Maryland Exam Information

[Andrew2288]

what I can't believe is how well Andrew is taking this.  Good luck in October!

Thanks! Gotta be positive. Like someone had said, look at it as the best practice one can get. 

@Structures lucky!! haha.

 

[Cinnamon]

Thanks! Gotta be positive. Like someone had said, look at it as the best practice one can get. 

@Structures lucky!! haha.

Props to you, I'd probably wet myself and then drink heavily for a week. 

I took the exam in California (Visalia ).  The proctor in our room mentioned if you have a fit bit on take it off and surrender it. I had removed mine prior to the exam as two weeks prior to the exam I missed a flight because of my fit bit. I wore it through security and I had to have the extra pat down and they stopped the conveyer belt, put my itty bitty zip fitbit on the conveyer belt all alone an ran it through. The extra time  and a cross terminal run caused me to miss my flight, so I was taking no chances with the exam from hell.   

and yes the proctors are from the retirement home.  Our head proctor had a walker and one of those life alert buttons.  :wacko:

 

[Mac87]

I'm in the same boat, but with the CA exam. Does anyone know if there's an archive of examinee guides? I see there's speculation the rule changed in October.  It's entirely possible I forgot the one mention of fitness trackers (on page 27 of 38, appendix content) since I read the document 5 months ago but I can only find a pdf of the June 2015 guide, which doesn't have them, and the January 2016 document, which does mention them. As I registered in December, I'd be curious to know if this information was actually provided to us. 

 

[Andrew2288]

I'm in the same boat, but with the CA exam. Does anyone know if there's an archive of examinee guides? I see there's speculation the rule changed in October.  It's entirely possible I forgot the one mention of fitness trackers (on page 27 of 38, appendix content) since I read the document 5 months ago but I can only find a pdf of the June 2015 guide, which doesn't have them, and the January 2016 document, which does mention them. As I registered in December, I'd be curious to know if this information was actually provided to us. 

You were dismissed as well? Hang in there. I feel for you. 

 

[southernbelle]

I took the exam in Louisiana and the proctors were these mean little blue-haired old ladies that made about 1000 announcements about cell phones and anything electronic about an hour before the exam started.  They even mentioned fitbits at one point so I think they had some issues in October and were trying to make sure we all knew the deal.  They made it clear to leave anything in our cars except a plain old wrist watch.  I was sure at one point they were going to start strip searching people.

what I can't believe is how well Andrew is taking this.  Good luck in October!

I agree with this ^^^.  I probably would have cried those big fat girl tears and would have had to be forcibly removed from the exam.  

Good luck in October guys and I'm sorry that happened to you.

 

[RBHeadge PE]

I'm in the same boat, but with the CA exam. Does anyone know if there's an archive of examinee guides? I see there's speculation the rule changed in October.  It's entirely possible I forgot the one mention of fitness trackers (on page 27 of 38, appendix content) since I read the document 5 months ago but I can only find a pdf of the June 2015 guide, which doesn't have them, and the January 2016 document, which does mention them. As I registered in December, I'd be curious to know if this information was actually provided to us. 

I don't have a copy of the examinee guides. But Maryland's instructions for October 2013 and 2014 only make reference to : " Do not bring cell phones or other prohibited electronic devices." Smart watches weren't really a thing in 2013. But I distinctly remember them examining all of the watches in October 2014. The proctors (most of whom were young or middle aged) were walking before the exam around checking everyones' wrist adornments and calculators for compliance. They had graphic printouts of forbidden smart watches. They offered people a chance to check their smart watches and phones at the front desk prior to the exam. I vaguely recall that fitbits had to be checked too but I don't recall exactly.

they also made a big deal about watches which made noises. The instructions stated "Wear a watch and turn off the beeping function. Clocks are not always visible.". To be safe, I wore a mechanical watch to the exam. I kept anything remotely electronic (except for my approved calculator) in the car before I ever entered the building. I wasn't going to risk a lost year of studying and stress over something stupid. The proctors aren't exactly technical types, and are just enforcing the rules as written.

One guy behind me had a cheap drug-store brand watch that beeped every 30 min. He couldn't figure out how to stop it. The proctors let it go during the AM session. In between sessions they asked him to shut it off. He quickly (and sounding quite stressed) said that he couldn't figure out how, and said that it was a $10 watch and offered to throw it out. They made him check it in at the front desk. He complied but it was obvious how stressed it made him.

 

[Mac87]

You were dismissed as well? Hang in there. I feel for you. 

Yeah, and I'm definitely not taking it as well as you   but it helps knowing others are dealing with it too and I wasnt the only person totally unaware of the rule. 

I find it frustrating that some sites made verbal mention of it and others didn't, even differing within the state of California (I was Pomona.) Also, my fitbit was in plain view as they came around and checked my ID and calculator and no one said anything. (Not to mention that I read the paper test day content several times, which includes slide rules as a prohibited item but dumps fitbits into the appendix.)

I'm probably a bit more sour because I actually traveled from WA to CA to take the exam so I've lost out on all the test fees plus airfare, hotel, and extra time off work. If I'm not able to retake in October, or if I fail either the seismic or surveying portions, it makes no sense financially to go back down so I'll probably end up taking it in WA when I'm eligible in Oct 2017. Which seems like forever from now

 

[Andrew2288]

Yeah, and I'm definitely not taking it as well as you   but it helps knowing others are dealing with it too and I wasnt the only person totally unaware of the rule. 

