Certification Testing Center Experience and Information

Are you nervous about taking your first online testing experience at a dedicated testing center? Here's my thoughts and experiences.

• Before the test!

1. Pre-Scheduling Stuff: If your certification requires you to join a community, sign an NDA, or other things before you take the test, do it! Go visit the vendor's site, (Cisco, CompTIA, LPI, ITIL, whoever) and see if you need to complete any forms. Remember your login. Also, consider, do you use you work email or personal email? Plus, if you register, you typically get your scores posted quickly and certifications faster
2. Scheduling: Find a testing center! (Duh, right?) Most tests are offered by certain testing providers, PearsonVue, prometric, certiport, etc. Visit your certification vendor to find out whoever offers your test. The certification vendor will link to the correct testing provider. Most of the testing providers have search engines to help you find a location near you. If you are lucky and live in a metro area, you may have many to choose from. Just be aware to consider drive-time during the time of day you are scheduled to test. A 9AM test to a center 10 miles from you might take you 30 minutes in traffic. So, if traffic stresses you, try to work with your employer to get an off rush-hour time to the center.
1. If you are with WGU or other online technical/similar university, you may want to call and find out if your center partners with WGU, etc. You will be able to schedule a majority of your tests at this one location. Familiarity relaxes you and its one less thing to stress over.
2. Write down the test you are taking
3. Travel: All centers recommend to arrive around 15 minutes early. If it is your first time, pad that amount of time. You can sit in your vehicle and study if you are there too early. Bring that piece of paper with the test info with you.

• At the Testing Center

You've arrived! Are you nervous, anxious, scared?! Yes, most test takers are. I've had an alphabet soup behind my name in certifications before, and I STILL get nervous (I hate to fail). Here's what going to happen.

1. Pre-Test Paperwork: Greet the person at the front desk. The testing center will want to know your name and what test you are scheduled to take. The piece of paper comes in handy here if you get nervous and your brain can't recall anything but what you have crammed into it.Yes, if you put your life on your phone, just use your phone. Your photo ID will have your name if you forget that. Give the test info to the nice person getting you registered. You likely will be asked to sign a sign-in register. You will also be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. They will also ask for your two forms of ID (DL and CC, or Passport and credit card, etc). They will make copies of the photo ID and return your IDs.
2. Pre-Test Frisking: Be prepared to go through airport security. Well, not exactly, but close. Only bring what is required, typically two forms of ID. I bring my cell, wallet and keys. The center should give you a locker with a lock and key to secure your items. You get to hang on to the key to the locker where you stored your stuff while you test. You cannot have anything with you when you take your test...Speaking this, you will be asked to 
1. Empty your pockets & show your emptied pockets -- front and back --
2. Remove your coat, scarf (sorry atticus), or any other "extra" clothing
3. You will be required to show your legs (lift your pants to your calves)
4. Show your arms in long sleeved shirts
3. Pre-Test Mug Shot: Many tests will require you have your picture made, even if it is with the same certifying authority for each and every test you take. You will get to sit and have your picture made. It may even be printed on your results! Don't worry, all my friends say i look like a crazy person in my photos. You try looking relaxed when you are stressed and didn't sleep for squat.
4. Pre-Test Launch: Often you will be asked
1. Do you need to use the bathroom. Hey, if it is 30 minutes, might not be a big deal. If it is 2 hours, you probably should. Plus, sometimes a little splash of cold water from the faucet feels good.
2. Do you need earplugs. I get them the first time. Put 'em my pockets. Since the facility I have been using is quiet, I don't any more. 
3. Last, you'll be asked to "follow me" into the testing area proper!
5. Testing Area: It is typically a room with testing stations separated by partitions. The stations at my location are about 4 foot each. The testing station will have a keyboard, mouse and monitor. The monitors at mine are at least 19", and i think 21". I don't measure them as my mind is elsewhere. You'll also probably notice several security cameras. Yep, you are being recorded.
6. The Test:  You will sit down at a station specified by your exam proctor. Your proctor will get you logged into your specific test on the computer. S/he may give you a blank laminated paper with a pen. Again, you may be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement and NDA on your testing workstation before starting. The testing software will ask if you are ready to start. It will often give you the requirements of "passing" before you start. And you start. Each test will be different. Make sure you have read everything regarding the test. Some are only multiple choice, some are scenarios, some are type in the commands to configure this magic box to do "x", etc. Most tests of have time limits. 
1. Test speed: Some tests will be soooo slow between questions. Most of the time the engine is drawing the scenario questions with diagrams. Patience.
2. Marking Questions: Some tests let you mark questions for review. I use this, but i seldom if ever change my answer. However, sometimes a question later may trigger your brain and you come up with the right answer to an earlier question. 
3. Question Review: Some tests give you the option of reviewing your answers. Up to you. I only review my marked ones.
4. The finish: When you are done with the review (or test), typically there is an end test/submit test/finish button to select. Do it when you are as done as you'll ever be.  the testing engine will give you a warning saying something along the lines of, are you really really ready to submit this for grading?! Yes.
7. SERIOUSLY?!?!: some testing engines will ask you demographic questions before giving results. WT...And these can be about 10-20 questions. What did you use to study? Who is your employer? Hell, I don't know if i'm employed any more if I don't pass! geez, give me the results. Finish it anyway. I try to be honest on them now. WWJD?
8. The Results: The testing engine will give you the results. I hope they are good for you! Remember, passing is passing unless you plan on teaching. No one cares if you got the exact minimum requirement to pass, except for the people who want to brag about themselves. Whatever, if you pass, you passed! You'll probably start to ask yourself, now how do I make sure I don't loose these results so where is the print or emailto: button? Your proctor or exam admin will have them. Close out of the testing engine and get ready to leave.
9. Leaving: Pick up your laminated paper and pen from your station. Get up and leave quietly. Remember, there are other souls being tortured next to you. Open the door quietly; shut it back quietly from the testing area. Go to the sign-in or designated area. They will typically do the following:
1. Let you retrieve your stuff from your locker.
2. Print out your results. Some will be marked with a specialized stamp.
10. Paranoia: It will take a few days for your results to post with your certification provider. No matter how many times you click refresh on email, it will still take a period of time. Relax. you passed. You will get email regarding your next steps (confirm your physical address, your name, etc). Just hang on to the original print out of your results just in case

