EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
BECOME TEST CENTRE

Provide a quiet testing environment

Testing can be a stressful experience for many candidates. Even minor noises near the testing room can cause a candidate to feel distracted. This section provides information on actions your test center can take to minimize distractions.

Location of testing area
Place the exam delivery workstations in a dedicated room that can be closed off from the rest of the office space. It should be in a low traffic area from any training rooms in use, to avoid the sounds of students talking and moving to and from the classroom. Also avoid placing the testing room near an area where people gather, such as a student cafeteria or busy corridor.

Insulation
Insulate the testing room to minimize noise. In addition to insulated walls, an insulated ceiling will help minimize noise. Using fabric covered partitions between workstations will create privacy and will also absorb sound.

Administration station location
The computer that will serve as your administration workstation must be located in an area that is accessible for checking in candidates because you need to use the Site Manager/Admissions Manager application, which is part of the APEX Testing System. You can either place the administration workstation so that it is convenient for checking in candidates, or you can run Site Manager on a workstation other than the administration workstation.

Work surfaces
APEX recommends that you place exam delivery workstations on a work surface that is approximately four feet (1.2 meters) wide.

Storage for candidate belongings
Candidates are discouraged from bringing any personal belongings to the test center, since these items must be stored in a secure space and are not permitted in the testing room. A personal belonging of any item a candidate brings to the test center that is not either permitted by the exam sponsor’s policies or pre-approved because of an accommodation. These belongings are not allowed due to security reasons-for example, candidates could hide notes in a purse or briefcase or send out information about an exam via cell phone.

The secure space your center provides for candidate belongings can be any space in which candidates cannot access the belonging during the exam and in which the items will be safe. If your test center has lockers, you can assign the candidate a locker and key. If lockers are not available, you can have the candidate place belongings in a locked room or lock the items in the administrator’s desk during the exam.

Center-owned, locked backpacks work well for storage. Candidates know their belongings are safe at their feet, but they cannot access them during the exam. You can unlock the backpack after a candidate returns the erasable noteboard and pen.