Frustrating exam experience

MrBrianMrBrian Member Posts: 520
So last night (11/15) I had my Tshoot exam. Felt good about it and was ready to walk out a CCNP!

With about 45 mins left I had to go to the restroom so bad I decided I couldn't wait it out. Went, the admin locked the computer, and when I came back, the administrator unlocked it again for me. I sat down and now every time I hit the letter "c" on the keyboard it would take the cursor down to a new line. I wasn't able to do ipconfig on any hosts now because I'd type "ip" and then "c," which just dropped the prompt to a fresh, clear prompt. Also couldn't do config t, not that I needed to necessarily, but still.

Tried it on different PC's, routers, on different trouble tickets within the sim, but the letter c wouldn't work. Tried doing a capital C, nope. Tried randomly hitting some of the "lock" keys but nothing. I raised my hand and showed the administrator, and he was dumbfounded as well. I asked if I could pull the keyboard out and reconnect it, but he said we couldn't mess with the equipment.. darn!

Anyways, he filled out an incident report and I am to call Pearson tomorrow with my report number and see what's up. As long as I don't have to purchase the exam again I'll be fine with it, as this was completely out of my control. Was always smooth sailing testing until today.. strange stuff. Moderators if this thread belongs elsewhere feel free to move.
Currently reading: Internet Routing Architectures by Halabi
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Comments

  • mattaumattau Member Posts: 218
    that sucks big time, but im sure they will let you resit it again for free. You cant control computer glitches
    _____________________________________
    CCNP ROUTE - passed 20/3/12
    CCNP SWITCH - passed 25/10/12
    CCNP TSHOOT - passed 11/12/12




  • sratakhinsratakhin Member Posts: 818
    Do they really allow people to go to the bathroom during exams? I was told I had to wait :)
  • pitviperpitviper Member Posts: 1,376 ■■■■■■■□□□
    Yeah, they'll typically end the exam if you need to leave the room.
    CCNP:Collaboration, CCNP:R&S, CCNA:S, CCNA:V, CCNA, CCENT
  • prtechprtech Member Posts: 163
    My understanding is that they'll let you go to the bathroom but the clock keeps running on the exam.

    Just take it again asap and get that NP.
    If at first you do succeed, try something harder.
  • bermovickbermovick Member Posts: 1,135 ■■■■□□□□□□
    That's what I've always been told too. I always make sure I go before we start.

    You should have gone before we left the house!
    Latest Completed: CISSP

    Current goal: Dunno
  • f0rgiv3nf0rgiv3n Member Posts: 598 ■■■■□□□□□□
    That sucks man :/ Nothing worse than having the rug pulled out from under ya. Especially something like that!
  • MrBrianMrBrian Member Posts: 520
    Yea the bathroom thing was fine, I just went really quick and came back. I'm just saying that the keyboard worked fine before that, and then after I came back was when it was glitching out. The only thing that happened was that the administrator typed something to lock it when I left, and then put his username/password in to unlock it when I came back. But yea, the letter c would absolutely not work..

    Anyways, called Pearson's number today and gave them my incident report number. The guy said that the administrator put a ton of information in the report describing the incident, and that it sounded to be in my favor, but he couldn't guarantee anything. He said it will now get sent to Cisco and they should contact me by Mon or Tue. So hopefully worse case scenario is that I just have to wait a few days to retake it.. big hassle though
    Currently reading: Internet Routing Architectures by Halabi
  • MrBrianMrBrian Member Posts: 520
    sratakhin wrote: »
    Do they really allow people to go to the bathroom during exams? I was told I had to wait :)

    Maybe some testing centers are different? I've always been allowed to go (did it during ROUTE too). You just raise your hand, they'll see you, come in and escort you out. I can go and come back within 3 mins since the restroom is close.
    Currently reading: Internet Routing Architectures by Halabi
  • wavewave Member Posts: 342
    Sorry to hear this! I'm sure they will give you a free re sit, and you should demand one. I've always been told I could use the bathrooms during the exam but the clock would keep ticking. Hold on no matter what!!

    ROUTE Passed 1 May 2012
    SWITCH Passed 25 September 2012
    TSHOOT Passed 23 October 2012
    Taking CCNA Security in April 2013 then studying for the CISSP
  • f0rgiv3nf0rgiv3n Member Posts: 598 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Any word my friend?
  • nosoup4unosoup4u Member Posts: 365
    Which testing center in Seattle or over in Bellevue? Just curious
  • MrBrianMrBrian Member Posts: 520
    I called back yesterday and the lady said there were some notes added to the incident report. She said so-and-so noted that they were going to contact the testing center to talk to the person who filled out the report, so as to gather more information. She also said that are supposed to contact me by the 22nd, but being that that is Thanksgiving, they will contact me hopefully Wed (today) or Fri.

    They haven't called today, so I can only hope they do Friday. Isn't Friday somewhat of a holiday? Anyways, yea just want to retake the dang thing already. I mean I couldn't type the letter "c." Before I went to the restroom I could, after I couldn't. I.e. no more ipconfig. I guess I could've just continued on with the exam and pinged the PC from the nearest switch to see if it got its IP, but that's not the way it's supposed to be. Every time I typed c it would just drop to a fresh blank cursor..

    nosoup4u wrote: »
    Which testing center in Seattle or over in Bellevue? Just curious

    This is the Northgate Pearson Vue. I've never had any problems with the place before, in fact, I really like the place. I've done all my exams there. I might go to the one at Bellevue College next time. They have a lot more openings on the schedule from what I can tell..
    Currently reading: Internet Routing Architectures by Halabi
  • log32log32 Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 217
    just a shot in the dark (not that it matters now):
    if he locked the computer with Winkey + L
    then the lock key must have got stuck.
    it happens to me a lot (new keyboard)
    but if you pressed d then it would've minimizes all windows and perhaps could hint you on what the problem is at the time
  • cisco_troopercisco_trooper Member Posts: 1,441 ■■■■□□□□□□
    I took an exam on 11/20 and one of the simulations flat out didn't work...Very frustrating but I still passed the exam. No harm no foul I guess.
  • dabadaba Member Posts: 51 ■■□□□□□□□□
  • scubagatorscubagator Member Posts: 6 ■□□□□□□□□□
    I had the same thing happen to me when taking my CCNA exam. I could not enter the letter C in the SIM. It was just return a new prompt.

