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DC Testing
Dec 6, 2016 12:47:49 GMT -5
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rp likes this
Post by seeker7 on Dec 6, 2016 12:47:49 GMT -5
One more stupid question, if you don't mind.
The 8am-1pm session will be a bit long for my stomach. Do they allow drinksĀ & snacks in the testing room? If so, can I bring my own in?
Thanks. I brought in some cough drops and a few sticks of gum, and the proctors were fine with it.
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DC Testing
Dec 6, 2016 12:56:18 GMT -5
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rp likes this
Post by SaveMeASeat on Dec 6, 2016 12:56:18 GMT -5
I ate a granola bar outside the room while testing in the morning portion. My system was out of sorts because I traveled from west coast and I got supper hungry at about 1030 am during testing. Only took 3 minutes and I felt so much better.
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Post by rp on Dec 6, 2016 13:37:12 GMT -5
I ate a granola bar outside the room while testing in the morning portion. My system was out of sorts because I traveled from west coast and I got supper hungry at about 1030 am during testing. Only took 3 minutes and I felt so much better. This is the way to go if you need it. Take something in with you -- the won't mind that -- you can have all your luggage even, if you want. And then just take time out of the test to leave the room, gobble it down, and go back. Just remember that the clock doesn't stop. I left for 3 minutes to use the facilities because I drank too much coffee that morning -- it is easily done -- but watch your time as it is a little unnerving because if you are like me you won't feel like you have enough time...
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Post by frogalj on Dec 6, 2016 14:24:37 GMT -5
Thanks, all. I appreciate the input.
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Post by denise on Dec 6, 2016 14:38:28 GMT -5
Thanks to whoever initially broke the news about the SI being held at the Embassy Suites. I stayed in a downtown D.C. hotel and took a cab to the 1st day. I returned to the hotel, retrieved my bags, boarded the Metro Blue line and stayed on it until I reached the King Street exit. I then checked in to the Embassy Suites. Staying at the location of the interview has been great-- it's raining and cold and I haven't had to deal with any of that. Had I not known about the location right away, the hotel may have been sold out or too expensive. So a big thanks to the member who shared this info right away. Switching hotels to the Embassy Suites was great, especially because I had an early morning interview.
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Dec 6, 2016 16:59:03 GMT -5
Floridaladylaw, you heard that where? On or off the Board?
In college, I was in the middle of an exam when some dude stood up, yelled "F--- This!", ripped the exam in half, and stormed out.
For some reason, this memory repeated itself several times in my head during the LBMT.
J
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Post by Lawesome on Dec 6, 2016 17:29:00 GMT -5
I've been meaning to post this... Time to add my helpful tips, as I'm proud to say I've crossed over to the "other" side of the testing process. Feeling pretty positive about my performance, but I'm sure I will start doubting myself in the coming months. I felt the process was pretty straightforward, and the test givers try to minimize the stress you are under (it felt that way for me, anyway). I stayed at the Courtyard the first day. It has a Subway and Starbucks next to it, as well as a 7-Eleven behind it. These were very convenient. I stayed at the Embassy Suites the second night. If you are staying at Embassy Suites, verify your room is nonsmoking (if that is your wish). I booked nonsmoking but was put in a smoking room. Had to trek back down to the front desk with all my luggage. Cabs don't usually sit in front of OPM, but they do sit in front of the Department of the Interior. It is the building to the right of OPM. As you exit OPM, turn right, cross the street, and look for the cabs. After the first day of testing, I spent $25 to get from that location to the SI location (in rush hour). Be nice to the testing staff. They are awesome. Earplugs were helpful during the first day of testing, but I found them to cause me a few difficulties on the second day of testing... I would advise against them. I'm glad the testing is over. Now I can stop worrying about testing and start stressing about my results!
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Post by peanutfancy on Dec 6, 2016 17:59:26 GMT -5
I've been meaning to post this... Time to add my helpful tips, as I'm proud to say I've crossed over to the "other" side of the testing process. Feeling pretty positive about my performance, but I'm sure I will start doubting myself in the coming months. I felt the process was pretty straightforward, and the test givers try to minimize the stress you are under (it felt that way for me, anyway). I stayed at the Courtyard the first day. It has a Subway and Starbucks next to it, as well as a 7-Eleven behind it. These were very convenient. I stayed at the Embassy Suites the second night. If you are staying at Embassy Suites, verify your room is nonsmoking (if that is your wish). I booked nonsmoking but was put in a smoking room. Had to trek back down to the front desk with all my luggage. Cabs don't usually sit in front of OPM, but they do sit in front of the Department of the Interior. It is the building to the right of OPM. As you exit OPM, turn right, cross the street, and look for the cabs. After the first day of testing, I spent $25 to get from that location to the SI location (in rush hour). Be nice to the testing staff. They are awesome. Earplugs were helpful during the first day of testing, but I found them to cause me a few difficulties on the second day of testing... I would advise against them. I'm glad the testing is over. Now I can stop worrying about testing and start stressing about my results! Bwahaha, earplugs the second day of testing. I watched their faces during my interview, a blindfold may have helped. Quizzical, perhaps, is the best way to describe it.
