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Post by cafeta on May 3, 2013 16:14:21 GMT -5
i completed the timed portions of the test with no problems. however, when i finished the experience assessment and hit record answer, it deleted the answer as if i had never answered the question. i've contacted the helpdesk and have gotten generic responses. has anyone else had this problem? The exact same thing happened to me, but once I got the blank screen I hit the back button and got locked out of the entire exam. I contacted the help desk to verify if they actually had an answer for this section or to see if it submitted a blank answer. I was told Your response has been recorded and it was submitted properly. No further action is required. I hope that means there was just a lag after I hit submit, my answer was recorded, and then everything was complete but I'm not sure. Anyway, good luck! jigjigjig, can I ask how you contacted the help desk and how long it took for a response? I have a similar technical problem (see Essay exam thread) and have been waiting over 24 hours for a response. Thanks in advance!
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Post by jigjigjig on May 3, 2013 17:45:05 GMT -5
jigjigjig, can I ask how you contacted the help desk and how long it took for a response? I have a similar technical problem (see Essay exam thread) and have been waiting over 24 hours for a response. Thanks in advance![/quote]
I used helpdesk@usajobsassess.gov and I got replies within two hours with a trouble ticket number. I then replied to the ticket number a few times and had the issue resolved w/in 24 hours.
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Post by denovo on May 3, 2013 18:00:56 GMT -5
jigjigjig, can I ask how you contacted the help desk and how long it took for a response? I have a similar technical problem (see Essay exam thread) and have been waiting over 24 hours for a response. Thanks in advance! I used helpdesk@usajobsassess.gov and I got replies within two hours with a trouble ticket number. I then replied to the ticket number a few times and had the issue resolved w/in 24 hours.[/quote] I did that too - helpdesk@usajob ... thinking it would be the path of least resistance, they referrred me to OPM. So much for help from either.
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Post by seerant on May 4, 2013 8:22:30 GMT -5
i sent a second request for HELP yesterday, got a new ticket number, and like the first time i reported the problem, i initially got the automated response. i then got an email from Michael Tran saying they were investigating and would get back with me when there was more information, and the second ticket number was then deleted as a duplicate to the first. since then, silence! i may try to put the essay in a third time and just keep trying till it takes i guess. other than what i've done, i don't know what to do. does anybody have a phone number for the help desk?
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Post by Maggie on May 4, 2013 10:26:29 GMT -5
Is it possible your answers were submitted and you got a blank screen bc it disappeared into the OPM funnel of completed answers? Sounds like maybe, huh? Hope so.
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Post by JudgeRatty on May 4, 2013 11:57:22 GMT -5
I finished all portions of the SJT, Essay, and EA without any problems whatsoever. I know many have had issues, but I do want to let others know that there are likely many applicants that have not had any problems. Just trying to shed a little "positive" light on the whole process. This is not meant to belittle or demean in any way the problems other have had, but sometimes it is good to hear some good news.
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Post by orchid on May 4, 2013 13:40:38 GMT -5
I finished all parts and had no technical issues. Good luck everybody!
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Post by agilitymom on May 4, 2013 14:37:07 GMT -5
So far no technical issues to report!
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Post by ncatty007 on May 4, 2013 15:14:45 GMT -5
No technical issues here either. Even received my automated acknowledgement email of completion almost immediately. Now the second wait begins. Anyone care to venture a guess on how long it will take for the next round of notices to start going out? I've never gone through the process before, so I have no clue.
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Post by JudgeRatty on May 4, 2013 15:45:22 GMT -5
To Ncatty007, I think that since we are the very first group to go through this new process, no one knows exactly how long the process will take. Stating the obvious, I would guess that it depends on how many people are "grading" these portions and how many applicants actually finish by May 10th. Some portions could theoretically be graded by computer since there are multiple choice responses involved, but the essay and any other "written" answers would surely be individually reviewed. I guess. It will be interesting! Given this is a large undertaking in the midst of budget constraints, who knows. Like all government application processes, it takes a lot of patience. Like many more wise individuals have said on this board, "this is a marathon, not a sprint." I feel quite lucky to have had the opportunity to get this far without technical issues like so many have had. Good luck everyone in the pursuit of the next phase and in the pursuit of the appeals.
