2016/2017 DC Testing Stats

[sophie22]

This is a thread for stats only.  

Those that have tested can report how many people were in their group and any other demographics of their testing group (insiders/outsiders, etc)

I will update this post with new stats as they are reported.  If you prefer to PM your stats rather than posting publicly, that is great too!  

Thanks in advance for participating and sharing the Intel!

2100 TESTED!!!!!!!!!!

(2080 captured, plus rounded up to account for those needing to test in the private room)

Date     Headcount              M/F       AGE RANGE     OTHER        
9/12         31
9/13         31
9/14         30                     40/60     40-55  (pettifoggere post p. 1) 
9/15         33                     40/60  
9/19         29                     40/60     45-55   outsiders>insiders
9/20         32                     55/45                
9/21         30                     65/35     35-55  
9/22         29                     50/50              
9/26         32                     30/70      
9/27         32                     70/30     40-60     
9/28         30                      20/80      40-60
9/29         31                     65/35      35-50   6-7  ODAR
10/3         30                     50/50      40-50
10/4         30                     70/30      30-50   1 ODAR 
10/5         31                     40/60      40-55    
10/6         31
10/11       30                     30/70                 
10/12       27                     60/40      (see ARobeByAnyOtherName's awesome post on p. 3)
10/13       26                     60/40      (see BubbleGuppie's post on p. 3)         
10/17       31                     40/60
10/18       31                     50/50
10/19       30*        
10/20       30                     30/70       30s-50s  50% insider plus Earthquake Drill for added fun!!        
10/24       29                     20/80
10/25       29                     50/50
10/26       29                     70/30       35-60
10/27       29                     50/50       40-50
10/31       30                     40/60       40-50s             
11/1         28                     30/70                           Many in suits (so prob not board members!)
11/2         30*
11/3         30                     40/60      30s-40s       6+ insiders           
11/14       29                     30/70      40s-50s
11/15       29                     50/50      40s-50s
11/16       26                     40/60
11/17       31                     70/30        40s-60s      mostly outsiders          
11/28       31                     40/60              
11/29       31*
11/30       31*
12/1         31                    50/50        all ages including Doogie Howser            
12/5         30                    40/60        
12/6         30*
12/7         30                    40/60        40s-60s
12/8         26                    40/60        40s-50s
12/12       27
12/13       28
12/14       28*
12/15       28*
12/19       28*
12/20       22                    50/50
12/21       28                    65/35
1/9           26                    70/30
1/10         25*
1/11         25*
1/12         25
1/23         25                   50/50
1/24         25*
1/25         25*
1/26         25*
1/30         28                   40/50           40s-50s   
1/31           3
2/1             8         
2/2             8*
2/6            13                  30/60                            some insiders
2/7             2
2/8             6                   80/20
2/9             5                   45/55
2/13           1
2/14           2
2/15          16                  40/60         40s-60s       mostly non-board members      
2/16          14                  60/40         30s-60s                  
2/21          20                  35/65         30s-60s
2/22          22                  35/65         30s-60s       almost all insiders!
2/23          17
2/27          28                  40/60         35-55          60/40 insiders
2/28          20
3/1            6
3/2            13                  20/80                             mostly insiders
3/6            19                                                    3 insiders / 50% feds  many board members
3/7              7                  50/50        40s-60s       2 board members
3/8             8*
3/9             9                   30/60
3/13          17                  30/60        
3/14          SNOW DAY - TESTING CANCELLED
3/15          6
3/16          12                 40/60        30s-60s  
3/20          16                 50/50
3/21          12                 30/60
3/22          15*
3/23          19                 50/50                               1/3 insiders
5/4              6                (Rescheduled date)
5/8              7                (Rescheduled date)
                               
 *Non-reported, estimate based on daily average.

[gary]

I would suggest this thread be kept as free of other discussion topics as possible and (to the extent feasible) that it be limited to the dates and numbers of WD/LBMT test takers observed. It will be a lot easier to wade through later if that's done. Just my 2 cents.

[Pixie]

Sept 9, 2016 10:09:36 GMT -5 gary said:

I would suggest this thread be kept as free of other discussion topics as possible and (to the extent feasible) that it be limited to the dates and numbers of WD/LBMT test takers observed. It will be a lot easier to wade through later if that's done. Just my 2 cents.

Yes, let's limit the thread to what Sophie and Gary have mentioned. Pixie

[floridagirl]

There were 31 names on the sign-in sheet, and the room was really warm.

