proctoring & health

[a2jc4life]

Sorry about the awkward question, but...has anyone done online-proctored finals for places like these, while having a health condition that affects, um...bathroom habits?  I have a chronic condition that's been flaring recently, so I'm really nervous about the four SL finals I have scheduled.  I'm not worried about the actual tests, but if a bathroom emergency should occur during the proctored session, then the whole class is wasted because the final can't be retaken.

It has me pretty stressed about these exams, and I was just wondering if anyone had dealt with a similar situation before.

[bjcheung77]

All proctored exams I have taken, except for TECEPS, allow at least a 5 minute break anytime.
For me, I have taken TECEPS, the longest I had was 3 hours and no breaks (not even the 5 minute break).

[a2jc4life]

Thanks! I do have one TECEP coming up, but it's not on the schedule yet, so I'm hoping to have regained some equilibrium by then. (I usually don't require the full time to take an exam, but the TECEP has a couple of essays, so I'm not sure about that one.) These SL finals are the ones freaking me out right now.

[Ideas]

I don't have experience with SL, but I have asked TESU and Proctor U about an accommodation for TECEPs. I would suggest you get a doctor's note for TESU. I think SL, Study.com, and others would give some accommodations like a school would.

[keepsingin]

A lot of online courses allow for in-person proctoring as an alternative to ProctorU, not sure if yours does. Some testing centers have awesome proctors, and some have awful ones lol. I was fortunate to find an awesome proctor at a nearby university testing center, and plan to take as many of my remaining tests there as possible because they make allowance for needing to take breaks as needed, whether for food or anything.

My first recommendation would be to find an in-person proctor that understands your situation, because it goes a long way in de-stressing your brain for a better resulting grade! I got so tired of how ProctorU consistently made me so on edge, always wondering when they were going to cancel the test or my grade because I closed my eyes to think for a second, or needed to take a break because of my health, etc. The testing center I use now allows me to bring coffee and snacks, so shop around and find a proctor that works for you.

One testing center refused to allow me any water or breaks for a 3-hr exam, no matter what! (I had told the proctor I need water because I pass out a lot, but they still refused! Crazy people!) So again, shop around til you find a good proctor! Of course, you may happen to get a good proctor with ProctorU, it's always a toss-up as to what you get. I wish you the best with testing!

[jsh1138]

I took a Uexcel course at a local college this week and they allowed bathroom breaks

i have never done a final on study.com that took longer than 30 min or so, so i guess it depends on where you're taking it but if you're doing it online i would just go right before you start the test and whatever happens, happens. I guess if you're the brazen sort you could take the test on the toilet with a laptop

[cookderosa]

Get a doctor's note and submit it to SL so you can have record of needing an accommodation for EVERY exam- I wouldn't try and negotiate with ProctorU because they are just following orders. If you need a break, you can take it, if you don't - no big deal.

[a2jc4life]

I got through the last batch of exams. Three exams left to go. FYI, the Acrobatiq classes at SL seem not to have any breaks at all. (At least I'm assuming that's the difference -- Acrobatiq vs. non-Acrobatiq.)