Any stories from Exam Day?

[DVINNY]

Gomer,

awesome first post. Welcome to EB.com

And no, if you pass, you don't get a score. It's just pass/fail. But if you pass, who cares about the score? LOL

 

[grover]

Some states reported passing scores from the October exam. I got my passing score (VA), at least, but not everone did.

 

[jd73]

That's about the time you wish you brough spare underwear as well as a spare calc. to the test.

Hey Ktulu. You obviously took the exam in Mobile. I took it in Birmingham and we didn't get a "Boxed Lunch" from the ASPE. I guess you have to be from the DEEEEP South to get the preferential treatment. Oh well, my ham sandwich worked pretty well for me. By the way, is the cut score lower for the Mobile examinees???? LOL

 

[ktulu]

jd,

Now that I think about it, the first time I took it in B'ham, we did not get a boxed lunch either. But in Mobile, there is about a fourth of the test takers, which is why I chose to take it there. I am actually closer to B'ham than Mobile...

Cut scores, if it helps me pass, I hope it's lower in Mobile!!

 

[BORICUAZO]

Great experience! Not too bad proctors. They try to do their best.

Someone with the standing: please post a new topic about "the other board" books effectiveness for the exam. In my case, ME PE exam w/ HVAC Deph, I found only 70% of the exam maerial on the MERM. Was this the rule for the 2006 exam sessions?

 

[Hill William]

Great experience! Not too bad proctors. They try to do their best.
Someone with the standing: please post a new topic about "the other board" books effectiveness for the exam. In my case, ME PE exam w/ HVAC Deph, I found only 70% of the exam maerial on the MERM. Was this the rule for the 2006 exam sessions?

I think you should be able to make new topics now that you have >2 posts.

 

[edd189]

I probably got docked half credit for this genius move:

In TX, the instructions for the Examinee ID said "refer to your yellow exam ticket." So being a first time taker, and being a bit nervous/anxious/excited, I just scanned the yellow sheet and entered the first number I came to -- my seat number. I realized at lunch as I was reading over some info that I had entered the wrong ID! I brought it to the proctor's attention as soon as I realized what I did. Unfortunately, the answer sheets were sealed as soon as they were collected.

Needless to say, I stressed the whole afternoon session wondering if my morning answers would be lost. As soon as I got home I emailed the TX board, and NCEES to explain the situation. Monday morning I received the following reply which set my mind at ease:

"My contact at the Texas Board forwarded me your email with your concerns about incorrectly marking your SSN on your answer sheet. I have your correct SSN that the TX Board provided to ELSES with your exam registration. I will make a note to double check your answer sheet. I can correct this for you if it is left off, or coded incorrectly. Usually we catch these types of errors after the answer sheets are scanned, an exception report prints out for any SSN's don't match the SSN used when you register. I would have then contacted you to verify which SSN is correct. I don't want to put your SSN in this email, but the one I have ends in xxxx."

 

[DVINNY]

^^ See, they are pretty good guys after all.

I'm sure they wouldn't disqualify you for something like that, not if it's a true accident.

 

[Hill William]

That's why it takes 6-8 weeks to grade em.

 

[Road Guy]

so basically its our fault it takes so long! they have to catch all of our mistakes :joke:

 

[Hill William]

Just think edd, if you didn't do that, everybody would get them in 2 weeks this year. :joke:

 

[DVINNY]

edd's fault.

I hate to pass judgement (not on edd) but I bet there are ALOT of mistakes on those things. You would think that being eligible to take the thing would put you in that upper echilon of people, but even the intellegent ones get nervous and make simple mistakes, but I bet alot of the issues come from those who are just clueless.

You know the ones I'm talking about. I've seen enough of them now, they look like they are not fit to take a Jr. High placement exam, let alone the PE, and they bring the wrong calculators (lord knows how), they bring their cell phones in and then act surprised that they are not allowed to have them. I saw a guy walk in last week with his admittance letter in his hand. No CERM, no calculator, no book. I mean What the Heck is this guy thinking?

It's those people who delay our results. Damn them. :joke:

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

I bet there are ALOT of mistakes on those things

"A lot" is two words my upper echelon friend.

I didn't have any real dummies as far as test room antics go at mine, but I remember at lunch people griping about how they didn't realize topic X or Y was going to be on it. There's a syllabus for every exam on the NCEES site for crying out loud!

 

[Hill William]

edd's fault.

You know the ones I'm talking about. I've seen enough of them now, they look like they are not fit to take a Jr. High placement exam, let alone the PE, and they bring the wrong calculators (lord knows how), they bring their cell phones in and then act surprised that they are not allowed to have them. I saw a guy walk in last week with his admittance letter in his hand. No CERM, no calculator, no book. I mean What the Heck is this guy thinking?

It's those people who delay our results. Damn them.

I tried to use the calculator on my phone and they WOULDN'T let me. Dicks.

 

[kioti1]

When our lead proctor was reading the instructions in the morning she mentioned that VA was delaying their exam by 2 weeks due to the VT incident. I haven't heard anyone say anything about it on here yet. Does anyone know if that is true? If so, think that will delay results?

 

[LXZ]

Everything worked fine in Pomona test site. Bad news is that it rained very hard on Friday and many PE candidates did not bring umbrellas. The proctors let us in about 7 min early in the morning and had an exhibition room open to all people to take lunch break. On the second day, it was very cold in the morning because of the rain a day ago.

 

[Ritchie503]

When our lead proctor was reading the instructions in the morning she mentioned that VA was delaying their exam by 2 weeks due to the VT incident. I haven't heard anyone say anything about it on here yet. Does anyone know if that is true? If so, think that will delay results?

From looking at website for Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, it appears only the FE exam scheduled at VT has been rescheduled. I suppose it could have an impact on results for the FE Exam, I don't think it would effect the PE exam results.

"The Fundamentals of Engineering examination previously scheduled for Saturday, April 21, 2007, at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg has been rescheduled.

PCS Engineering Examination Services has mailed information regarding the rescheduled date and location to all examination candidates. " from http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/dpormainwelcome.cfm

 

[grover]

Well, that might explain why NCEES is a little more sensitive this year about test questions being posted to websites!

 

[Tiger]

I took the ME/Thermal-Fluids PE in Baton Rouge, LA. I don't have any exciting stories, but I thought everything was suprisingly well organized.

Our test space was certainly large enough to accomate the ~150 test takers. We had nice big tables and cushioned seats. After lunch, the proctors made sure everyone was back in their seats by asking if everyone's seat-mate was present.

I was suprised that I was not allowed to use a small digital clock/timer combo (less than 2"x2") that I had set out in my workspace. I didn't recall seeing anything about that being a prohibited item, but I put it away with a smile anyway! That little clock had been very useful to me while taking the practice tests, but it wasn't a huge deal not to have it (I had a watch on).

Like most, I thought the afternoon was a lot rougher than the morning session. I certainly had plenty of time, but some questions I wouldn't have gotten regardless of how much time I had (code questions). And I think I have seen people mention it before, but what's up with blatent machine design questions on the thermal/fluids afternoon session?

I am pretty sure I passed, but I was hoping to feel a little better about it when it was all said and done.

 

[rasmalai]

Just a question: My coworker told me that NCEES reports the results to the State Boards first and then it takes time for the state to process your letter. Meaning that you can search on the state License Verification to find out if you passed earlier than receiving notice by mail. Does anyone know if this is true? If so, how early can you find out?