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Post by mrmojo on Dec 7, 2016 7:33:11 GMT -5
Finished my testing yesterday and just arrived back home. Definitely an interesting experience all around, including having some time to see a few museums on the mall. Now it's just time to sit and wait for results to come out. Good luck to all the folks testing between now and March.
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Post by siri0303 on Dec 8, 2016 17:12:04 GMT -5
I throw the question out there: anybody traveling from far away get an afternoon SI time? It may be that they're looking out for us, in a strange unstated way. I was traveling from Texas, and my SI time on a Friday afternoon was 1:50 pm. Edit Note by Pixie: I changed the time of your interview to protect your anonymity. Pixie
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Post by siri0303 on Dec 8, 2016 17:18:08 GMT -5
EDIT: Lawyerbearclaw - I was in the last group for the SI on my day and it was at 3:30. You also need to be aware that by the end of the day, the times aren't strict. For example, I was taken for my SI about 10 minutes early and another that was in my group was taken in about 5 minutes late. So it is possible that you would get a 3:30 and then start a few minutes late. Quite frankly, I think the last thing you want is to be sitting in the SI worrying about missing your flight. I guess you are about to find out what your risk aversion level is. Odds are you won't be in the last group but...... Yeah. I was taken for my SI an hour early. I was totally expecting to have a good long time to collect myself in the waiting room at the Embassy Suites, and being called in that early rattled me.
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Post by deltalaw on Dec 9, 2016 8:55:52 GMT -5
I flew in from Memphis and stayed both nights at the State Plaza Hotel. My SI is 9:50. I took Uber to the Embassy Suites for $9.22 and arrived in plenty of time to have coffee before the SI.
Edit Note by Pixie: I changed the time of your interview so you would not be instantly identifiable. Pixie
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Post by Prrple on Dec 9, 2016 10:04:03 GMT -5
I flew in from Memphis and stayed both nights at the State Plaza Hotel. My SI is 9:50. I took Uber to the Embassy Suites for $9.22 and arrived in plenty of time to have coffee before the SI. Edit Note by Pixie: I changed the time of your interview so you would not be instantly identifiable. Pixie Thanks for the specificity on the cost of the uber. It helps with sorting out the decision of Metro, Uber or Taxi between the two locations, for those not switching hotels. Good luck in your SI!
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Post by denise on Dec 10, 2016 8:47:55 GMT -5
I flew in from Memphis and stayed both nights at the State Plaza Hotel. My SI is 9:50. I took Uber to the Embassy Suites for $9.22 and arrived in plenty of time to have coffee before the SI. Edit Note by Pixie: I changed the time of your interview so you would not be instantly identifiable. Pixie Thanks for the specificity on the cost of the uber. It helps with sorting out the decision of Metro, Uber or Taxi between the two locations, for those not switching hotels. Good luck in your SI! I cannot stress enough how simple the Metro system is and that the King Street Metro stop is across from the Embassy Suites. One of my friends had a lost Uber driver; another had a lost cab driver š³. Not to mention the likelihood and yet unpredictability of traffic. I'd take the Blue line Metro any day over an Uber or cab in these circumstances (if the Metro stops were further away, then I'd likely grab an Uber).
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DC Testing
Dec 10, 2016 11:59:43 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by judgymcjudgypants on Dec 10, 2016 11:59:43 GMT -5
Interesting. I had speculated about that being the reason, given my collegiate experience. I bet they lose people after the LBMT, too. Not many, but one or two, here and there. J
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Dec 10, 2016 12:05:51 GMT -5
Go look at the stats thread. Looks like someone didn't come back from lunch on 12/8. There ya go!
J
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Post by frogalj on Dec 11, 2016 20:41:55 GMT -5
I stayed at the State Plaza. EASY metro rides to the Embassy and the airport. 3 train rides cost me less than $10.
However, I am cheap and will not pay $15 for toast, so I didn't eat at the State. The Dunkin Donuts nearby was not serving breakfast sandwiches at 6:45 am, so I mostly didn't eat breakfast before the test. Fortunately, my nervous energy fed off the coffee and I didn't start getting hungry until I was done with the morning session.
Also, walking from the State to the Air and Space museum takes 45 minutes. In case anyone was wondering.
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Post by msp on Dec 12, 2016 9:46:06 GMT -5
My conscious self has not spent an inordinate amount of time worrying about how I did (tested in Sept.); however, apparently my subconscious is far more concerned: 2nd time in the last week I've had just awful dreams about my performance in the SI.
Last night's fun had me forgetting which date and time the SI was scheduled, b/c I'd erased it from all calendars. Instead I decided to show up and see if they could fit me into the schedule.
Oh, and I was trying to remember any of the competencies, of which I could recall none. *sigh*
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Dec 12, 2016 13:28:14 GMT -5
Msp, so long as you weren't nekkid in your SI dream, you are doin' okay.
J
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Post by gary on Dec 12, 2016 14:27:36 GMT -5
Msp, so long as you weren't nekkid in your SI dream, you are doin' okay. J At least some of us are aware of the difference between being naked and being nekkid.
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