As another semester comes to pass, students and teachers alike unite in palpable dread as everyone prepares for the final tests of the year. Many of these tests are taken in Kapi‘olani Community College’s one and only testing center.
Every student knows that a trip to the center will forever affect their academic career for better or worse – hopefully better – but scheduling a test has taken some time in recent semesters.
In order to facilitate as many students as possible in as efficient a manner as possible, they have made several adjustments to their facilities.
On the bright side, a lot more students are enrolled in online courses, which eases the strain placed upon the building.
“I think they are doing a really great job of keeping everything in order,” said KCC freshman Tyler Kanemori.
Located in the Lama library in Lama 101, the testing center offers much more than just a place for students to take exams. When they’re not busy with finals, proctors in the center are giving out English comprehension placement tests for international students, as well as language placement tests for those trying to get into certain language levels.
Of course most students know this place for administering wireless Internet access – a very important function in its own right.
David Cabatu works as an education specialist and helps to oversee the work flow during the busier months. He said the testing center has been doing its best to accommodate the rush.
“Two years ago it was crazy busy, but since then we’ve managed to make several adjustments that have really helped to expedite the process,” he said.
One of those adjustments he mentioned is the utilization of extra rooms, stocking them with extra laptops and computers. There are 24 computers in the main room, and several backup ones can be brought out when needed.
Second-year nursing student Lauren Howard confirmed that things were a little hectic in the past.
“Last year I had a calculus exam and had to wait 45 minutes,” she said, “but this semester they’ve been really quick.”
These small augmentations have already managed to reduce wait times to roughly 30 minutes at the most.
Cabatu said convenience is the primary advantage students are granted when they are taking tests at the center.
“They can schedule their tests at a time which fits into their lives,” he said. “That way they don’t have to stress any more than necessary.”
The long wait times could possibly be attributed to the high rate of enrollment, a number that seems to rise with each passing season. The center also caters to other community colleges, including the Honolulu, Windward and Leeward campuses.
Once inside the testing room, students must adhere to several rules, including no food or drink, no talking to other students, and prohibited use of cell-phones.
The most important thing for students to remember is to bring photo identification with them, as no test may be administered without them. They should also know the instructor and course for which they are taking the exam for.
For more information, visit KCC Testing Center Policy