Talk about a testing NIGHTMARE!!

[Shawn A]

I went to take my PRAXIS test today. In NJ you need to pass the Elementary school content knowledge(0014) PRAXIS II before you can qualify to teach any Middle school subject areas. I went to Trenton (TCNJ) to take this and the Middle School Math(0069) this morning.

I arrived at the campus with minutes to spare for the 7:30 AM check in. There were signs all over the place, but nothing for PRAXIS (They were having special Olympics). After asking 4 people I finally find my way to the testing building. I walk in and there is a line a mile long winding back and forth waiting to be signed in. I get sent to the wrong room first (they had it backwards) finally arrive at the right room there is only one desk left, it is next to the window and the surface area was barely enough for one sheet of paper (these exams are only offered paperbased). I was shocked to see after I left everything in the car people had all of there belongings (food, water phones) right there next to them.

So we finally get our test booklets and start to fill out the personal info on the answer sheets when LOUD, CRASHING, BANGING noises begin right outside the window:ack:. The proctor goes and looks outside the window they have started to tear down a building and they have decided to work on Saturday:puke: We start the test anyway and the timer starts. I could not concentrate at allbanghead every time I would think they were going to get into a pattern of bangs I could adjust to they would stop and the next second they were using some kind of giant spike to hit the rocks hard and break them up. I was ready to cry, part of me wanted to just get up and walk out. How could anyone be expected to concentrate in this environment??? I finally just was skipping through the questions trying to answer any easy ones I could answer without concentration. Finally after about 15 minutes the noise Stopped it took me another 10 minutes to believe it was not just a coffe break and they wouldn't be back. I went on to do the rest of the exam, but when the 30 minute warning came(it is a 2 hour test) I was far from the end, but I was able to rush through. I then went back to the ones I had skipped, I did not have time to answer them all so when time was up I just filled in random ovals. There is no penalty for wrong answers just credit for correct so I figured I might as well make uneducated guesses.

The worst part is I will not get my results for 3-4 weeks. I have already signed up to retake the math exam I did later (the proctor gave no timing reminders and did not writte down the time), but I also need to take the Middle school Science exam which is only offered the same time as the first one I took today) These exams are only offered once a month and are not offered at all in August, so if I did not pass that exam I took this morning I can not be certified to teach in September:nopity:

I just needed to vent about this to others who would understand. After this experience I think every other testing experience I have had has been easy. Pierson Vue testing centers are the greatest and we are spoiled by the CLEP, DSST, ECE computer based testing and instant results.

To CYA - I would file a complaint about the testing conditions. There may be a time limit on when you can file a complaint for a free retest.

Shawn