RPNow and Messy Room

[Ideas]

Is ProctorU much more picky than RPNow? In what ways? I don't have a problem with RPNow.

[Gymfan15]

Well I think there's always the possibility of someone being picker when it's a live person on the other end of the feed instead of just a recording. Usually I have not had any issue with ProctorU (and I always use a desk that has some stuff on it but mostly clean), but once I got a person who must have been pretty new and he made me take the test sitting on my bed because my desk wasn't "completely clean". *rolls eyes* I have to think that that is the exception and not the rule, though, since I've take 6 or 7 tests with ProctorU and he was the only one who had any kind of problem.

[originalamyj]

Stupid newby question... do you have to have a separate webcam for taking at home proctored exams? I assumed the webcam installed in the laptop was sufficient.

[aviator guy]

Stupid newby question... do you have to have a separate webcam for taking at home proctored exams? I assumed the webcam installed in the laptop was sufficient.

A separate camera is not required for either RPNow or Proctor U.

I've done 100% of my testing sessions with a built in webcam.

[aviator guy]

Is ProctorU much more picky than RPNow? In what ways? I don't have a problem with RPNow.

Yes, they are more of a pain. I had to argue with one of their people because they wouldn't let me use a CD to show the front of my monitor... even though their instructions say to "use a reflective surface such as a CD..."

On another occasion I argued with one of them because she said she had to see me put my phone away... I would have gladly done that, if I did in fact have a phone (it was downstairs). It took a while for her to grasp the fact that I wasn't in possession of a phone.

[eriehiker]

I have done 80% of my Davar exams with a My Little Pony piggy bank over my left shoulder in the toy room. I'm not sure if this makes the proctors more or less picky.

[Synicaal]

Is ProctorU much more picky than RPNow? In what ways? I don't have a problem with RPNow.

YES! Not sure if you have saw my other posts but here are my couple of issues with ProctorU.

Quick Disclaimer thingy: I have used proctoru about 9 or 10 times now and most of these times I had no complaints. However,

1. Was made to clean everything around my desk. All the loose papers, clutter around the desk area. The last proctors had zero issues with any of the stuff that was there. (I was preparing to move from an upstairs apartment to a downstairs apartment). Now I wouldn't really have cared if the test I was taking was going to actually count. I think it was one of the western Civ tests and I literally took the test in about 5 minutes. The entire time to login to the proctor move everything they wanted me to move and finally start the test took 35 minutes!
2. The most recent test I took Federal Income Taxation TECEP (Original Proctor was awesome, actually talked with the video on to make everything go quicker). Had a proctor switch with about an hour or so left to go in the test. About 10-15minutes or so into the test the new proctor asked me to keep my eyes only on the test. I told her I can't do that as there is many calculations involved and I can't do the math without a calculator and scratch paper. She then started making me do new room scans. I had to do 2 new room scans in a row. Show my floor and desktop. She then said the video froze and we had to do it all over again. So now 15minutes of MY test time is wasted. So I got angry and told the proctor what is this all about this is taking away from MY time to take this test and you are preventing me from completing my task. Finally she had me do one more scan and then asked me to remove my book from my desk. I said NO. She said that material isn't allowed for this test. I told her yes it is it clearly states it on the test description. Another 8 or so minutes back and forth with that (using the stupid chat box) finally I told her well the previous proctor already cleared the use of all material I am using so we can most certainly refer back to the video and see. At that point she finally gave up her issue or whatever and let me continue. I still have 2 10point questions left at this point and about 20minutes to do them.

I will be doing my research when picking a Masters Program, I might take one that doesn't require ProctorU and it uses RPNow or I can goto campus for the test. Soon as my audit is completed I may start looking into studying up for the GMAT.

[Ideas]

I will be doing my research when picking a Masters Program, I might take one that doesn't require ProctorU and it uses RPNow or I can goto campus for the test.

Well, I was trying to avoid ProctorU because of these bad stories, but now RPNow is giving me problems, and I know some people hate RPNow. I wish there were some other option. I wish we could get a different proctor through ProctorU if we feel they are being overly picky.

[Synicaal]

Well, I was trying to avoid ProctorU because of these bad stories, but now RPNow is giving me problems, and I know some people hate RPNow. I wish there were some other option. I wish we could get a different proctor through ProctorU if we feel they are being overly picky.

I almost requested a new proctor but finally she gave up her issues.

[Gymfan15]

YES! Not sure if you have saw my other posts but here are my couple of issues with ProctorU.

Quick Disclaimer thingy: I have used proctoru about 9 or 10 times now and most of these times I had no complaints. However,

1. Was made to clean everything around my desk. All the loose papers, clutter around the desk area. The last proctors had zero issues with any of the stuff that was there. (I was preparing to move from an upstairs apartment to a downstairs apartment). Now I wouldn't really have cared if the test I was taking was going to actually count. I think it was one of the western Civ tests and I literally took the test in about 5 minutes. The entire time to login to the proctor move everything they wanted me to move and finally start the test took 35 minutes!
2. The most recent test I took Federal Income Taxation TECEP (Original Proctor was awesome, actually talked with the video on to make everything go quicker). Had a proctor switch with about an hour or so left to go in the test. About 10-15minutes or so into the test the new proctor asked me to keep my eyes only on the test. I told her I can't do that as there is many calculations involved and I can't do the math without a calculator and scratch paper. She then started making me do new room scans. I had to do 2 new room scans in a row. Show my floor and desktop. She then said the video froze and we had to do it all over again. So now 15minutes of MY test time is wasted. So I got angry and told the proctor what is this all about this is taking away from MY time to take this test and you are preventing me from completing my task. Finally she had me do one more scan and then asked me to remove my book from my desk. I said NO. She said that material isn't allowed for this test. I told her yes it is it clearly states it on the test description. Another 8 or so minutes back and forth with that (using the stupid chat box) finally I told her well the previous proctor already cleared the use of all material I am using so we can most certainly refer back to the video and see. At that point she finally gave up her issue or whatever and let me continue. I still have 2 10point questions left at this point and about 20minutes to do them.

I will be doing my research when picking a Masters Program, I might take one that doesn't require ProctorU and it uses RPNow or I can goto campus for the test. Soon as my audit is completed I may start looking into studying up for the GMAT.

Gosh that's annoying. I think with a lot of ProctorU proctors, they are given basic training that is supposed to cover a wide range of test types but often the proctor themselves will not notice if there are exceptions. Like, it's a tax TECEP; of COURSE you're going to be using your book and calculator. That proctor was just not educated on what your test allowed and if it had been me having my time wasted, I woulda gotten pretty angry. But what can you do; sometimes having to possibly retake the test is not worth 10-20 minutes of nonsense but it really shouldn't happen.