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Post by futurealj on May 4, 2013 13:19:27 GMT -5
There is only 1 EA question...the multiple choice portion is the proficiency level question... I would change that to "There is only one EA question... we hope." I can't imagine how much fun it would be if there is an error on the other end that prevented everyone from bring able to complete OPM's intended EA. I just don't like to think negatively. It says "Question 1 of 1" ...so I just see no need to create/imagine additional stressful situations thereby creating additional anxiety *thinking positively* Good luck to everyone!!
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Post by futurealj on May 4, 2013 13:31:26 GMT -5
If people are encountering technical difficulties, which are beyond their control and no fault of theirs, it is not fair to consider that part of the weeding out process. As long as all the parts of the system work as they should, then the process is fair to everyone. Many people on this board have already said that that is not the case. Thanks again futurealj for your reply. If you come across a snag or glitch somewhere during this long process, I hope some one will do the same for you. Best of luck to everyone. Maggie sorry you are stressing (I think we all are)...of course "technical difficulties, which are beyond their control and no fault of theirs" is a different story...I was referring to not reading directions thoroughly and/or not making sure their computer is ready (I had to do a lot to make my computer compatible for the test...and I read the instructions several times to double check over and over...and tested it with the sample questions over and over, etc.)...talk about "anxiety"...lol...so i understand, I am just saying, as long as we follow the directions and do what we are told ("jump through all the hoops properly") we will be fine...I personally think this process is FUN...(its a RUSH!!)
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Post by christina on May 4, 2013 15:33:54 GMT -5
Danyak, I believe the collective answer on that question so far has been no.
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jmc
New Member
Posts: 5
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Post by jmc on May 5, 2013 21:13:26 GMT -5
Hello. I am a new registrant to this board and I must say the existence of this community was a very happy discovery for me. Without sharing too much information one way or the other, I had the same concern regarding the experience assessment (I was, based on the description, expecting more questions than were asked and was caught off guard to learn the test was completed). After second guessing myself for two days, I wrote to the help desk to ask whether it was possible I clicked on the wrong link and ended the assessment prematurely for myself before answering all of the questions.
The help desk answered my question for me, very promptly. So, for what it is worth, I hope that my experience can offer you some reassurance.
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Post by seerant on May 6, 2013 18:39:28 GMT -5
I cant remember where i first posted that i was having techical issues submitting my experience assessment but heres an update. I sent yet another email today and opm responded with substantive questions which i answered to the best of my ability. After some amount of time i was directed to resubmit my answer which i just successfully did. It was a long weekend of waiting for help from opm' but in the end i finished with time to spare! For those who are waiting till closer to the deadline dont do it! It might take opm 3 work days to respond if u encounter a problem and u may not have that kind of time....good luck!
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Post by futurealj on May 6, 2013 21:18:47 GMT -5
I cant remember where i first posted that i was having techical issues submitting my experience assessment but heres an update. I sent yet another email today and opm responded with substantive questions which i answered to the best of my ability. After some amount of time i was directed to resubmit my answer which i just successfully did. It was a long weekend of waiting for help from opm' but in the end i finished with time to spare! For those who are waiting till closer to the deadline dont do it! It might take opm 3 work days to respond if u encounter a problem and u may not have that kind of time....good luck! Seerant are you saying that having only one question was a "technical issue" and is not correct? i.e., if when we did the EA and we only had "Question 1 of 1" that was an error?... and we should contact the help desk immediately? ?....because that is what it sounds like you are saying...just double checking...before I begin to freak out...
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Post by futurealj on May 6, 2013 21:33:55 GMT -5
Hello. I am a new registrant to this board and I must say the existence of this community was a very happy discovery for me. Without sharing too much information one way or the other, I had the same concern regarding the experience assessment (I was, based on the description, expecting more questions than were asked and was caught off guard to learn the test was completed). After second guessing myself for two days, I wrote to the help desk to ask whether it was possible I clicked on the wrong link and ended the assessment prematurely for myself before answering all of the questions. The help desk answered my question for me, very promptly. So, for what it is worth, I hope that my experience can offer you some reassurance. jmc, I took the test the very first day, and before I submitted my answer, I clicked on the "drop down" and it ONLY had "question 1 of 1" and nothing else...are you saying that since then, you have discovered that there was a "technical issue" (without sharing too much information)...when you say they "answered your question" for you because you thought you "ended the assessment prematurely...before answering ALL the questions," leads me to believe the "question 1 of 1" in the drop down was an error and there WERE additional questions...but then when you say, you hope your experience can offer some reassurance, it leads me to believe that it was NOT an error and we should not be worried...can you please clarify that...if you are worried about giving too much information, then you can just say something like "for those of you who took the test early, you might want to contact the help desk because there were some problems with the software." IJS...cause I know a lot of people will be freaking out and loading the help desk with emails if they read your comment the way I did...Thank you very much.