Edit Note by Pixie: The date of this observation was Monday, 9/12/16. Also I have bolded the language about the room being really warm as some are concerned about the temperature. Pixie

[pettifoggere]

The 9/14/16 WD/LBMT had around 30 test takers, probably 31 given the previous few days count (I did not see the total number of people on the sign-in sheet). I did notice a few open seats in the testing room, but that may or may not be indicative of people not showing up. Demographically speaking (using only my eyeballs), the vast majority were White/Caucasian, one or two African Americans and one or two East Asians (no other diversity factors were obvious). There was a 60/40 split female-to-male and an apparent age range from mid-30's to late 60's, with approximately 80% in the 40-55 year-old range. There was wide geographic diversity in the test taker pool on my day, but nearly everyone I spoke with had a fairly narrow GAL preference close to their current home. There was also a wide mix of practice areas represented. Hope this is helpful to some (and hope my first post didn't inadvertently violate a forum rule).

*I will also not that the room was a little warm, but not uncomfortable.

I am wishing everyone in my test-taking cohort good luck (including myself)!



Edit Note by Pixie: You did a very good job giving information without break any rules. Foghorn (and a few others) need to learn from you.

Welcome to the Board. Pixie

[bayou]

per usnrcwo 9/15 WD/LBMT: all seats were full with one extra in the back making 33 in this group. Broad diversity, 60/40 women to men.

[firehouse9]

Did someone look at the schedule early on and note whether any dates or weeks were excluded? Do we know what all the testing dates are? It's looking around 30 people per testing date. What does that mean in terms of total DC invites?

[bayou]

firehouse9 yes, somebody checked on the last night of scheduling. They were all full through December and plenty open after that. I'll see if I can track down that report and link it to this thread as it will be good to have at the end for the speculation game.

EDIT:  Wacokid reported it here.

[acttwo]

9/20:  32 55/45(M/F)   no idea of outsiders, etc

[nurseattorney]

I was there on the 22nd. I counted 29 test takers. I did not calculate men to women to be precise but I would say it was about 50.50

[catloverj]

I tested on the 27th of September. Diverse crowd of 32. It looked like 12 women, 20 men, ranging in age from mid-30s to upper 50s. It was really cold in there in the afternoon, so bring a jacket! And I'm not one to get cold. Just FYI. Good luck to all of the test takers!!

[foghorn]

Sept 28, 2016 14:11:51 GMT -5 catloverj said:

I tested on the 27th of September. Diverse crowd of 32. It looked like 12 women, 20 men, ranging in age from mid-30s to upper 50s. It was really cold in there in the afternoon, so bring a jacket! And I'm not one to get cold. Just FYI. Good luck to all of the test takers!!

I did the WD/logic on the 26th. Same number. Spread was opposite--fewer men, more women. Most were 30's -40's. It was warm enough that I had short sleeves, a couple had T shirts, no one felt need to put on a sweater--but that may be the umbrella magic of bringing a fleece just in case.

Good luck to all that are in our cohort. 

Looks like room capacity is 32.  Figure 4 days a week=128 applicants a week. Of course they may have some weeks where it gets a bit thin. 

[foghorn]

for the 26th WD/LBT group, Approximately 7 with a bit of grey in the hair. (32 total).

[wvjabes]

31 total today for the WD and LBMT. I believe mvnsouth and I counted a male to female of about 1 to 2. Age range similar to what catlover mentioned. I thought we seemed to have a pretty nice (friendly) group of testers.

It has been a bit rainy here in DC. Not sure if that was a factor with heating/cooling, I thought the temperature was fine both morning and afternoon testing (I had a short-sleeve polo on and never thought of putting on the jacket I brought with me).

P.S. I scheduled shortly after midnight when self-scheduling opened and I didn't get the earliest SI time slot ... FWTW.

[mvnsouth]

Sept 29, 2016 18:58:41 GMT -5 wvjabes said:

31 total today for the WD and LBMT. I believe mvnsouth and I counted a male to female of about 1 to 2. Age range similar to what catlover mentioned. I thought we seemed to have a pretty nice (friendly) group of testers.

It has been a bit rainy here in DC. Not sure if that was a factor with heating/cooling, I thought the temperature was fine both morning and afternoon testing (I had a short-sleeve polo on and never thought of putting on the jacket I brought with me).

P.S. I scheduled shortly after midnight when self-scheduling opened and I didn't get the earliest SI time slot ... FWTW.

