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Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:29 am
by enkisdom
When I checked out my test center yesterday (Northwestern, Technological Institute) I noticed that they had those tiny desks with barely enough space for one notebook. There's nowhere near enough room for pencils, sharpener, booklet, and bubble sheet. What strategies have people used to deal with the space restriction? I was considering trying to pull two desks together, but I doubt that the proctor will allow that.
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:40 am
by AP-375
My situation is bad too. I'm in an auditorium with those little flip up writing surfaces, about the size of a notebook. I'm just planning on dealing with it.
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:24 am
by Patriot1208
enkisdom wrote:When I checked out my test center yesterday (Northwestern, Technological Institute) I noticed that they had those tiny desks with barely enough space for one notebook. There's nowhere near enough room for pencils, sharpener, booklet, and bubble sheet. What strategies have people used to deal with the space restriction? I was considering trying to pull two desks together, but I doubt that the proctor will allow that.
Keep your penciles etc in your lap. Booklet and buble sheet shouldn't be a problem. You just don't sprawl out. You put the bubble sheet on top of the booklet.
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:54 am
by ohlawl
Hopefully because I checked left-handed when I registered, I won't get stuck in a middle seat with a right-side writing surface. That would screw me up even more than the size.
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:58 am
by nsideirish
enkisdom wrote:When I checked out my test center yesterday (Northwestern, Technological Institute) I noticed that they had those tiny desks with barely enough space for one notebook. There's nowhere near enough room for pencils, sharpener, booklet, and bubble sheet. What strategies have people used to deal with the space restriction? I was considering trying to pull two desks together, but I doubt that the proctor will allow that.
Noooo...I am taking it there too. I took it at DePaul in June and the desks were very small as well. It adds another element to the test but its not impossible to deal with.
The only thing is..sometimes where you meet isn't where you take the actual exam. In June, we met at one building at DePaul for sign-in and then they split us into groups and took us to different buildings to take the test...so we are not necessarily taking it at the Technological Institute. Most likely though.
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 12:00 pm
by beachbum
Patriot1208 wrote:enkisdom wrote:When I checked out my test center yesterday (Northwestern, Technological Institute) I noticed that they had those tiny desks with barely enough space for one notebook. There's nowhere near enough room for pencils, sharpener, booklet, and bubble sheet. What strategies have people used to deal with the space restriction? I was considering trying to pull two desks together, but I doubt that the proctor will allow that.
Keep your penciles etc in your lap. Booklet and buble sheet shouldn't be a problem. You just don't sprawl out. You put the bubble sheet on top of the booklet.
+1. It's inconvenient, but won't affect your score one way or the other.
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 12:24 pm
by WithoutMe
Went to my test site monday classroom desks are huge. And some classrooms even have rectangular tables where you could fit like 4 people. =)
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:51 pm
by Remnantofisrael
they'll have you separated from others and USUALLY allow you to use the surface at the desk next to you. At yale, they have desks that can flip either way (for the leftys) and let you use yours and one next to you.
ALL THAT SAID my biggest worry is belly space. I'm not huge, but I don't always fit comfortably with those flip desks.
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 2:22 pm
by KevinP
beachbum wrote:Patriot1208 wrote:enkisdom wrote:When I checked out my test center yesterday (Northwestern, Technological Institute) I noticed that they had those tiny desks with barely enough space for one notebook. There's nowhere near enough room for pencils, sharpener, booklet, and bubble sheet. What strategies have people used to deal with the space restriction? I was considering trying to pull two desks together, but I doubt that the proctor will allow that.
Keep your penciles etc in your lap. Booklet and buble sheet shouldn't be a problem. You just don't sprawl out. You put the bubble sheet on top of the booklet.
+1. It's inconvenient, but won't affect your score one way or the other.
Maybe for some people. I lost around 3 points because of those damn desks. So, I'm retaking with a larger desk this time.
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 3:29 pm
by enkisdom
nsideirish wrote:enkisdom wrote:When I checked out my test center yesterday (Northwestern, Technological Institute) I noticed that they had those tiny desks with barely enough space for one notebook. There's nowhere near enough room for pencils, sharpener, booklet, and bubble sheet. What strategies have people used to deal with the space restriction? I was considering trying to pull two desks together, but I doubt that the proctor will allow that.
Noooo...I am taking it there too. I took it at DePaul in June and the desks were very small as well. It adds another element to the test but its not impossible to deal with.
The only thing is..sometimes where you meet isn't where you take the actual exam. In June, we met at one building at DePaul for sign-in and then they split us into groups and took us to different buildings to take the test...so we are not necessarily taking it at the Technological Institute. Most likely though.
Hope that's the case, or that we'll be in some table room that I didn't find.
Mostly I'm worried about dropping the booklet or sheet while switching and breaking my rhythm. I guess I'll just have to be careful and adapt quickly. The administrative period should give me some time to attune myself.
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 3:56 pm
by IBThatGuy
Cotton headband or wristband for pencils?
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 4:00 pm
by Knock
ohlawl wrote:Hopefully because I checked left-handed when I registered, I won't get stuck in a middle seat with a right-side writing surface. That would screw me up even more than the size.
Be prepared. I'm a lefty but I had to use a right-hand desk in June. Try not and let it affect you.
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:49 pm
by Claudius
Remnantofisrael wrote:they'll have you separated from others and USUALLY allow you to use the surface at the desk next to you. At yale, they have desks that can flip either way (for the leftys) and let you use yours and one next to you.
ALL THAT SAID my biggest worry is belly space. I'm not huge, but I don't always fit comfortably with those flip desks.
Just to reinforce, I took the test in June at Case Western and we were allowed to use the adjacent desk as well.
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:06 pm
by Patriot1208
KevinP wrote:beachbum wrote:Patriot1208 wrote:enkisdom wrote:When I checked out my test center yesterday (Northwestern, Technological Institute) I noticed that they had those tiny desks with barely enough space for one notebook. There's nowhere near enough room for pencils, sharpener, booklet, and bubble sheet. What strategies have people used to deal with the space restriction? I was considering trying to pull two desks together, but I doubt that the proctor will allow that.
Keep your penciles etc in your lap. Booklet and buble sheet shouldn't be a problem. You just don't sprawl out. You put the bubble sheet on top of the booklet.
+1. It's inconvenient, but won't affect your score one way or the other.
Maybe for some people. I lost around 3 points because of those damn desks. So, I'm retaking with a larger desk this time.
That's not why you didn't get those three points.
Re: Tiny desk strategy
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:39 pm
by shanemahsa
Finish two facing pages of work before bubbling. This eliminates having to shuffle around a lot, wasting time.