soooo finally the day has come and that DREADED test is over. Sadly, i did not do nearly as well as i had wanted but im hoping my better math, versus verbal, combined with what will hopefully be a decent essay (those scores wont be in for weeks) will be sufficient for PA school.....cause i do NOT want to take that again. Let me explain.....
1.) The test prep material urges you to be sure to stay calm, breath, bring water and a snack to keep stamina, wear layers to offset the room temp, etc. etc. Im not sure how testing centers overall are, but ours did not follow this regimen AT ALL. you get there, stand in line while he explains the testing process one by one while the clock ticks away and youre confidence diminishes. Then after filling out a form (which makes you write a paragraph in cursive as proof of who knows what) to bring back to the line before beginning.
all that important prep stuff you brought- must be locked in a locker....you cant even take in your own pencils???? im sorry but using one of those crappy slick pencils you used to win at putt putt with half an eraser from the last testers troubles hardly seems condusive. I couldnt even bring in my coat b/c as the instructors says...it you wear it in you wear it in the ENTIRE 4 hours?
2.) you get one 10 minute break TOTAL. After the writing stuff you can choose to take 10 mins for a bathroom break, stretch etc. So thats 1 bathroom break in 4 hours- now normally i dont go often but stress makes you feel the urge all the time- i dont get it, ive studied it but still its a bit weird. You are allowed to go during the other sections if you MUST but you cannot pause your time on the clock. I knew that going into it so i didnt have to go but some people have small bladders....they shouldn't get penalize for biology (which incidentally was not on the test....thanks a lot from all us SCIENCE majors whos fields of study did not help much in prep for this test) ;)
3.) I understand its necessary but to have cameras on every angle on that room makes it feel more like a prison than a testing facility. at least make them inconspicuous....really? and dont even think about stretching b/c apparently that means you need something and the test dude will come up to you and break your concentration multiple times throughout the test :)
So basically what i am saying is that i dont feel that too much weight should be put on this test.....the environment and high-stress, high security setting is just unerving and distracting.....you feel like your doing something wrong the whole time......its like when your not speeding but you still slow down when you pass a cop.
BUT, on a better note.......its OVER! im relieved, it can do things i want to do now like catch up on phone calls, use my cricut, play on facebook without feeling guilty..... :) it really was an experience that i can add to the repertoire. i can honestly say from experience now that the test is challenging AND it is extremely difficult to get into test mode when you havent taken one in over a year! i cant imagine how hard it would be 10 years out, or if kids are in the pic. kuddos to you folks out there.
Hope you enjoy my satirical post :) Now hopefully i can get back to fun blogging ;)
