, but why do you need to talk to yourself in the first place ?

I've read that reading aloud to ones self can help when trying to comprehend. It was something to do with how we learn. Someone who is primarily an auditory learner can benefit greatly from doing this.

varelg

za3bour wrote: »

Hmm good rule, but why do you need to talk to yourself in the first place ?

I was reading this aloud. I don't know why, I just did it.

Seriously, if they press on rules on the part of the candidate, it is only fair if they hold on their own part of the bargain so that I don't have to listen to the radio echoing in the hallway, secretary whistling while sipping coffee and people shouting while randomly gathering just in front of the door where I TRY TO FOCUS ON THE DARN TEST!
Are earplugs allowed then? I mean, unless Prometric test sites can guarantee silence required to completely focus on the test questions.

colemic

Push comes to shove, someone will challenge this legally and will win. Some people are auditory learners - I happen to be a visual.

Cisco Inferno

varelg wrote: »

Are earplugs allowed then? I mean, unless Prometric test sites can guarantee silence required to completely focus on the test questions.

My Prometric test center has huge airline runway earmuffs in each seat.
it definitely helps to block out keyboard noise when people are typing out long tests like the CPA exam.

msteinhilber

Meh, I can't see them being incredibly strict on this one unless you're blatantly reading well outloud. As someone mentioned, a lot of people like to sort of read out loud to themselves - me being one of those people. I wouldn't call it really reading out loud though, it's more of a half whisper of some words somewhat audibly while other words come out pretty much incoherently, though my brain thinks it heard me say the word. I don't do it very loud if I'm not in an environment such as a testing center, and if I have to then I would be surprised if anyone could even hear it if they were next to me - it's probably more like me simply moving my lip's like I'm speaking but not really saying anything simply to trick my brain into thinking it heard it though I couldn't say for sure since I've never really paid close enough attention while doing that since I'm in the zone at the time.

I can understand the reasoning though, the brain **** industry (if you will) I imagine is quite competitive and with measures being taken to change up exam questions more or use larger question pools that the people who are behind making the **** probably like to make it as easy as possible and as accurate as possible.

I suppose as long as they don't start going TSA on us and trying to implement 3D body scanners and the like to look for wires...

If they really want to prevent brain **** and the people who use them, just get the Mafia involved with managing testing centers. If you're clueless co-worker never shows up from work a short while after doing a superb job on his latest exam he studied for a week for, then it's safe to assume the problem "has been taken care of".

jmritenour

za3bour wrote: »

Hmm good rule, but why do you need to talk to yourself in the first place ?

If I don't talk to myself, how am I supposed to ask myself what the answers are?

azjag

When I tested for the SSCP you were not allowed to bring in your own pen or pencil. You had to use the one's they provided and leave yours in the car. Apparently somebody got caught with a pen in their pocket that was a video camera. They were also looking for buttons that were out of place, wrong color, style or doesn't match the rest of the buttons on your shirt.

L0gicB0mb508

azjag wrote: »

When I tested for the SSCP you were not allowed to bring in your own pen or pencil. You had to use the one's they provided and leave yours in the car. Apparently somebody got caught with a pen in their pocket that was a video camera. They were also looking for buttons that were out of place, wrong color, style or doesn't match the rest of the buttons on your shirt.

This guy would like a word with you....

za3bour

jmritenour wrote: »

If I don't talk to myself, how am I supposed to ask myself what the answers are?

I think each one got his method, I usually write keywords and main question on the paper then wipe it when I'm done.

But how can they find out you're talking to yourself (if it wasn't loud)

za3bour

varelg wrote: »

I was reading this aloud. I don't know why, I just did it.
Seriously, if they press on rules on the part of the candidate, it is only fair if they hold on their own part of the bargain so that I don't have to listen to the radio echoing in the hallway, secretary whistling while sipping coffee and people shouting while randomly gathering just in front of the door where I TRY TO FOCUS ON THE DARN TEST!
Are earplugs allowed then? I mean, unless Prometric test sites can guarantee silence required to completely focus on the test questions.

That's a valid point, I'm glad my test center is pretty good, the room is isolated and the test center itself is an office for a learning center so there are not a lot going on at it.

I think so it's your right to ask them to be quite and you can complain to Prometric about it too.

TheShadow

azjag wrote: »

When I tested for the SSCP you were not allowed to bring in your own pen or pencil. You had to use the one's they provided and leave yours in the car. Apparently somebody got caught with a pen in their pocket that was a video camera. They were also looking for buttons that were out of place, wrong color, style or doesn't match the rest of the buttons on your shirt.

They are quite common now. $40 U.S. at this site

4GB USB Digital Pocket 640x480 Video Recorder & Ballpoint Pen w/Built-in Pin-Hole Camera (Black/Silver)

Zartanasaurus

azjag wrote: »

When I tested for the SSCP you were not allowed to bring in your own pen or pencil. You had to use the one's they provided and leave yours in the car. Apparently somebody got caught with a pen in their pocket that was a video camera. They were also looking for buttons that were out of place, wrong color, style or doesn't match the rest of the buttons on your shirt.

The security folks are understandably paranoid.

veritas_libertas

earweed wrote: »

The receptionist at my Prometric center told me they had a new rule. No talking to yourself or reading out loud, even when you're alone in the little area. This is because they caught someone with some type of mic or something and he was reading all the questions into it. The dumpers will find any way to get their stuff.

Disappointing! When the room is clear I'll often read the questions out load to help myself think through the problems.

snokerpoker

veritas_libertas wrote: »

Disappointing! When the room is clear I'll often read the questions out load to help myself think through the problems.

I agree, this sucks. I do the same thing....... damn dumpers!

erpadmin

I try to mouth whatever I'm reading if I feel the need to read stuff aloud; not so much to follow this rule, but because I want to be courteous to the other test takers. They do provide you with those clunky ear plugs, but there is no way in Hades I would ever wear those! (I have never seen anyone else wear them either...) The Prometric center I go to is the main testing center in Manhattan, and I always looking like a broke hobo with my pockets out because they don't want me bringing anything in that they didn't provide; that stuff has to go in the locker.

If one really wanted to be sheisty, I would imagine they could wear one of those eyeglasses that have the video camera as part of the frames....though I imagine they have stuff that's even more sophisticated than that one.