Test Day: What to Expect

Administration and security standards are designed to ensure all candidates are provided the same opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. The following information is intended to be helpful and inform candidates of what to expect on examination day. All candidates agree to comply with HMDCB policies and information contained in the Candidate Handbook.

Arrival
Identification
Personal Belongings
Examination
Exam Regulations
Misconduct

Arrival

All candidates should arrive promptly for their scheduled examination appointment. On the day of the examination appointment, a candidate should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the appointment. HOWEVER, if a candidate arrives more than 15 minutes after the scheduled testing time, they will not be admitted.

Identification

To gain admission to the assessment center, candidates must present two forms of identification. The primary form must be government issued, current, and include a name, signature, and photograph. The secondary form of identification must display the candidate's name and signature for signature verification. No form of temporary identification will be accepted. Candidates will also be required to sign a roster for verification of identity.

The candidate's name as it appears on their registration must match the candidate's name as it appears on government issued photo identification.

Without acceptable forms of identification, candidates will not be allowed to test and will forfeit the examination fee. PSI reserves the right to deny a candidate from taking the examination if there is a question in regards to the validity of the ID(s).

Personal Belongings

Candidates should limit personal items brought to the assessment center to wallets and keys. Candidates will be provided a soft locker (a small backpack) to store wallet and/or keys in the testing room. The proctor will lock the soft locker prior to candidates entering the testing room. Candidates will not have access to these items until after the examination is completed. Any attempt to bring unauthorized materials into the testing room may result in candidates being turned away from the testing center and/or other action by HMDCB consistent with its policies.

Examination

Candidates will be directed to a testing carrel and instructed on-screen to enter their unique identification number. A photograph of the candidate will be taken, which will remain on screen throughout the examination session. Prior to attempting the examination, candidates will be given the opportunity to practice taking an examination on the computer.

During the exam, candidates are permitted to skip items, change responses to items, and mark items for review so that they can come back to them later. Each item is multiple-choice, with four choices and only one correct, or best, answer. There is no penalty for guessing, so candidates should respond to every item.

For a more detailed explanation of the timed examination, refer to page 15 in the Candidate Handbook.

Exam Regulations

Examinations are proprietary. No cameras, notes, tape recorders, pagers or cellular/smart phones are allowed in the testing room. Possession of a cellular/smart phone or other electronic devices is strictly prohibited and will result in dismissal from the examination.

  • No calculators are allowed.
  • Visitors are not permitted at the Assessment Center
  • Pencils will be provided during check-in.
  • Candidates will be provided with one piece of scratch paper at a time to use during the examination, unless noted on the sign-in roster for a particular candidate. Candidates must return the scratch paper to the proctor at the completion of testing.
  • No documents or notes of any kind may be removed from the Assessment Center.
  • No questions concerning the content of the examination may be asked during the examination.
  • Eating, drinking, or smoking is not permitted in the Assessment Center.
  • Candidates may take a break whenever necessary, but will not be allowed additional time to make up for time lost during breaks.

Misconduct

Candidates will be observed at all times while taking the examination. This includes direct observation by assessment center proctors as well as video and audio monitoring of computer-based testing sessions. Test proctors are required to report to HMDCB any irregular or improper behavior by a candidate. Irregular behavior may include but is not limited to the following:

  • creating a disturbance or being abusive or otherwise uncooperative
  • talking
  • giving or obtaining information or aid
  • looking at the test materials of others
  • making notes, except on the paper provided by and returned to the proctor
  • displaying or using electronic devices (e.g. pagers, cell phones)
  • attempting to take the examination for someone else
  • failing to comply with time limits or instructions

HMDCB and PSI will work together to thoroughly investigate any reports of irregularities at an assessment center. HMDCB holds the authority to cancel any score resulting from an irregularity.