ITIL Foundation Exam Passed

As stated, I am between semesters and still wanting to be productive with my time away from work. I took the ITIL Foundation 2014 exam at a Pearson VUE center. It is a 40 question test. Made and 85%. If I do my math right, I missed six questions. I probably knew 30 outright were correct. Most of the remaining questions were 50-50 choices in the end as half the answers were wrong.

Studying :I used the Sybex study guide along with the ITIL Foundation Essentials book. I read the Sybex front to back without notes. There were soooo many new terms to me. After that, I focused with the Eseentials book. Last, I re-read the chapter summaries in the Sybex and took the end of chapter tests. Anywhere I did poorly, I read (and re-read and re-read...). To get used to answering questions, I took a practice exam and the Sybex practice exam. As I've stated elsewhere, study what you get wrong. Understand what the wrong answers could be rights answers for (if they aren't just made up words). I probably put in 3-4 full days of studying (40ish hours).

Between Semesters

Since i've resigned from work, i'm a full time student. its 20 days until class restarts. I know i can prep for a course in a week so I have downtime. its going to be over 100 for the high temps here for a bit so outside work is limited. (I love August in TX). My wonderful spouse works in IT, so I am starting my ITIL Foundation course. I am going to see if i can schedule the test this friday or monday.

I chose this course since a lot of employers seem to want this level cert. I get to the be the guinea pig and find the material and study and take the test and relay what i learn to my spouse (and in case someone is reading along, i don't reveal the questions. Its amazing how often I just confirm, yes, the syllabus does cover all the material). Anyhow, getting the formal learning

Yes, we have some geeky conversations. She's Service Desk (plus with some network exp). I was Technical (network) plus managerial. Tonight, why would you update the firmware on a printer...Wow.

WGU Semester 1 Complete Recap

I transferred in about 30-40 hours. I'm in the last 3 weeks of the semester and cannot be issued additional classes. I thought I'd recap semester 1 courses. I completed 27 hours while working. Please understand I have over 15 years experience in a wide breadth of technology so some of this was a refresher.

A+ test courses: the material was good. Plenty sufficient. I'm glad I have nearly 2 decades of experience to answer a few of the questions. I'd recommend actually setting up some wifi routers....All the other sims were good.

