A testing center to avoid

As I had to take two beta exams this week or miss out on the opportunity, I
called Pearson Vue to book them last week. In Montreal and Ottawa I have my
favorite testing centres, but this week I am in Hallandale, Florida. The
agent at PV suggested Fast Computer Training in Miami. As I had other
obligations I allotted myself 90 minutes per exam with a fifteen minute
break so that I could get out of there by 12:15. My first exam was booked
for 9:00AM this morning.

When I arrived at the location ten minutes early (per guidelines) the door
was locked... as it was ten minutes later and ten minutes hence. In fact it
was not until 9:40 when someone came to open the door, and when I knocked
she was unaware that I was supposed to take a test, and was embarrassed that
the place was a bit dirty. In fact I have been to washrooms at outdoor
football stadia during rainy season where the floors were cleaner. It was
in a word disgusting.

The testing room must have been someone's office... the back wall had city,
state, and tax department permits posted in no particular order. However
the upside was that the chair was comfortable and the computer relatively
modern.

Throughout the exams I heard the administrator's cell phone tune constantly,
and it was nearly impossible to concentrate.

In a sentence: AVOID THIS TESTING CENTRE.

Ok, there endeth my rant.

 

Not close to your experience, but I took an exam in a closest -- or room
not much bigger...

--

Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCDST, MCP, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW Assoc.,
CIW Certified Instructor

The Classroom Blog

CertGuard Member
The Stronghold for Excellence in I.T. Certification
www.CertGuard.com

 

Closets are pretty common, and nothing to really complain about... There is
a testing centre in Montreal called Vienna Academy of whatever and I passed
my 70-292 Upgrade exam there... they had closets (I am pretty sure I have an
article about it
(http://dnn.mitpro.ca/mitpro/Blogs/tabid/59/EntryID/26/Default.aspx) but at
least the place was professional... there were people there, and it was
presentable. This place was the hole in the wall that Monty Pythonites got
evicted from!

M

 

A closest would have been nice. I took the three Lotus Domino Administrator
exams in a concession stand.

It was a small business college; their normal testing room was being
remodeled, so I had to take the exams in the server room, which was in fact
the same room where they sold notebooks, pens, t-shits, etc to the student
body.

I wasn't directly in front of the concession area, but anyone who walked up
could see me. During the three exams students repeatable ask me to sell them
stuff. I had to call back to an adjacent room for the person who was
supposed to be tending stand. The space was so small; each time this person
came to the stand, I would have to get up out of my chair, turn it sideways,
and step aside to let them pass. And of course, I had to repeat the process
after the sale was complete to let then back through.

I passed all three exams, but by some of the lowest scores I've ever
received.

 

Wow now THAT is a horror story! As for mine it may not be as bad as that,
but I have submitted a complaint to PV and got a message a few minutes ago
that they were escalating it. I will keep you all informed!

M

 

During one of the 2003 upgrade exams I was next to a guy who was reading the
questions out loud for his exam and swearing - I asked him politly to shut
up - he finally did. And I did pass by a couple of questions.
Harvey wins I think. How you could keep all the information in the question
in mind while bouncing up off the chair and back is amazing. Bet you keep
cool when the rest of the IT department melts and panics while the big boss
is screaming that email is not working.
Good for you Harvey - you should get a gold lapel pin for that.
Linda