ProctorU testing in the Summer of 16

[keepsingin]

For me, because I'm in their program, I had to verify some info, then they presented me with a few questions. I never ever told them any of that. Those questions are exactly like the ones I answer when getting my free credit score. I don't know how they get those questions, I don't recall giving them access to anything (but, I'm sure it was in the fine print somewhere), and I don't like it, but.... (shrugs)

When I pass that, then it's test time.

This ID verification part gets me hung up for literally 10-15 minutes e.v.e.r.y time! (I'm not in that program, but still have to do it every time.) It's so frustrating...it asks for my address, then says it can't be verified. The proctor asks if I've moved in the last six months, I say no, he asks if I have a different ID, which I don't presently. Then he asks me to write my name exactly like it's on my driver's license...to double check my address...then he pulls up a different authentication screen, asks me to try again there. For some reason, it never does accept it!! And round and round we go with "ok, try it again"! It's stressful because it's obviously their system that's screwed up but every time I'm run around like it's my problem lol. But I learned to not tell the proctor that "this happens every time with ProctorU" because then that will make him call his superior (lol like..."do you recognize this troublemaker?") XD ...which of course makes it take even longer! Eventually they always end up saying "we're just gonna have to go straight to the test this time."

Does anyone else have this experience??

[traveler]

Sorry, not the Whole Time, coz I went full screen for the test, so I could read it, but I knew - beyond a shadow of a doubt, and that is why I needed that Space for that time in Space.

[traveler]

Yeah, the Id Verification kinda shocked me, but if that works, and identifies me, then oh well. I need that space for that time in space, and I really need online testing.

[sheptr]

I registered tonight for the Premium Take it Now, as I have 5 TECEPS to take before the May term ends 24JULY. Trying to find 2 hour blocks of time where I can refresh my memory for 45 mins or so and then test. Simple enough. Scheduled CIS 107- Computer Apps for 9:45 PM, going to wing that exam, as I am in IT that last 15 years.
ProctorU couldn't get it together. The Premium authentication worked well and quickly, and nice enough proctors, and techs, but buggy software. Finally after an hour and a few minutes, we are good to go, I am reading the final instructions in the chat waiting for the proctor to enter password and unlock the test, so excited to ready to take what I think wil lbe an easy test, when the screen freezes and my power goes out at 10:48PM. Aaaaaagh!! We had storms come through earlier today, and PSEG must have knocked my block out, fixing the other outages. I am sure they heard me screaming at ProctorU in Alabama, with no power and no internet. It is about 85 degrees and humid so I wait till about 11:45PM, before heading to garage to fire up generator and flipping over to back up panel. Aggravated beacuse of the test being lost in the outage, having to roll motorbikes and other random junk out of the way to get to generator. Start unrolling the 100 foot 90 pound cable down the driveway and voila! the lights all pop back on. Can only shake my head, can't make this up. Will have to try and get one TECEP a day for the next 5 days to close out term.

EDIT: Much better experience tonight with ProctorU, interestingly enough, having power & internet really helped. Though that 360 degree room view sweep that is required with the camera is not meant to be performed with a wired laptop in a docking station. CIS 107 Computer Concepts and Applications has been passed.

[bjcheung77]

Great work! Happy you passed that course.
Hope you get the other ones done before the deadline.

[keepsingin]

I registered tonight for the Premium Take it Now, as I have 5 TECEPS to take before the May term ends 24JULY. Trying to find 2 hour blocks of time where I can refresh my memory for 45 mins or so and then test. Simple enough. Scheduled CIS 107- Computer Apps for 9:45 PM, going to wing that exam, as I am in IT that last 15 years.
ProctorU couldn't get it together. The Premium authentication worked well and quickly, and nice enough proctors, and techs, but buggy software. Finally after an hour and a few minutes, we are good to go, I am reading the final instructions in the chat waiting for the proctor to enter password and unlock the test, so excited to ready to take what I think wil lbe an easy test, when the screen freezes and my power goes out at 10:48PM. Aaaaaagh!! We had storms come through earlier today, and PSEG must have knocked my block out, fixing the other outages. I am sure they heard me screaming at ProctorU in Alabama, with no power and no internet. It is about 85 degrees and humid so I wait till about 11:45PM, before heading to garage to fire up generator and flipping over to back up panel. Aggravated beacuse of the test being lost in the outage, having to roll motorbikes and other random junk out of the way to get to generator. Start unrolling the 100 foot 90 pound cable down the driveway and voila! the lights all pop back on. Can only shake my head, can't make this up. Will have to try and get one TECEP a day for the next 5 days to close out term.

