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Post by Pixie on Sept 26, 2016 15:46:46 GMT -5
Hi Everyone, I am new to the board and appreciate all the information and helpful tips. I am scheduled to go into DC for my testing in November. Question - for the written assessment, do they provide a keyboard with the laptop or do they require you to type on the laptop? Hello Rose and welcome to the Board. Unfortunately, your first post asked a question about what happens in the testing room. I have decided that nothing that happens there may be discussed. Several reasons, but these questions start out innocuous enough but quickly slide down the slippery slope. I think there may be some discussion in this or another thread that was held on this topic before I cut off all discussion about the testing process. Pixie |
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Post by 71stretch on Sept 26, 2016 15:48:58 GMT -5
Hi Everyone, I am new to the board and appreciate all the information and helpful tips. I am scheduled to go into DC for my testing in November. Question - for the written assessment, do they provide a keyboard with the laptop or do they require you to type on the laptop? Pixie was posting while I was posting. If you read the notice you received from OPM about the testing carefully, the answer is there. I found it by doing a search here, and someone posted the contents of the 2016 notice. We are careful here these days not to discuss any details of the process once you get inside the testing room. |
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DC Testing
Sept 26, 2016 16:41:08 GMT -5
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Sept 26, 2016 16:41:08 GMT -5
So what was the cost of the cab ride from Reagan to a hotel near opm? I'm bored. Indulge me.
J
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DC Testing
Sept 26, 2016 17:36:26 GMT -5
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Post by wuwei on Sept 26, 2016 17:36:26 GMT -5
So what was the cost of the cab ride from Reagan to a hotel near opm? I'm bored. Indulge me. J When I was there for my interview it was about $25, with tip. |
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Post by 71stretch on Sept 26, 2016 17:36:55 GMT -5
So what was the cost of the cab ride from Reagan to a hotel near opm? I'm bored. Indulge me. J Didn't take a cab to or from airport on the testing trips, used Metro (and sometimes Metro plus bus). Cheap, cheap. |
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DC Testing
Sept 26, 2016 18:12:16 GMT -5
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Sept 26, 2016 18:12:16 GMT -5
Thank you, wuwei.
71Stretch, I am NOT getting on the Metro. Points off for not following instructions!
J
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Post by pubdef on Sept 26, 2016 18:15:39 GMT -5
Yes, the OPM food was about the only part of today that I was looking forward to based on my memory of the first time.
As far as transportation, I stayed in Crystal City the night before the exam. I have changed hotels to one in Alexandria. I took an Uber down to Navy Yard last night for about 12 dollars. This morning, to get to the exam, I took a bus that dropped me off a block away. The bus was $1.75. It was great and no worries about the metro line being shut down.
I'd recommend getting the google maps app and putting in directions for where you are going. It will tell you times for walking, biking, driving, cabs, buses, and trains. It makes it very easy to see how to manage any of those.
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Post by Ready-Now! on Sept 26, 2016 18:24:45 GMT -5
So what was the cost of the cab ride from Reagan to a hotel near opm? I'm bored. Indulge me. J Didn't take a cab to or from airport on the testing trips, used Metro (and sometimes Metro plus bus). Cheap, cheap. only about $2.50 |
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Post by funkyodar on Sept 26, 2016 18:29:00 GMT -5
Yes, the OPM food was about the only part of today that I was looking forward to based on my memory of the first time. As far as transportation, I stayed in Crystal City the night before the exam. I have changed hotels to one in Alexandria. I took an Uber down to Navy Yard last night for about 12 dollars. This morning, to get to the exam, I took a bus that dropped me off a block away. The bus was $1.75. It was great and no worries about the metro line being shut down. I'd recommend getting the google maps app and putting in directions for where you are going. It will tell you times for walking, biking, driving, cabs, buses, and trains. It makes it very easy to see how to manage any of those. Give em hell PD. |
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Sept 26, 2016 19:56:33 GMT -5
Thanks, PD.
Good luck tomorrow!