I find it frustrating that some sites made verbal mention of it and others didn't, even differing within the state of California (I was Pomona.) Also, my fitbit was in plain view as they came around and checked my ID and calculator and no one said anything. (Not to mention that I read the paper test day content several times, which includes slide rules as a prohibited item but dumps fitbits into the appendix.)

I'm probably a bit more sour because I actually traveled from WA to CA to take the exam so I've lost out on all the test fees plus airfare, hotel, and extra time off work. If I'm not able to retake in October, or if I fail either the seismic or surveying portions, it makes no sense financially to go back down so I'll probably end up taking it in WA when I'm eligible in Oct 2017. Which seems like forever from now

I gave myself the weekend to vent, to relive the moment when the chief proctor asked me if I was wearing a Fitbit and to follow him. Once Monday rolled around, bought myself a couple of lottery tickets, and hope that my luck's turned. While we are to blame, there's definitely some element of luck depending on where we took the exam... sucks, but we were unlucky. 

I'm curious as to why you think you wouldn't be able to retake in October? I know that NCEES will report to your state board of your infraction, but if it's an honest mistake, they'll definitely let you retake the exam. I spoke with a few folks - and they informed me that they knew a couple of people who were dismissed a while back for having pencil notes in their references - but were subsequently allowed to take the exam the next cycle. It was an honest mistake. 

Keep your head up..

 

[Mac87]

I gave myself the weekend to vent, to relive the moment when the chief proctor asked me if I was wearing a Fitbit and to follow him. Once Monday rolled around, bought myself a couple of lottery tickets, and hope that my luck's turned. While we are to blame, there's definitely some element of luck depending on where we took the exam... sucks, but we were unlucky. 

I'm curious as to why you think you wouldn't be able to retake in October? I know that NCEES will report to your state board of your infraction, but if it's an honest mistake, they'll definitely let you retake the exam. I spoke with a few folks - and they informed me that they knew a couple of people who were dismissed a while back for having pencil notes in their references - but were subsequently allowed to take the exam the next cycle. It was an honest mistake. 

Keep your head up..

I just have no idea how long it's going to take NCEES to clear all this up. I've contacted the state board and they said NCEES has to complete their investigation and then they will notify California that I am able to re-test. The refile date is in July, so I'm hopeful that it will be resolved by then. But I have no concept of what their process it or how long it takes and NCEES isn't able to give me any kind of time frame.

I'm feeling a bit better everyday and realizing this isn't the end of the world. Filled out the NCEES test survey, which helped   Spent the weekend at theme parks in Southern CA and was actually more annoyed I wasn't getting credit for the thousands of steps I was taking those days. I want those badges!!!

 

[snickerd3]

Mac- how far along into to the test did they see your fitbit thing?  

 

[michelle123456789]

I was also dismissed with about an hour left in the afternoon section. The NCEES guidelines state that the “exam proctors will assist you in locating your assigned seat and ensure that you have in your possession only the NCEES-designated items allowed into the exam room." My Fitbit was clearly visible to multiple proctors. The proctor at the front who verified my ID, asked about cell phones, calculators, etc. was from NCEES and still didn't say anything about it. My proctor at my seat saw it and did not say anything either. Then before beginning the afternoon, two proctors saw it again and still didn't say anything. I think the worst thing of it all is that they waited until an hour before we were all to be finished to say anything, and then while I was in the vestibule being escorted out, another examinee was brought in and she said that she specifically asked the proctor before beginning the exam if she could wear it and that the proctor told her YES. She then walked back into the exam room with her Fitbit Charge HR still on her wrist to finish her exam.

 

[snickerd3]

@michelle123456789 where did you take the test?

 

[Andrew2288]

I was also dismissed with about an hour left in the afternoon section. The NCEES guidelines state that the “exam proctors will assist you in locating your assigned seat and ensure that you have in your possession only the NCEES-designated items allowed into the exam room." My Fitbit was clearly visible to multiple proctors. The proctor at the front who verified my ID, asked about cell phones, calculators, etc. was from NCEES and still didn't say anything about it. My proctor at my seat saw it and did not say anything either. Then before beginning the afternoon, two proctors saw it again and still didn't say anything. I think the worst thing of it all is that they waited until an hour before we were all to be finished to say anything, and then while I was in the vestibule being escorted out, another examinee was brought in and she said that she specifically asked the proctor before beginning the exam if she could wear it and that the proctor told her YES. She then walked back into the exam room with her Fitbit Charge HR still on her wrist to finish her exam.

What!??? Were you in Maryland? Someone actually said one of the proctor told her yes and was allowed to return? I mean, good for her!... but talk about just a complete clusterf*** in terms of administering an exam!

 

[snickerd3]

http://ncees.org/exams/security-tip-line/  may not be the correct form, but I'd fill it out if the person was really allowed back in.  

and don't forget to fill out any surveys 

 

[TWJ PE]

This could get interesting...

If there was an examinee allowed back in is it possible that whole test site could be invalidated?

 

[snickerd3]

not likely...just a lot of bad PR

 

[Ken PE 3.1]

not likely...just a lot of bad PR

And butthurt.

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[TWJ PE]

And butthurt.

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Indeed, massive butthurt.

 

[snickerd3]

The worst as far as the test itself would probably be the questions on some of the suspect disciplines might get tossed from future administrations of the test.  

 

[Mac87]

Mac- how far along into to the test did they see your fitbit thing?  

Only an hour.