PSI Centers old, dirty and non professional

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Manuel Gutierrez de Rueda

August 07, 2022 05:00

I’m wondering if anyone had same experience as me when testing in PSI centers. I’ve taken two exams in Los Angeles in different PSI locations and both were small rat holes, old and uncomfortable, non ventilated with just one small window, outdated chairs and tables with just 1 inexperienced person there. No one checks your pockets or belongings, all is very unprofessional and dirty. When you have questions, there is no professional help on the spot. This is a very difficult and expensive exam which affects our future and we candidates take very seriously by studying for months. Then NCARB makes you take the test in an abandoned old place with old equipment, really? Prometrics was soooo much better. On top of this, I had technical difficulties and couldn’t complete exam properly…computer froze and lost 20m. When I try calling them back, they don’t care and tell me to call NCARB. Then NCARB says is up to test center….what a mess. No one cares if things go wrong all they say is “unfortunately we can’t do anything” I’m about to give up, very unprofessional for a very important, expensive and hard exam. Has anyone had this same experience? Can any NCARB member that read this help or fix the issue. Disappointed!

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  Rebekka O'Melia August 07, 2022 16:49

  I have heard a report similar to yours...  One of my clients said active construction was going on in the building during their exam, there were no lockers for their personal belongings, and they were forced to sign something agreeing to just a 5 min break during PPD.  And they weren't allowed access to food or their notes.

  I would encourage you to report your experience to NCARB right away.  It's not acceptable!  You should get a seat credit and the score should be voided.

  I'm sorry this happened to you!  Feel free to contact me directly if you're looking for more info.  

  Rebekka O'Melia, Registered Architect, NCARB, B. Arch, M. Ed, Step UP,  Step UP ARE 5.0 Courses

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  Manuel Gutierrez de Rueda August 07, 2022 20:12

  Thank you Rebekka

  That’s another issue I forgot to mentioned. There was an old locker cabinet with no keys to keep things secure. 
  
  

  NCARB doesn’t have much empathy when it comes to give you seat credit or void score. It will take me weeks of phone calls and long back and forth between them and PSI. At the end, since I finished the exam and didn’t walk away, they’ll do nothing. 
  Having a technical problem during exam is the worst it can happen to you. Right on the spot you have to make the difficult decision of continuing (loosing time and concentration) or to walk away (maybe loosing the case and don’t get seat credit)

  NCARB will no back you up in this circumstances, they will tell you “sorry you decided to continue  exam and saw more than 75% of questions, there is nothing we can do now”

  …And I you walk away you loose the exam after preparing for so long. 
  
  

  Abd above all, all this argument on the phone with NCARB takes weeks and weeks of loosing rolling rock, which of course, they will not extend. 
  
  

  I’ll keep ARE community updated with my findings on this issue. 
  thank you ALL

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  Mark Baker August 08, 2022 03:06

  Manuel,

  I believe that since you took the exam, NCARB considers that a good and valid attempt.  I would not expect them to reimburse you.

  HOWEVER,  PLEASE REPORT THESE CIRCUMSTANCE to NCARB.  They will work to get that resolved, and if they were to find that the conditions at the testing center were enough to hinder your ability to take the exam, they may work with you on some sort of re - test. 

  Wish you the best

  Mark, Archizam - ARE Practice Exams

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  Manuel Gutierrez de Rueda August 08, 2022 04:11

  Mark 

  When facing technical issues we are alone and forced to decide to stop exam or continue, all this without professional advice from Psi or NCARB…what would you do?

  On my last 20 questions and 49m left computer starts freezing while clocks keeps going. I lost 15-29m while issue is resolved and they reboot the system. I then have same 29 questions with less than 30m left….is this a valid attempt? What do you think?

  PSI customer service (candidate support) is a difficult line to get through. Tomorrow I’ll let NCARB know of this issue and sure I will keep the community informed. 
  
  

  thank you

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  Manuel Gutierrez de Rueda August 08, 2022 04:12

  Sorry 

  on my last post, the 9* should be a 0*

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  Saron Iasu August 08, 2022 19:53

  I also had a similar experience with PSI, my computer had a glitch where I couldn't read any of the text on the 'References' tab and lost 20 minutes due to no staff knowing how to fix the computer at the center. Complete downgrade from Prometric, very disappointed. How can we return to these PSI test centers with any confidence? 

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