J
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Post by 71stretch on Sept 26, 2016 20:11:32 GMT -5
Thank you, wuwei. 71Stretch, I am NOT getting on the Metro. Points off for not following instructions! J Okay, okay. I've had cab drivers get lost, and those who purposely go the longest way. There are downsides to all transportation sources. I'm used to public transportation (including the Metro when I'm in DC), so it's an option for me. If it's not an option for you, no problem. |
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DC Testing
Sept 27, 2016 5:56:53 GMT -5
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Sept 27, 2016 5:56:53 GMT -5
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Post by msp on Sept 27, 2016 6:15:42 GMT -5
pubdef already posted the stats (thank you, my brain was fairly mushy). I felt the room was very warm (but since I'm a lady of a certain age, I attribute that to something else). Met some terrific folks, including board members. May have convinced a lurker (nice lurker, not creepy-movie type) to join the board. Drinks at State Plaza so we could absorb any residual funkyodar good ju-ju I didn't switch hotels, but am staying a/b 15 min walk from OPM. Interview is later today, so I'll be able to just check out, drive over to Alexandria & hang out until the appointed time. Makes for a late evening return, but I'm here, I'm part of it, so no complaints! (Unless of course, I fail, then there may be a few complaints). My suggestions for those awaiting the testing: (1) Relax, you have the skills, now apply them. (2) Get a good night's sleep. Both nights. (3) Chat with those around you, it'll get you out of your head. (4) Have an adult beverage at the end of Day One (if you imbibe).
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Post by funkyodar on Sept 27, 2016 7:23:37 GMT -5
Good luck msp. You got this...nothing to it.
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Post by pubdef on Sept 27, 2016 7:35:11 GMT -5
I do have a bit of a WAG about when you will have your SI. We know the time was scheduled automatically when you picked the day you'd take the examination. I think it just started with the first available time starting at 7 (or 7:30) and filled to 4:30. So if you were quick to schedule it's likely you have something in the morning. I think it showed how many spaces were left when I signed up.
I base this on common sense and empirical evidence. When they passed out our appointment notice after testing concluded they spelled last names. They started with the last times and worked down to the earliest. It wasn't alphabetically based. So if you are curious about if you'll be morning or later think back to how many were signed up when you did.
Anyone else notice this too?
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Post by justlooking on Sept 27, 2016 7:39:58 GMT -5
I do have a bit of a WAG about when you will have your SI. We know the time was scheduled automatically when you picked the day you'd take the examination. I think it just started with the first available time starting at 7 (or 7:30) and filled to 4:30. So if you were quick to schedule it's likely you have something in the morning. I think it showed how many spaces were left when I signed up. I base this on common sense and empirical evidence. When they passed out our appointment notice after testing concluded they spelled last names. They started with the last times and worked down to the earliest. It wasn't alphabetically based. So if you are curious about if you'll be morning or later think back to how many were signed up when you did. Anyone else notice this too? Oh no! I signed up at midnight as soon as they opened scheduling. I guess I will have to become a morning person in the next two days  |
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Post by Digitized on Sept 27, 2016 8:26:17 GMT -5
I do have a bit of a WAG about when you will have your SI. We know the time was scheduled automatically when you picked the day you'd take the examination. I think it just started with the first available time starting at 7 (or 7:30) and filled to 4:30. So if you were quick to schedule it's likely you have something in the morning. I think it showed how many spaces were left when I signed up. I base this on common sense and empirical evidence. When they passed out our appointment notice after testing concluded they spelled last names. They started with the last times and worked down to the earliest. It wasn't alphabetically based. So if you are curious about if you'll be morning or later think back to how many were signed up when you did. Anyone else notice this too? Oh no! I signed up at midnight as soon as they opened scheduling. I guess I will have to become a morning person in the next two days Justlooking, please let us know if you get an early time for the SI. I too signed up at midnight. |
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Post by justlooking on Sept 27, 2016 8:36:15 GMT -5
Oh no! I signed up at midnight as soon as they opened scheduling. I guess I will have to become a morning person in the next two days Justlooking, please let us know if you get an early time for the SI. I too signed up at midnight. Will do. I am still holding out hope for a mid morning appointment. That way the interviewers and I can be warmed up! |
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DC Testing
Sept 27, 2016 10:27:15 GMT -5
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Sept 27, 2016 10:27:15 GMT -5
I'm another midnighter, who will be interested to know. I'm an early bird, but my goodness!
J
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Post by pubdef on Sept 27, 2016 10:42:01 GMT -5
I wasn't right at midnight...maybe 2 or something. I had a 10:05 interview which was perfect. And now I'm done and on to the waiting.
Good luck everyone. As always, everyone seemed professional, intelligent, and friendly. The OPM process appears senseless, but they seem to get a lot of fine attorneys.
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