physical space requirements for online test from home
I just scheduled my first exam with online proctoring. My condo isn't really well suited for this. It's an open layout and the rooms I can close off are all pretty cluttered. I have a PVC pipe structure that I'm planning to use. It makes a 5' x 5' x 5' cube. I can put it up around my work table and drape sheets over it to make an enclosed area with no clutter in it.
My worry is that the proctor will think that a 5' room divider is not high enough. I'm only 5'3" tall so it's not like I can see over it. And nobody else will be home during the test. I do have one of those free online sessions scheduled before the test, so I'll get feedback then. But does anyone have any experience with this?
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I'm glad someone asked about this! It went just fine. Before the exam, I had to use my webcam to show the proctor the area around my table, the walls, under my laptop, etc. There wasn't any concern from the proctor about the possibility that I could see over the walls of my cube. I think it would be hard for them to tell how tall the cube is anyway, vs. how tall I am. In addition to that, I didn't stand up at all during the exam.
The hardest part was that we have a cat. I shut him in the bathroom during the test, but he started freaking out after a few minutes. So I had him rattling the door and meowing periodically. I felt terrible for him. Plus, I was worried that the noise would disqualify me. (it didn't)
Another problem I had was that I tend to put my hand over my face when I'm concentrating. The proctor had to ask me several times to not do that. It was distracting trying to keep my hand off my face while working on the test.
Since then, I took another test at the test center, and I felt much more comfortable there. There are cameras, but no one cared where my hands were, and it was quiet.
If anyone else wants to try the cube, like I said, it worked out well for me. I got everything from Home Depot. I have 12 5' lengths of rigid PVC tubing, and 8 3-way corners that they plug into. Then I used some white sheets & curtains to make the walls. I needed some tape to keep everything in place. I suspect that patterned sheets would be less acceptable.
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Hello,
Living abroad has made it quite difficult to schedule my final two exams at my local PSI test center, particularly since they require a 5-hour timeframe on-site. The next closest test center is about a 3.5-hour train ride away, and it doesn’t feel worth the additional time, expense, and hassle of travel and a hotel stay. As a result, I’m seriously considering the online proctoring option.
My apartment and office setup should be suitable for taking the exam remotely. I did have one question: which external camera did you use? I currently have a camera that connects to my laptop in the office, but it does not pan or zoom.
Thank you in advance for your help.
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