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Post by futurealj on May 6, 2013 22:04:48 GMT -5
Ok Maggie...now I am freaking out...lol...thanks to jmc and seerant...I just sent the following email to the help desk...(REDACTED OF COURSE)
...I submitted an application for the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Job Announcement; and I was invited to proceed to the next phase of the examination which consists of the Situational Judgment Test (SJT), Writing Sample, and Experience Assessment.
I completed this phase of the examination the very first day it was available, and I was reviewing the instructions again and I noticed that for the Experience Assessment, the instructions read:
The Experience Assessment includes multiple-choice and open-ended questions about work experience that is related to the ALJ position. Applicants select multiple-choice response options and write open-ended responses, as appropriate, to indicate and document their experiences associated with the targeted competency. The Experience Assessment is not timed.
This sounds like there should be more than one question on this portion of the examination. However, when I took the examination on April 29, the drop down menu only had "Question 1 of 1." There were no more questions listed to complete.
I just want to make sure that is correct. Is there only 1 Question in the Experience Assessment section of the Examination?
Thank you very much in advance for your prompt response to this question.
Sincerely, XXXXXXXXXXXX
I will let you know what I find out...because like you stated, discussing technical issues is not against the rules, everyone should have a fair chance...and if there was something wrong in the beginning that they have now worked out, then I need to know that...and everyone who promptly took the test like I did, needs to know it too...
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Post by seerant on May 6, 2013 22:05:14 GMT -5
Sorry for the confusion! On another thread i more fully explained my technical issue--the computer ate my experience assessment twice and wouldnt let me save it or record my answer. Whatever the problem was got resolved because tonite i was able to complete the assessment, record my answer, and certfy it. I then got an email confirming completion
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Post by futurealj on May 6, 2013 22:20:09 GMT -5
Sorry for the confusion! On another thread i more fully explained my technical issue--the computer ate my experience assessment twice and wouldnt let me save it or record my answer. Whatever the problem was got resolved because tonite i was able to complete the assessment, record my answer, and certfy it. I then got an email confirming completion Oh ok...wheeewwwww...lol...
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Post by christina on May 7, 2013 6:05:37 GMT -5
Ahhh, the joys of teh ALJ app. sorry I did not see your posts until today or I would have jumped in sooner. looks like it's resolved
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Post by futurealj on May 7, 2013 9:02:24 GMT -5
Ahhh, the joys of teh ALJ app. sorry I did not see your posts until today or I would have jumped in sooner. looks like it's resolved Yes indeed...this process is certainly a roller coaster ride!...I got a response this morning...and I must say, its a relief!!...better to be safe than sorry, so I'm glad I sent it.
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Post by moopigsdad on May 7, 2013 9:18:47 GMT -5
Remember we are dealing with OPM and the Federal government here and therefore you cannot take anything for granted. Verification is the key. Thank you futurealj for your follow-up post.
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jmc
New Member
Posts: 5
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Post by jmc on May 7, 2013 10:43:05 GMT -5
Hello. I am a new registrant to this board and I must say the existence of this community was a very happy discovery for me. Without sharing too much information one way or the other, I had the same concern regarding the experience assessment (I was, based on the description, expecting more questions than were asked and was caught off guard to learn the test was completed). After second guessing myself for two days, I wrote to the help desk to ask whether it was possible I clicked on the wrong link and ended the assessment prematurely for myself before answering all of the questions. The help desk answered my question for me, very promptly. So, for what it is worth, I hope that my experience can offer you some reassurance. jmc, I took the test the very first day, and before I submitted my answer, I clicked on the "drop down" and it ONLY had "question 1 of 1" and nothing else...are you saying that since then, you have discovered that there was a "technical issue" (without sharing too much information)...when you say they "answered your question" for you because you thought you "ended the assessment prematurely...before answering ALL the questions," leads me to believe the "question 1 of 1" in the drop down was an error and there WERE additional questions...but then when you say, you hope your experience can offer some reassurance, it leads me to believe that it was NOT an error and we should not be worried...can you please clarify that...if you are worried about giving too much information, then you can just say something like "for those of you who took the test early, you might want to contact the help desk because there were some problems with the software." IJS...cause I know a lot of people will be freaking out and loading the help desk with emails if they read your comment the way I did...Thank you very much. I was trying to be oblique and it turned out I was opaque. Let me say this. I had NO idea there was a drop down menu that said "Question 1 of 1" had I seen that, I would not have worried.
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Post by hilltopper on May 8, 2013 9:42:32 GMT -5
Not to be obtuse, but, I saw the "Jump to Question 1" drop down box, but figured it would only let you jump to a specific question for which you had already provided input, as long as you had not finally submitted your response. So, I was expecting more than one question to be revealed.
Thus, despite 15 years of experience as a litigator, when completing the first question I just listed the minimum amount of experience necessary to satisfy the question's requirements.
Guess we'll see if some OPM minion decides I don't have enough experience.
For those who believe the system eats your answers - here's a suggestion.
First type out your response using Word. When you you have edited, spell checked and proofed, save it and log into suing the email link.
Then cut and paste what you drafted into the text field. Only took me 1 minute from logon until completion. Received the completion email 3 minutes later in my inbox.
Good Luck! ht
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