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Post by christina on Aug 17, 2016 8:13:41 GMT -5
I had my phone too. It had to be turned off and not on the desk. Which made it really hard to check in with the board during the wd!
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Post by msp on Aug 17, 2016 8:14:16 GMT -5
I brought my cell phone (needed google maps to walk me to & from hotel). IIRC, there will be multiple reminders to silence cell phones. I may not go as comfy as christina did, but comfort will be on the agenda all day.
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Post by mamaru on Aug 17, 2016 8:51:31 GMT -5
As I recall, the cell phones had to be turned off, not merely silenced, and a proctor checked to make sure they were off.
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Post by msp on Aug 17, 2016 8:55:48 GMT -5
As I recall, the cell phones had to be turned off, not merely silenced, and a proctor checked to make sure they were off. Since my "off" button is broken, I may need to use this as an excuse to upgrade, woohoo!
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Post by pubdef on Aug 17, 2016 8:58:04 GMT -5
The proctors of the exam were really nice. I think they were OPM tech people. As tech people, I think they are used to people dressed in jeans and hoodies. As everyone is saying, wear whatever you'll be comfortable in because you won't be judged by anyone hiring for what you wear to the WD. I layer so that I'm ready if the room is hot or cold.
It's also a bit like being on a field trip where everyone lines up and is escorted around the building. I think they even walked us to the lunch but told us when to be back to the room. I felt like I was in school again.
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Post by stevil on Aug 17, 2016 9:06:03 GMT -5
If you are a current fed - be sure to bring your PIV card as it will speed you through when you get to OPM.
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Post by Baymax on Aug 17, 2016 9:31:12 GMT -5
I wore khakis and a button down shirt, light jacket that went on my chair for most of the test. Cell phone was turned off and put in my bag, which too only had my test admission papers they tell you to bring (it was the email scheduling your testing).
Upon arrival to the lobby we were to wait inside the building but on the outside of the secure entrance (which has a limit s number of chairs) and had to wait for an OPM person to lead us up to the room. We were escorted to the cafeteria area for lunch and had a meeting point for after lunch, and after the LBMT we were escorted back to the main entrance.
Fun times. Hope I don't have to do it again.
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Post by denise on Aug 17, 2016 9:41:01 GMT -5
What about pottie breaks? Is there a break during the WD? I'm guessing I will need to curb my desire to over coffee?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2016 9:52:43 GMT -5
What about pottie breaks? Is there a break during the WD? I'm guessing I will need to curb my desire to over coffee? You can leave at anytime for a bathroom break but you have to sign in and out. Also the clock keeps running so no additional time if you leave during a test.
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Post by christina on Aug 17, 2016 9:54:33 GMT -5
What about pottie breaks? Is there a break during the WD? I'm guessing I will need to curb my desire to over coffee? Pottie breaks are fine but u don't get to make up the time. This is what I did in part cause I knew I would need every minute on the wd. Whole foods hopefully still sells caffeineted water with brand name avitae. I took three 90 milligram bottles in room with me. Comparable caffeine to 3 cups of coffee. Helped me stayed hydrated while still mantaining caffeine buzz/focus. Did not need one potty break for 4 hours which may be record for me. Used 2 bottles for wd and one for the logic test. Trader Joe from what I understand also sells caffeineted water. I tried experimenting with the 5 hour bottled stuff about 2 weeks before test but felt it made me too jittery. I found the water worked a whole lot better for me, even more so than coffee or tea.
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Post by stevil on Aug 17, 2016 10:19:43 GMT -5
Don't wait till you are bursting, because they only let a limited number of folks out at any one time and you have to sign out and back in - which takes some time. Can't remember what the number was, but I had to wait until a nice lady came back before they'd let me go. It was during the LBMT at the 1 1/2 hour point after I had answered everything - I just needed to stretch my legs, go, and try to shake the mammoth migraine that stupid test gave me!! Headache left just as soon as I left OPM that day. Maybe I'm allergic to OPM?
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Post by anotherfed on Aug 17, 2016 10:51:35 GMT -5
The invite says: "You will not be permitted to bring any unnecessary personal items (including firearms, knives or weapons) to the Written Demonstration or Logic Based Measurement Test." Really? Funny invite (and I think whether your weapons are unnecessary is debatable).
Best equipment for the WD/LBMT: sweater (I took a polar fleece and wore it the whole time), water (love the caffeinated idea), chocolate (because, you know, it's chocolate ... actually, it's not bad to take a little sugar break if you get stuck at some point) or a protein snack (same rationale, but something you can surreptitiously eat), ear plugs (you will have other test takers pounding away on their keyboards, so be prepared if that kind of noise bugs you), and a travel clock (so you can keep an eye on the time).