I agree with those stats. I don't recall anyone ever saying this was supposed to be for exam race/ethnicity demographics as well. But I think we had at least 3 Hispanic/Latinos/as, at least one Asian and three or four African Americans. I thought there might have been more women than men, but really was a little too nervous to count and was grateful to have wbjaves as a deskmate, which was what I considered a good sign since we had been communicating prior to the test and didn't know each other from Adam before we got there LOL. Just a coincidence we sat together. There were also several of us who are ODAR employees at least people who I talked to or saw fed badges on, there may have been more. Also got word via email from another alj in my office that inside hiring occurred recently. A former local HOD and writer was selected as a local alj. Good news for those working with ODAR as in my experience all of the newER hires in my office we're litigators or former sitting judges/magistrates. I found a worm to be really warm I wore layers and didn't need them. And I usually run cold.

[mvnsouth]

Oct 3, 2016 8:38:10 GMT -5 mvnsouth said:

Sept 29, 2016 18:58:41 GMT -5 wvjabes said:

31 total today for the WD and LBMT. I believe mvnsouth and I counted a male to female of about 1 to 2. Age range similar to what catlover mentioned. I thought we seemed to have a pretty nice (friendly) group of testers.

It has been a bit rainy here in DC. Not sure if that was a factor with heating/cooling, I thought the temperature was fine both morning and afternoon testing (I had a short-sleeve polo on and never thought of putting on the jacket I brought with me).

P.S. I scheduled shortly after midnight when self-scheduling opened and I didn't get the earliest SI time slot ... FWTW.

I agree with those stats. I thought there might have been more women than men, but really was a little too nervous to count and was grateful to have wbjaves as a deskmate, which was what I considered a good sign since we had been communicating prior to the test and didn't know each other from Adam before we got there LOL. Just a coincidence we sat together. There were also several of us who are ODAR employees at least people who I talked to or saw fed badges on, there may have been more. Also got word via email from another alj in my office that inside hiring occurred recently. A former local HOD and writer was selected as a local alj. Good news for those working with ODAR as in my experience all of the newER hires in my office we're litigators or former sitting judges/magistrates. I found a worm to be really warm I wore layers and didn't need them. And I usually run cold.

Oops I missed one Voice text error I meant to say about 6 or 7 ODAR folks...

[Digitized]

Monday, 10-03-16
32 names were on the sheet, but 2 applicants were not there.
So, today's count was 30. Youngest looking said she was 35, and a couple people looked to be in their 60s. The rest was an equal mix of male/female, probably in their 40s & 50s.
Most interestingly, everyone whose name was called first for distribution of the SI interview times was given 8:15, AND all of those people said they did their online scheduling at the stroke of midnight, as soon as scheduling opened. Draw your own conclusions.

By the way, Alexandria, VA iwarrants some tourist time there if you have any extra time. Seems to be a great place to explore.

[wendy]

Here is my 10/5 OPM report.

First of all, everyone at OPM was very professional and helpful.

I met a few ALJ applicants who knew about the Board. All ALJ applicants were very pleasant. Some were quiet and others were more talkative.

We had a full room. I believe that means 30 testers. Probably 60% women and 40% men. Ages ranged from a few who appeared to be in their late 30's to a few who appeared to be in their 60's. The majority were probably in the 40-55 range.

There was a wide range of clothing. Business attire, jeans, casual clothing.

The room temperature was just fine. I had taken a sweater just in case.

It was challenging, but I gave it my best shot. I will do the same tomorrow at the SI.

By the way, I signed up for testing at around 12:15 a.m. the day it opened. I have an afternoon SI slot.

Tomorrow evening I am going to relax and enjoy DC and put everything associated with ALJ testing on the back burner for awhile.

Wendy

P.S. If another Board member has a report that differs from mine, please go ahead and post it. I may be slightly off on something - particularly the female to male ratio.

[nestle]

Oct 5, 2016 17:42:46 GMT -5 wendy said:

"We had a full room. I believe that means 30 testers. Probably 60% women and 40% men. Ages ranged from a few who appeared to be in their late 30's to a few who appeared to be in their 60's. The majority were probably in the 40-55 range."

Hey, Wendy, it was good to meet you.

I counted 31 people on 10/5, and specifically, 9 men.  I agree with your age-range observation.

I was surprised by how many people didn't know about the board, how many didn't seem to know about the entire process, and even more surprised by how many had very tight GALs.

In any event, we finished, we did our best.  Now ... I believe I could go for a nice pumpkin spice latte.

[Sensible1]

Testing today 10/11/16. About 30. 10 men; 20 women.

I also noted we had 1 Immigration Judge; several insiders and at least 1 re-tester.

We also had 1 individual who had requested and received accommodations.

We did have at least 1 listed person not present.

Testers came from many places including LA, Iowa, Chicago, Missouri, Alabama, Atlanta, New York, DC.