EDIT: Much better experience tonight with ProctorU, interestingly enough, having power & internet really helped. Though that 360 degree room view sweep that is required with the camera is not meant to be performed with a wired laptop in a docking station. CIS 107 Computer Concepts and Applications has been passed.

Lol, forgive me for laughing...that sounds terribly frustrating! But now at least you have a great story lol ;D I suppose you had to pay the proctor fee again, even though you didn't finish the test?

I just took another Saylor exam through ProctorU tonight and had the same old issue with the Authentication hang-up. Only this time, the proctor said I wasn't allowed to take the test unless I showed TWO forms of ID...what even?! I asked if they had recently changed the rules, because that was never required before, and after some hemming and hawing, he said he would just override it this time, but he would let my instructor know that my authentication won't work (something they tell me every time).

[sheptr]

Lol, forgive me for laughing...that sounds terribly frustrating! But now at least you have a great story lol ;D I suppose you had to pay the proctor fee again, even though you didn't finish the test?

I just took another Saylor exam through ProctorU tonight and had the same old issue with the Authentication hang-up. Only this time, the proctor said I wasn't allowed to take the test unless I showed TWO forms of ID...what even?! I asked if they had recently changed the rules, because that was never required before, and after some hemming and hawing, he said he would just override it this time, but he would let my instructor know that my authentication won't work (something they tell me every time).

Thanks keepsingin!
Set up the Tech Writing for tonight at 11:20 PM EST. Was falling asleep, while authenticating. Took about 20 mins. Then the proctor changed some setting and we had no sound. Apparently that is a no go for testing. 40 minutes later after a reboot (of a brand new laptop) I was able to start at 12:15 AM. It took me almost the full three hours to cobble together this exam, which most others seem to have breezed thru. Blaming sleep depravation. I was pretty punchy at the start and am downright delirious now. Hoping the grader has a sense of humor and my boss too, when I show up on 3 hours of sleep.

[sheptr]

Just an update on the ProtorU, after doing the 5 exams over over the 5 days, I really appreciated being able to choose at will when to test. Due to circumstances that couldn't be avoided or changed, coupled with my incredible powers of procrastination, had me with my back to the wall to at least complete the TECEPS by term end, July 24.
I received a CR in myEdison, for the CIS-107 Computer Concepts and Apps, and MAT-105 Applied LibArt Math, with an IP for the remaing three exams. Not holding my breath on those and will probably be using ProctorU again for at least one of them.
After the 2nd time slogging through the personalidentification/athentication, and verification of my testing space, the last 3 session went without a hitch. I knew if I had 2-3 hours, I could schedule the Take it Now test, spend 10-12 minutes authenticating & verifying, and then still have the majority of the time to complete the exam. Never did find time to get a detachable camera, so I would just spin the laptop in the docking station, and had a hand help mirro and ID ready. Once in a while, when slouching or staring at the ceiling I would be prompted to re-adjust camera so my face could be seen. The prompts were either via chat window or voice.
On more than one occasion my wife could be heard yelling at kids, or the dog would howl up a storm. I asked once to be able to get up and let the dog in, as she was let out by the kids and trying to batter her way through the back door where I was testing. Proctor aproved, it took me 15 seconds and the Proctor had me do the 360 sweeep again, and the mirror check. I appreciated that she was concerned about keeping the integrity of the testing session. I liked my ProctorU experience.

[keepsingin]

I had a much better testing experience with ProctorU last week, the best I've had yet! I think they may be listening to us and trying to fix things!

For authentication (which only took 2-3 minutes!), the proctor told me to put in an old address, even if it's not on my I.D. I've tried this before and it never accepted it, but this time it worked and actually recognized me as a human being that exists!! So I'm official, folks. I've always wanted to be authentic and, boy, does it feel good! milelol:

Scoring 90 on Saylor's Comparative Politics also helped a lot lol! :coolgleam:

[High_Order1]

So,

Just finished my E4C Literature 150 Final. (passed, thanks to God).

What a Gordian Knot that was.

New computer, thought, hell, new tech, no need for the testing laptop. That was wrong.
They could not grasp the concept I had been with SL, and now wanted to take an E4C test.
Almost had to pay for another Ucard, did have to pay for the Test Now option (which made me look for this thread, I couldn't remember if you paid per test even after buying the feature).
Then, there was a ton of driver and where-is-my-mic issues.

Here's the point I want to make:

They were able to remotely restart my computer, and without my intervention, reconnect to the mother ship and begin anew. Only after they re-popped up the chat window could I see what they were doing again. And they did a ton of stuff, whizzed by.

I'm still, really, really not comfortable with this. Because there's nothing on here I am concerned with losing or being poked through, that minimizes my worry, but no way would I do this again using a work or trusted computer.

Just thought I'd share