The basket of puppies/kittens is not needed until you get on the Register and get invited to interview with SSA.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2016 10:58:32 GMT -5
I would make one other observation. The computers are windows based. If you are long time Mac user and no longer familiar with windows, Word, cut/paste/format functions etc, go out and practice on a windows before you go to DC. If you do not know how to save, save as, save/print to disc etc, you really must know how to do this before DC. I was quite astonished that there was 1 or 2 in my test class that simply had no idea how to perform such basic computer functions.
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Post by bayou on Aug 17, 2016 11:08:45 GMT -5
The invite says: "You will not be permitted to bring any unnecessary personal items (including firearms, knives or weapons) to the Written Demonstration or Logic Based Measurement Test." Really? Funny invite (and I think whether your weapons are unnecessary is debatable).
Best equipment for the WD/LBMT: sweater (I took a polar fleece and wore it the whole time), water (love the caffeinated idea), chocolate (because, you know, it's chocolate ... actually, it's not bad to take a little sugar break if you get stuck at some point) or a protein snack (same rationale, but something you can surreptitiously eat), ear plugs (you will have other test takers pounding away on their keyboards, so be prepared if that kind of noise bugs you), and a travel clock (so you can keep an eye on the time).
The basket of puppies/kittens is not needed until you get on the Register and get invited to interview with SSA.
Actually, if I follow Gary's approach, I should bring the basket of puppies/kittens and release them in the room to distract the other test takers. Perhaps the basket of reptiles also, so that they can chase the test takers that aren't enamored with puppies/kittens. Thankfully, OPM has made it clear that weapons aren't allowed so the reptiles won't be easily dealt with.
For some reason, the old song "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" is coming to mind. The day the puppies went berserk in that self righteous office of OPM sounds like a good plan.
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Post by funkyodar on Aug 17, 2016 11:17:23 GMT -5
The invite says: "You will not be permitted to bring any unnecessary personal items (including firearms, knives or weapons) to the Written Demonstration or Logic Based Measurement Test." Really? Funny invite (and I think whether your weapons are unnecessary is debatable).
Best equipment for the WD/LBMT: sweater (I took a polar fleece and wore it the whole time), water (love the caffeinated idea), chocolate (because, you know, it's chocolate ... actually, it's not bad to take a little sugar break if you get stuck at some point) or a protein snack (same rationale, but something you can surreptitiously eat), ear plugs (you will have other test takers pounding away on their keyboards, so be prepared if that kind of noise bugs you), and a travel clock (so you can keep an eye on the time).
The basket of puppies/kittens is not needed until you get on the Register and get invited to interview with SSA.
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Post by sealaw90 on Aug 17, 2016 11:45:27 GMT -5
I would make one other observation. The computers are windows based. If you are long time Mac user and no longer familiar with windows, Word, cut/paste/format functions etc, go out and practice on a windows before you go to DC. If you do not know how to save, save as, save/print to disc etc, you really must know how to do this before DC. I was quite astonished that there was 1 or 2 in my test class that simply had no idea how to perform such basic computer functions. Same observation and astonishment at the few who had no idea how to insert a CD, save their work to the disk and eject it from the laptop.
If you have a PIV/CAC card (for the DOD types) you can go outside for lunch and not eat in the cafeteria. There is a Starbucks directly across the street - great caffeine to hit the LBMT with.
stevil - you had time to spare on the LBMT? I basically ran out of time!
The clock or watch is a good idea - I would not have run out of time on the test had I seen how much time I was wasting on some questions.
It was freezing cold, others have observed it being warm - dress in layers folks.
Bathroom? Nope - just did the WD and nothing else. I was so focused I blocked out any other thing - annoying keyboard sounds, granola bar wrappers, finger or foot tapping, urges to use the restroom, etc. I heard these things, but I ended up not being distracted by any of it.
Basically, you should do you. Prepare yourself the way that will be most comfortable and successful.
and thanks Funky, you will not need weapons where you are going.
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Post by yellowbird on Aug 17, 2016 12:20:02 GMT -5
For some reason, the old song "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" is coming to mind. The day the puppies went berserk in that self righteous office of OPM sounds like a good plan. What a great image that made me LOL. Love some Ray Stevens.
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Post by sophie22 on Aug 17, 2016 12:26:28 GMT -5
I'm definitely dressing for comfort for testing. Will be styling for the interview though! LOL!!!
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Post by weisstho on Aug 17, 2016 12:32:34 GMT -5
I'm definitely dressing for comfort for testing. Will be styling for the interview though! LOL!!! I think I'll do a dinner jacket with a martini, shaken not stirred. Eye patch? Hmm.
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momo
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Post by momo on Aug 17, 2016 13:17:56 GMT -5
For me, the seating height was too low for the desk and keyboard height. I improvised by sitting on my shoes. I imagine some people are now thinking: "Hey, I remember that guy!"
The keyboard being different from the one I'm used to also slowed me down and messed me up a few times. But these were minor things, nothing to be worried about.
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