The CIW intro course and the web programming: Again, the study material is more than sufficient. At least the material you learn here can be reused the in the MS MTA course regarding style sheets, html, and scripting.

MS-intro program course. As always, the material was sufficient. I didn't get section 2. i used the lynda videos. Re-read the chapters again.

Critical thinking course. I see why my mentor said some people hate this course. You actually have to use logic and thinking skills. There is some memorization. Not a bad course really. I kind of enjoyed it.

Biology. imagine cramming for a standard bio course for a single final. As always, the material was sufficient. I watched the videos. Read the material twice. I know I did well.

Exams -- two types, vendor and at home. The vendor ones are at a certification center. I have cert center close that works closely with WGU. Works very well. I tend to call the center the day of or the day before my test. The other is the web cam test. It feels weird knowing someone is watching you. I mouth the questions when i dont know the answers and haven't had any proctor issues. The only thing that gets me here is that it take 72-96 hours before you can take the test once you register. So, I have to plan a bit more so I'm ready but not over-ready for the test.

Pre-Exam -- I use the practice tests HEAVILY. Not for just the answer to the question, but to all the question options. Do I know what the wrong answer would be right for? I typically take them full battery of questions at least twice. I read fairly quick so i can do a test bank of 200 in a reasonable amount of time. It wears me out, but i typically do questions and show answers the first time. i want to know what the answer is and why it is right. Most of the practice material will tell you what the other answers really mean. I take time to study all both the right and wrong answers.

My Mentor -- Everyone at WGU gets a mentor. I get to talk to mine weekly. She is very nice and encouraging. She also replies to emails quickly. Shes there to support me and help me if I need it. I'm glad she's there. its good to have someone else care. She is also responsible for starting the process to take the actual test. Since i've done well, she releases the assessment portion so I can sign up for the tests.

Message boards -- I use the message boards. Every class has them. I recommend that you at least check them out. someone has likely had your question and if not the course mentors will answer it. Some will provide you alternative material or what to focus your studies on. A very good resource. I usually check it before I begin studying the actual course material.

So far, I've enjoyed the experience. The material is good. The resources are there. Its not always easy. Lots of saturdays and sundays studying with a a test Monday morning...

Full Time Student

I recently resigned my position of IT Director to...become a full time student at WGU. There had been a few positions I applied for that my lack of degree held me back. Its time to fix that problem. I could have stayed and been a part time student, but the circumstances would have made that difficult. In addition, most of the courses at WGU are certs I had formerly held so that will help speed the studying along. The goal is to finish in the spring or summer of 2015. 60ish hours to go.

Writing Policy

Okay, i am techie. I don't like writing policies. Its simple as that. I find policies difficult. Not necessarily to write, but to find the balance the institutions requirements along with the "humans" who will be interacting with the things which i'm writing policy. My human side always plays the what-ifs. the grey areas. ugh.

So, we are writing our lost and stolen and replacement device policy. Finance liked it minus some Financial language! easily remedied. waiting on legal and HR. Something about with holding a last paycheck until we get our gear back. The goal is to either get our gear back or withhold the cost of the units said staff member failed to return. Simple enough. However, that means our paperwork has to be in order. teacher A is owner of laptop X and ipad y. Fun! more paperwork! (yes, we have tools to tie the devices to the users. YEAH KACE!).

Week 1 Totals

Well, I ran our last 7 days of work orders totals. OMG! Wow.

1240 work orders closed in a week.
High water was around 1000 open work orders
current total is around 650 open requests
highest daily request was 400 work orders. doing the total on this day was sad. we close 275 requests and got 400.

(for those of you who don't know the pattern of k-12..here goes. In early June, turn everything off and store it...somewhere. and that somewhere is likely only conditioned down to 90-95 degrees. then, in the last week of august, find said stored items. turn them on and hope they work. Remember, some of the teachers turning these items on don't "know" technology. its a magic box. we are ok with that. getting the little 2nd grader to complete a task can be magic to me too. she does her magic with the kids, my team does our magic with the devices).

Thats pretty good from what for us. 38 sites, 3500 staff users. new ipads. We have a pretty good support staff who understands getting everyone up and running is job 1. We are on the second wave of requests, its works, but i can't do X. Access youtube, run adobe pro, etc. these are the more complex problems where unfortunately "no" becomes an answer.