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Post by 1234 on May 4, 2013 16:08:56 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2013 17:05:24 GMT -5
I think I bombed. Time ran out on my essay when all I had was an outline . . . so much for using best brief-writing practices. I should have just done an information dump and then spell-checked it. Of course, I guess that all depends on how they weight the elements of what they are looking for. If presenting a complete response is weighted heavily, I bombed; but I get an A for organization! After I completed the test, I received this email: Dear Administrative Law Judge Applicant, You have completed the Situational Judgment Test, Writing Sample, and Experience Assessment of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) examination. No further action is required of you at this time. As indicated in the current ALJ Job Opportunity Announcement, if the score for your performance on the Situational Judgment Test, Writing Sample, and Experience Assessment is within the range for the higher-scored sub-group of all the eligible applicants, you will be invited to participate in the Written Demonstration and the Logic-Based Measurement Test, which will be scheduled for the same day, and a Structured Interview, which will be scheduled for a separate day. You will be notified via email regarding when and where to report for the Written Demonstration and Logic-Based Measurement Test and for the Structured Interview. Your official Notice of Results and a notice describing your appeal rights will be issued after all stages of the examination have been completed. If the score for your performance in the Situational Judgment Test, Writing Sample, and Experience Assessment is not within the range for the higher-scored sub-group of all eligible applicants, you will be notified via email that you will no longer be considered for this announcement. You will not be invited to participate in the Written Demonstration and Logic-Based Measurement Test or the Structured Interview. Your official Notice of Results and a notice describing your appeal rights will be issued after the U.S. Office of Personnel Management completes the administration of the ALJ examination for the entire group that participated in the examination. I would not overly stress out on this, you have been positive for so long so stay positive. I will be doing mine tomorrow morning. There seem to be six parts to the test, if they are all weighed the same then they are about 16 percent each. Unknown if one carries more weight than the others and I would hope that is not the case.
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Post by hopefalj on May 4, 2013 17:23:59 GMT -5
I think I bombed. Time ran out on my essay when all I had was an outline . . . so much for using best brief-writing practices. I should have just done an information dump and then spell-checked it. Of course, I guess that all depends on how they weight the elements of what they are looking for. If presenting a complete response is weighted heavily, I bombed; but I get an A for organization! After I completed the test, I received this email: Dear Administrative Law Judge Applicant, You have completed the Situational Judgment Test, Writing Sample, and Experience Assessment of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) examination. No further action is required of you at this time. As indicated in the current ALJ Job Opportunity Announcement, if the score for your performance on the Situational Judgment Test, Writing Sample, and Experience Assessment is within the range for the higher-scored sub-group of all the eligible applicants, you will be invited to participate in the Written Demonstration and the Logic-Based Measurement Test, which will be scheduled for the same day, and a Structured Interview, which will be scheduled for a separate day. You will be notified via email regarding when and where to report for the Written Demonstration and Logic-Based Measurement Test and for the Structured Interview. Your official Notice of Results and a notice describing your appeal rights will be issued after all stages of the examination have been completed. If the score for your performance in the Situational Judgment Test, Writing Sample, and Experience Assessment is not within the range for the higher-scored sub-group of all eligible applicants, you will be notified via email that you will no longer be considered for this announcement. You will not be invited to participate in the Written Demonstration and Logic-Based Measurement Test or the Structured Interview. Your official Notice of Results and a notice describing your appeal rights will be issued after the U.S. Office of Personnel Management completes the administration of the ALJ examination for the entire group that participated in the examination. I would not overly stress out on this, you have been positive for so long so stay positive. I will be doing mine tomorrow morning. There seem to be six parts to the test, if they are all weighed the same then they are about 16 percent each. Unknown if one carries more weight than the others and I would hope that is not the case. While there are ultimately six parts to your score, I think his concern might be that there are only three parts to determine whether you get to the last three parts of the testing. That said, I can't imagine all the various tests will be weighed the same. I would hope that a 35-minute writing test on a seemingly irrelevant topic in this section meant to test grammar, spelling, and sentence structure would not have the same weight as a 4-hour test that involves significant legal analysis and writing ability. The total testing time at stage two (the SJT and writing portion) is less than 2 hours with an indefinite amount of time for the experience assessment. The testing time at the next level is six hours with a one-hour panel interview on top of all that.