    I called the protor over and he changed out the keyboard and it still would not work. He then left out of the testing area to contact Pearson as I kept fumbling with keyboard. He came back in and Pearson told him that they could stop the exam and restart it but there would be a different group of questions and still could get another SIM with the same issue. I was getting ready to stop and tried the cap lock button one more time and it began working with capitals. I lost about 15 minutes total.

    The protocor registered an incident but I never followed up since I passed the exam.
  • MrBrianMrBrian Member Posts: 520
    They didn't contact me Friday and since they're not there on the weekend I had to wait until Monday, so I'll be calling tomorrow. I'm very annoyed at this point since I took the exam on the 15th and still haven't heard back.
    Currently reading: Internet Routing Architectures by Halabi
  • martell1000martell1000 Member Posts: 389
    that really sucks - i assume you would have nailed the tshoot exam otherwise since it seems to be a piece of cake (after route and switch).

    i think they told you bullshit about "not messing with the equipment" or my testing center is breaking the rules big time. i had 2 keyboard changes and one complete (!) change of computer caused by an exame engine crash in my cisco exam history...

    technical problems with the keyboards are a normal thing i guess, on my ccent exam the "?" key didnt work at all and they offered me a voucher before the exam in case i should have failed.
    And then, I started a blog ...
  • phoeneousphoeneous Member Posts: 2,333 ■■■■■■■□□□
    The only time I use **** is before an exam :)

    [/rimshot]
  • MrBrianMrBrian Member Posts: 520
    Just got off the phone with them.. they said the incident report should be resolved by the end of the week. End of the week, seriously? It's been 11 days already and it's getting kind of ridiculous at this point.
    Currently reading: Internet Routing Architectures by Halabi
  • MrBrianMrBrian Member Posts: 520
    Called back again. Told them it's been nearly two weeks since this happened and wanted to know if I could escalate this somehow. They talked to their supervisor and said the priority level has been raised from low to medium. She also said that while she was talking to her supervisor there were some notes added to the incident report by the people working on it, and that it looks like there's progress being made. She said they'll hopefully be contacting me either later today or tomorrow.

    I guess that's good news (assuming everything she said is true). I chuckled a bit when she said it went from low to medium. Maybe one more call and I can get it bumped to high?
    Currently reading: Internet Routing Architectures by Halabi
  • pitviperpitviper Member Posts: 1,376 ■■■■■■■□□□
    Wow, what a headache! Sounds like the same guys running Pearson VUE as our local DMV :)
    CCNP:Collaboration, CCNP:R&S, CCNA:S, CCNA:V, CCNA, CCENT
  • goldenlightgoldenlight Member Posts: 378 ■■□□□□□□□□
    mattau wrote: »
    that sucks big time, but im sure they will let you resit it again for free. You cant control computer glitches

    it was probably a really long exam. :D
    The Only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it keep looking. Don't settle - Steve Jobs
  • MrBrianMrBrian Member Posts: 520
    Called again today and they said the incident report has been moved to higher ups, haha. I dunno, I think we need some scientists and federal agents to handle my case instead.. it's just so complex in nature.

    I asked a question though: can I re-purchase and schedule my exam now, and then if it gets resolved in my favor later, could I be reimbursed? They put me on hold for awhile, and came back and said yes! I wish I would've asked that earlier, or that they could tell me it was an option! So yea my exam is this Thursday now, and then I'll just wait to hear back about my incident, done.
    Currently reading: Internet Routing Architectures by Halabi
  • MrBrianMrBrian Member Posts: 520
    Ok, it's all over now. Funny timing though, ha. Right after I scheduled the exam earlier today I got an email from Pearson with an exam voucher. So I just called and they were able to refund the 200$ I just spent and apply the voucher. Free retake. Little bit of a hassle these past couple weeks, but all is good now.

    Now if I don't pass on Thursday, joke will be on me lol
    Currently reading: Internet Routing Architectures by Halabi
  • mattaumattau Member Posts: 218
    lol yeah, pressures on :P
    _____________________________________
    CCNP ROUTE - passed 20/3/12
    CCNP SWITCH - passed 25/10/12
    CCNP TSHOOT - passed 11/12/12




  • wavewave Member Posts: 342
    Good luck for Thursday!!

    ROUTE Passed 1 May 2012
    SWITCH Passed 25 September 2012
    TSHOOT Passed 23 October 2012
    Taking CCNA Security in April 2013 then studying for the CISSP
  • networker050184networker050184 Mod Posts: 11,962 Mod
    Make sure you go to the bathroom before the exam this time! Good luck!
    An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made.
  • ShanmanShanman Member Posts: 223
  • MrBrianMrBrian Member Posts: 520
    Thanks for the good luck's guys.
    Make sure you go to the bathroom before the exam this time! Good luck!

    Funny thing is I did last time! But I guess by drinking tons of water and coffee beforehand was a bad idea, ha. It just built up so strongly in such a short time.. light on the liquids tomorrow that's for sure!
    Currently reading: Internet Routing Architectures by Halabi
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