With post-pandemic CII R0 and AF written exams now test centre only, Natalie Dawes, Academy Support Adviser, Bespoke Training Solutions offers some practical tips for re-adjusting to in-person examinations.
There will be many candidates within the last couple of years, who have only sat their exams remotely. For some this will have been the preferred option and for others it may have been the only option, especially during the pandemic. Undoubtedly, there will be some who will now find going to an exam centre daunting, in comparison to sitting an exam in the comfort of their own home or work setting.
Exams are nerve wracking enough at times, without the added pressure of a change of environment. However, for written exams, sitting in a centre is now the ONLY option. BTS wanted to draw attention to this fact, to try and support candidates and hopefully give them one less thing to be thinking about on exam day.
Let’s look at the potential problems that could arise…
• If you don’t live near a test centre, it’s going to cost you time, effort and perhaps some money to take your exam. If you also don’t drive, you will now have to navigate public transport which could be a problem and cause some additional stress.
• If you have certain things that you do before an exam (for example, I clean!!), you might not be able to do these things because of having to travel or sit in a waiting room.
• You won’t be the only candidate in the room, other people might be a distraction.
• You won’t be able to use your own computer equipment, which leads to a concern around lack of familiarity and your precious exam time being used to familiarise yourself.
Anxious yet? You needn’t be. Whilst these ‘potential problems’ were real problems, for real candidates who sat the second round of the January R06 sitting, all these candidates found a way around the issues and have now put R06 firmly behind them, with passes in their bags.
The key is in your preparation, so let’s have a look at some useful strategies to head-off problems before they arise.
Travel
You’ll note that a lot of the main issues were about travel. I spoke to a candidate recently who lives 200 miles away from their nearest test centre – 200 miles!! They have had to delay their April sitting to one later in the year in order for the travel to work, due to other commitments that this candidate has. It’s far from ideal but it’s a plan that will work and fingers crossed all goes well when it comes to the exam so that they only have to make this trip once.
Now, what we do know, is when the sitting is – 25th April 2023 and what time it will take place – 1pm, so we must plan accordingly. Will you drive to the test centre? Or will you use public transport? What can you do before the day to ensure the travel is as smooth as possible?
At my recent AF5 sitting, I chose to drive, which took me about an hour. Even though I could have run into some traffic, somehow being in the driving seat gave me a sense of comfort, as opposed to relying on public transport. I also looked at Google Maps to actually see where I was going to park and what the roads looked like around the test centre which gave me a sense of familiarity.
Some candidates in January and at my AF5 sitting in Feb, chose to travel the night before and stay in a local Travelodge (or similar, other hotels are available!) so that they didn’t need to worry about travelling on the day. Some were very fortunate that their firms allowed them to expense these costs back too, so financially they were not out of pocket. This won’t be the same for all but it is worth asking the question.
I travelled to the test centre quite early on in the morning, which meant I arrived a couple of hours early, giving me time to eat some lunch before heading into the test centre. It’s important to ensure that you have eaten and drunk something before going in as the only thing you will be allowed into the exam room is a clear bottle of water – they will even ask you to remove the label should it still have one on it. If you plan to head to the test centre by public transport, you could utilise that time to eat and drink – who doesn’t love a train picnic right?
Like with driving, public transport requires some planning too and it’s always best to have a back up should there be issues. Always head off with plenty of time to spare, it’s far better to be really early than it is to be cutting it fine. Consider a plan B too, with whatever mode of travel you decide is best. The exam will go ahead but if you arrive late, you could risk not being able to sit the exam at all plus have to pay for a resit.
Pre-exam habits…
I mentioned it within the list above but something I love to do before an exam is clean or de-clutter something. It’s part of a bit of brain cleanse I think, it always help me feel really clear minded. Some people like to have down time. Other people cram in last minute revision – although let’s be honest, if you don’t know it on the morning of them exam…
Whatever your habits or routine, find a way around it. I cleaned the night before my last exam sitting and, I had a really good night’s sleep! If I’d been travelling by public transport, perhaps I would have cleaned up the apps on my phone or the hundreds of duplicated photos I have saved, it’s not quite in the same league as cleaning out a cupboard or deep cleaning a room in my house but, it’s more about thinking of the reason WHY we do something rather that WHAT we are doing. I know I do ‘the cleaning’ because it frees my mind from fog and probably offers a distraction too. I just have to find another way of doing the same thing.
Perhaps public transport would be better if you’re someone that likes to kick back before an exam or be going over notes if that is your thing, whilst someone else is taking you where you need to be. Just consider the reason that you do what you do and think of a way around it.
You’re not alone but that’s ok
For those that are concerned about others around you whilst you sit your exam, all the test centres that I have been to over the years have been set up so that each candidate is quite well spaced, with either a screen between you (that you cannot see through) or back-to-back across the room.
I’ve never had an issue with other candidates’ noise and I think this has been helped by the test centre supplying little ear plugs, which I always stick firmly in my ear holes! They don’t block out all of the noise but they certainly help. One thing I do want to draw attention to is that at some point through the exam, you’ll start to notice movement. This is either from candidates starting to fidget or where they have finished and they are getting up to leave, as you don’t have to stay the entire time that your exam is.
I’m always one of the last ones to leave because I like to use all of the time that I have whereas others will go when they are done. It’s important that you stick to your strategy and don’t change your mindset or be put off by others – try your best to zone out from your surroundings and fully focus on only your exam.
The exam centre and room
Beyond the waiting room, aside from the clear bottle of water, you’re not allowed to take anything into the exam room with you at all apart from a non-programmable calculator and perhaps a pen or two. The test centre will provide you with scrap paper, a pencil and your login details – including your CII pin. They’ll also have somewhere secure for you to keep your belongings whilst you are in the exam room.
BTS has heard some really positive ‘reviews’ of test centres from the January R06 sittings, with staff being really accommodating (within the rules) and there generally being a really good feeling about the environment, equipment and exam experience overall.
Remember, if there are certain things that you need from an exam centre, such as equipment or reasonable adjustments, you can let the CII know in advance of your exam date. It’s not always obvious from the CII website but my advice is that if there is something you think you need and you can’t find it, contact the CII or test centre to ask the question so that you can be as prepared as possible and in advance – which leads me to say…
Don’t leave it until last minute!
At my last exam sitting, there was a lovely chap who was feeling particularly nervous about the sitting. I’m not sure of his specific circumstances but it was obvious that there was a prior arrangement for him to go into the exam room first (you’re held in a waiting room beforehand to do ID check etc) so that he could choose the best place for him to sit and for him to have five minutes to spend familiarising himself with the room. I can’t speak for all test centres doing this, but it was great to see and makes me want to reiterate saying, if you don’t know, ask the question, the worst you’ll get is a no but then at least you’ll know what you’re working with.
And that’s another thing…ID checks. Those of you who have sat remote exams will know about the faff of the ID requirements, room scans and mirror checks. I can’t believe anyone would miss doing that! Well, in a test centre, you don’t have any of that malarkey which takes away a whole load of stress, so that’s definitely a positive!
You’ve got this…
Hopefully this article has helped you to understand the exam centre setup and perhaps some do and don’t as well as given you somethings to think about in advance of your exam centre sitting.
There are many positives to be taken from not sitting your exam remotely and the rest, just requires some good planning. Technically, you should be quite good at that, given the subject matter being studied!
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