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Post by christina on May 4, 2013 17:52:19 GMT -5
I think I bombed. Time ran out on my essay when all I had was an outline . . . so much for using best brief-writing practices. I should have just done an information dump and then spell-checked it. Of course, I guess that all depends on how they weight the elements of what they are looking for. If presenting a complete response is weighted heavily, I bombed; but I get an A for organization! After I completed the test, I received this email: Dear Administrative Law Judge Applicant, You have completed the Situational Judgment Test, Writing Sample, and Experience Assessment of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) examination. No further action is required of you at this time. As indicated in the current ALJ Job Opportunity Announcement, if the score for your performance on the Situational Judgment Test, Writing Sample, and Experience Assessment is within the range for the higher-scored sub-group of all the eligible applicants, you will be invited to participate in the Written Demonstration and the Logic-Based Measurement Test, which will be scheduled for the same day, and a Structured Interview, which will be scheduled for a separate day. You will be notified via email regarding when and where to report for the Written Demonstration and Logic-Based Measurement Test and for the Structured Interview. Your official Notice of Results and a notice describing your appeal rights will be issued after all stages of the examination have been completed. If the score for your performance in the Situational Judgment Test, Writing Sample, and Experience Assessment is not within the range for the higher-scored sub-group of all eligible applicants, you will be notified via email that you will no longer be considered for this announcement. You will not be invited to participate in the Written Demonstration and Logic-Based Measurement Test or the Structured Interview. Your official Notice of Results and a notice describing your appeal rights will be issued after the U.S. Office of Personnel Management completes the administration of the ALJ examination for the entire group that participated in the examination.
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Post by christina on May 4, 2013 17:54:42 GMT -5
You might be OK if your outline was recorded. It would show your thought process at least. and I'm sure it was gramatically sound. Hopefully, you are a good enough typist that there were not too many typos.
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Post by 71stretch on May 5, 2013 6:16:34 GMT -5
I would not use the old timeline thread for anything involving the "new" stages of the process. There's realy nothing to compare this to. Once you get to the next phases, then it's comparable to the old process.
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Post by formeraj on May 5, 2013 13:27:54 GMT -5
new forum member here, thanks to all for your helpful comments.
i would love to hear from those who actually took this new test to know whether her statement remains true for the new test. if not, what would help.
my friend who is an ALJ said there is no way to prepare for this test, but she took the old test.
which sections were most challenging and why so?
been a looooong time since my bar exam so i am concerned how much substantive or procedural knowledge is required.
thanks in advance and best of luck to all that we make the next phase!
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Post by 71stretch on May 5, 2013 18:28:20 GMT -5
This part of the test isn't at all like a bar exam. The WD, if you get to that phase of the process, has similarities to a bar exam essay question, but it's not like the bar in terms of actually testing your knowledge of the law on a particular subject, or at least your ability to spot the issues in a particular area of law. It's more to show your writing and reasoning and analyzing skills.
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Post by ncatty007 on May 5, 2013 20:19:46 GMT -5
This part of the test isn't at all like a bar exam. The WD, if you get to that phase of the process, has similarities to a bar exam essay question, but it's not like the bar in terms of actually testing your knowledge of the law on a particular subject, or at least your ability to spot the issues in a particular area of law. It's more to show your writing and reasoning and analyzing skills. If I'm fortunate to make it that far, I pray it isn't a blue book. One look at my handwriting and the reviewer will just throw my book in the trash. :-\
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Post by hopefalj on May 5, 2013 20:34:58 GMT -5
This part of the test isn't at all like a bar exam. The WD, if you get to that phase of the process, has similarities to a bar exam essay question, but it's not like the bar in terms of actually testing your knowledge of the law on a particular subject, or at least your ability to spot the issues in a particular area of law. It's more to show your writing and reasoning and analyzing skills. If I'm fortunate to make it that far, I pray it isn't a blue book. One look at my handwriting and the reviewer will just throw my book in the trash. :-\ Nah... this is 2013. It's on a computer. "Section 1: WD - The purpose of the WD is to evaluate an applicant's ability to prepare a clear, concise, and well-reasoned legal decision of the type that one might be expected to write if employed as an ALJ. The WD is scheduled for 5 hours to allow time for instructions and other administrative processes, but actual testing time is 4 hours. The WD is conducted in a proctored environment using a laptop computer provided by OPM, and will be administered in one location in the Washington, DC area."
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