The time in the semester has finally approached – the time when students begin to study all night and drink more cups of coffee to stay up and get that last minute cramming before finals.
The testing center has planned several things to accommodate students during the final exam period.
“The testing center normally proctors around 2,500 tests during a busy month…” David Cabatu, education specialist wrote in an e-mail correspondence.
Students can expect extended hours, a staggered testing schedule that allows the center to spread the testing demand over several days to avoid getting overwhelmed on the last day of the exam period and overflow rooms to accommodate more test takers at the same time.
During this fall final period, Cabatu said that they estimate to proctor in more than 2,000 final exams, which is only in the one week allotted for finals. Unlike last semester, the center proctored 1,500 tests during the fall 2010 final exam period.
The students using the testing center for final exams for online courses sometimes can result in long lines and extended wait time. The fall semester offers more online classes and more students are enrolled.
There has also been a rise in the number of tests administered at the center, mainly due to enrollment and the increased number of online courses that are offered. The increase in online courses has occurred across the University of Hawai’i system.
The testing center has exams for some courses that are taught at other community colleges such as, Honolulu, Windward and Leeward.
The testing center does have peak busy hours, which are usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., sometimes if students come at 4 p.m. they may have to wait, explained Sunyeen Pai, digital initiatives librarian, who also supervises the testing center.
Students who plan to take exams at the testing center need to bring their photo ID card, and be sure to know the course and instructor they are taking the exam for. Students are also encouraged to not wait until the last designated day to take the exam.
The testing center administers exams until the hour before they close; students are urged to check-in early and prepare for a wait time in line, which can range from a few minutes to several hours, explained Cabatu.
Not only are student able to take their finals in the center, but the center also offers make-up testing for colleges outside of the UH system, and well as placement testing, which is required for incoming students. The testing center also provides accommodations for students with disabilities.
“We are hoping that with the measures that we have put in place, we can lessen the amount of waiting time a student will experience getting processed or to get an available testing seat,” said Cabatu.