Noisy test center Forum

[omegaomega]

I will be taking the June LSAT in Asia. I visited my test center last weekend and was very upset to find out that the exam room is located right beside the university's main sports ground. There were around 8 to 10 basketball courts within 100m (328 feet if you prefer...) from the room. The sound of basketballs bouncing can be very clearly heard from the room and there were constant shouting, cheering, and the sound of basketballs bouncing can be very clearly heard.

It does not bother me that much that they are having a great game out there while I have to prepare for the LSAT. The thing is, the noise is really distracting and it does have a sizable impact on my score.

So I wrote to LSAC asking whether they can help ensure that the test will be administered in a quite room, even the other side of corridor should be fine. However they don't seem to care. They simply answered that they do not know where the test will take place.

I'm wondering whether LSAC is responsible to ensure that a test center has reasonable quality. Do you think it is worthwhile to insist a quieter room be used? Or I should save the time and start doing PTs in a wet market? (changing a test center is not an option since this is the only one in the city or anywhere within 1000 miles)

Thank you for your thoughts and comments!

[Helicio]

Can you bring ear plugs?

[NewYorkL]

Can you bring ear plugs?

I believe this is against the rules.

[03152016]

.

[Helicio]

Sorry then OP .

[rabbitrun]

I would contact the test center and ask politely about making sure the room isn't on that side of the building. I really doubt they will care though. In October, my center was across the street from a WashTub (car wash) and every 5-10 minutes one of the employees would honk the horn to tell the person that their car was done. Also, proctors can be dicks so even if it is quiet, prepare for someone pacing in front of you or someone constantly coughing.

My point is, the whole thing is a crapshoot. Go practice in a worst case scenario location, like Starbucks. If you can do well on a PT while obnoxious music is playing, employees are dropping metal containers and grinding things, and two bros are sitting next to you having an unbelievably dumb conversation, you will be okay if there are basketballs bouncing. Or you can PT in a library and simultaneously play these on your laptop (everyone around you loves it) and maybe add in a basketball game
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zcz5gsi-EQ
http://strategyprep.com/timer/

You have to habituate.... or just bring ear plugs and use them if it is too terrible at the risk of being kicked out.

[manofjustice]

This is your life we're talking about. If the proctors or another student is being noisy, TELL THEM TO STOP.

[shifty_eyed]

This is your life we're talking about. If the proctors or another student is being noisy, TELL THEM TO STOP.

[cookiejar1]

.

[rabbitrun]

This is your life we're talking about. If the proctors or another student is being noisy, TELL THEM TO STOP.

Yes, but is OP going to leave in the middle of a LG section and go tell the people playing basketball to stop? You can't control everything. All you can do is try to get the test center to place you in a quiet environment, but you should be prepared for this to fail and for people to not give a shit. Luckily proctors kick out people tapping pencils etc, but you can't be sure that someone around you isn't going to be coughing the whole time or something.

OR you could make official looking signs that say that the basketball courts etc. are closed and put them up at the entrances of the courts. Yellow "Do Not Enter" tape would also be a nice touch.

[rinkrat19]

Since you have a specific sound that you know might be an issue, DEAL WITH IT. Study near a basketball court somehow and inure yourself to that particular noise. You shouldn't be only studying in perfectly silent conditions; you need to expect that something will be making noise. Someone will be sniffling, the clock might tick loudly, there might be people next door talking. Study at libraries and coffee shops. Study with the TV on. Make yourself distraction-proof.

[princeR]

Go on youtube, type in basketball bouncing noise and PT with that noise... Eventually you might get to that point where it helps you get in the zone.

[03152016]

.

[MrAnon]

When in your life have you taken a test that was perfectly quiet? Why would the LSAT be any different? Get used to taking it in conditions that aren't what you want. The people who score highly on the test can do so under any condition. Getting a 179 vs. a 160 isn't due to environmental conditions at the test center.

[omegaomega]

OP, where in asia are you taking your test if you don't mind me asking? I'm taking the Oct test in Manila and I hope that's not the one you're talking about!

I'm in Beijing. No worries.
But I think it's a good idea to find out as much as possible about the test center beforehand. Who knows what's going on there!

[omegaomega]

Thank you for all the advice.

I'm writing to the test center. But even if it does not work, something that I learned from this post is that shits happen and I have to prepare for the worst. I first thought it's unfair to have a noisy center, but now I can deal with it with peace of mind.

Thanks dudes/dudesses!