Remote Proctoring and why you shouldn't do it.

I had scheduled to take PPD on 12th July online and I started the exam at 7:10 after the check-in process with the Proctor.

At 8:30 I took my break which is for 45 minutes. I came back at 8:45 am to find that the exam has been disconnected. I rebooted my system and the modem. There were no issues with connectivity as I was on an ethernet cable with speeds up to 60 Mbps.

I tried to find support which was so difficult because the BOT Assist kept giving me a link to FAQs and not technical support. After trying multiple times I called up their toll-free number and the rep said I need to answer the questions in a specific way to get to an Agent. I find this RIDICULOUS. When I am stressed about getting back into the exam I shouldn't have to navigate a stupid BOT with the right answers like it's some Indiana Jones quest.

All this took another 30 mins and queueing for an agent another 10. He asked me to restart the computer. That is all! and gave me ticket number #02529649.

I restarted my computer but I was getting the same error again BB02020.

I again made my way through your BOT to be placed 6th in line. Another 40 mins later another agent began chatting and he made system changes on his end. Why wasn't this done before by the first agent? IDK!

I finally was able to launch my exam at 10:20 am. Then I had to wait another 30 mins for the Readiness agent to show up. Another 15 mins for the whole check-in process and then SHE GOT DISCONNECTED!!!!! I was there in the portal waiting for 10 mins for her to come back or someone else to join. By 11:30 I am exhausted but I try to relaunch the exam and I am again getting BB02020.

After multiple restarts and modem checks, I relaunch the exam at 12:30. I really should have given up. But I really wanted to finish off this massive exam. I go through the check-in process again. I finally get into the exam to get disconnected again at 2 pm.

I went through the whole BOT assist and technical assistant again and they told me I can't write the exam anymore.

I called up NCARB and they were happy to give a seat credit BUT ONLY AFTER TWO MONTHS. "Unfortunately, since you have been exposed to majority of the exam content you will have to wait 60 days however, this will not count as an attempt."

So all my efforts from the past two months preparing for this exam are wasted because Prometric couldn't handle remote proctoring? How is that fair to me? Is there no value for the time and energy that I have put into this? This was one of the longest and hardest NCARB exams that I've been preparing for and put aside time from professional work and my personal life to prepare for it. And now I have to wait to lose my momentum and restart in two months? Because I have nothing else to do in life?

I spent 7 hours trying to give this exam because Prometric was a failure and later NCARB's policy failed me. Why would anyone in their right mind ever try remote proctoring if this is the result? If I was at the Prometric center giving an in-person exam I would have readily gotten help from the staff there. At home, while being stressed about the exam I had to find help through their ridiculous website.

I am frustrated and feeling absolutely worthless thanks all of this....policy, technology..whatever it is that NCARB and Prometric want to call it.

Gabrielle Serriere July 22, 2021 22:22 (Edited July 22, 2021 22:23)

Nikita - thanks for sharing. Hmm. I'm signed up for PDD remote proctor next week July 29. I really hope I don't run into this. If it's due to the PDFs, is everyone running into it? Waiting 2 months to retake in this case, is ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE in my opinion... I would escalate that higher if at all possible - you probably have tried. I had major technical difficulties during an exam in the test center a few years back, with ZERO understanding and help by prometric or ncarb afterwards on my many phone calls. Why should we be paying money and dedicating our lives to studying for these kinds of situations?

Nikita Kumar July 23, 2021 20:43

Hi Gabrielle,

I also gave my PDD exam on July 7th at home via remote proctor and it went well except when you have to wait 30 mins for them to match a proctor.

Since your exam is on July 29th I would call NCARB and ask them to change it to in-person because the disadvantage of home proctor is far greater than the benefits of giving it at home.

I literally had a standstill in my life to be able to give these two exams together and to wait another 2 months is UNACCEPTABLE and I know I should escalate this matter. But I don't have the time to call NCARB and stay on the line for hours with them and NCARB knows this very well. I have quite literally scheduled hours next week that I will dedicate to calling them and writing to them next week.

Remote Proctoring and why you shouldn't do it.

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