PSI test Center Experience
Today, I sat for my first exam at PSI. The whole experience was not at all pleasant as when I reached the exam center 30 mins prior, the center was locked. I immediately called the number given on my test center details, and no one answered. I left a voice mail. It was stressful. Making the travel so far to reach the center and then following the guidelines appropriately is not rewarded but is met with even more constraints and difficulties. 15 mins later, I got a call from the staff member of the center saying that the test centers do not open until 15 mins before the exam. Not sure who decided that as the ARE /PSI guideline itself, suggest to be present at the center 30 mins prior.
The staff member was late in opening up the exam center. The Staff member did not arrive till about 3-4 minutes before my test was to start at 11 am. I felt he only left his place to reach the center, because of the call I made earlier that I am waiting outside. Else I felt no one would have been at the center. The member entered, did not even apologize, started the whole office (all computers) which was shut down and needed to be booted up. I was given a wobbly desk, and told to keep my belonging on a table afar- no lockers, nothing. The center was outdated and the proctor could not be bothered if I needed any assistance (especially with the computer systems). Luckily I had no major issues, with the software. But once I was done with the exam- I kept calling for assistance as I was unsure if I can leave my desk and no one would come to my assistance. It was a very distracting, unpleasant and unprofessional place to take a test in.
I am going to try a different center for the next exam, but wanted to bring to attention the conditions of the center I took the exam were not appropriate. This was an unpleasant experience that no test taker should go through. Finding out your center is closed after studying for months & traveling so far with anxiety, is a way no candidate should be greeted or treated.
After my exam I was waiting in the waiting area for my cab- and was told to leave, as the staff member needed to go for his prayers. I left and waited outside in the heat while the member closed the center and left.
I miss prometric!
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Hi Palak Shah,
I'm sorry to hear that you had a negative experience at your test center. I can imagine it would only add to the stress you already have of taking a very difficult exam. I hope that your exam results turn out well in return!
Have you considered Online Proctoring? I did not go to any test centers and instead took all of my exams at home through Online Proctoring; I highly recommend it. I was worried about encountering these same issues you did, as I felt it would affect my actual exam performance and I did not want to take that risk. I liked that I did not have to get ready to leave the house, commute to a test center, be thrown into an unfamiliar environment, and generally be extra stressed/uncomfortable - all while having to remember/apply the tremendous amount of information I had been studying months for. I did encounter several technical issues for all of my exams (which likely could also happen in a test center), but all were able to be resolved quickly by the proctor and I was able to successfully complete my exam each time.
If you are interested and have the ability to test at home (or work, or other suitable environment), check out pages 26 - 35 of the ARE 5.0 Guidelines for more information about Online Proctoring. Keep in mind that certain testing accommodations are not supported for online-proctored exams; see page 18.
I hope this helps, and that you have a better testing experience next time.
Best wishes to you!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community
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