[Puppykoala]

Hi Community, just wondering if anyone took the test center prometic test drive? I’m debating because it costs 30 bucks. It seems helpful to get a quick look at the test environment. Can anyone share your experience and if it is worth it?

[Pork Flavored Bacon]

I had never heard of this before but just looked it up. Seems like a waste of time and money. Save yourself $30 and use that time to study. The more I think about it the more ridiculous it sounds. Prometric is really trying to squeeze every dollar they can out of their candidates.

FAR - 75 | REG - 87 | AUD - 82 | LAW - 81

[Recked]

If you have severe test anxiety I can see the $30 being beneficial to you.
I'm the kind of person that will maps.google search a place I am going that I am unfamiliar with. I check the route, alternate routes, then switch over to satellite view to check the parking, and then to street view to look at the outside of the building so I can recognize it, and landmarks etc.
I used Prometric for the EA exams, so I knew the deal before I sat for my first CPA exam.
I think its overkill to pay the $30, but if you think it would help you feel less stressed on exam day, then it would be money well spent.
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Free tips for you. My first exam was in the morning with an hour plus commute, and no sleep the night before. The next 3 I did all in the afternoon. I would typically show up between 1.5 and 1 hour early. I never had to wait for a seat. I was so early that they were able to fit me in with no security screening wait times. Dress comfortably. Leave everything in your car except you NTS, ID, 2nd ID and car keys. Car key goes in the locker. Snacks are left on the small table just outside the test area door.
In order to enter the testing area they will make you turn your pockets inside out, roll up pant legs and sleeves, wand you down with a metal detector.
They let you into the exam area and you stand by the door until your seat is prepared. There will be noise canceling headphones on the cubicle wall.
They will take you picture before you enter the room. Your picture will show up on your computer log in screen, which always made me laugh for some reason.
You need to sign in, and sign out everytime you enter or leave the room. When you take the break the screening process is exactly the same. Anticipate only a 10 minute break to give yourself enough time to make it back through security, even longer if there are lots of people taking a break at the same time.
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once you are inside they will sit you at your cubicle for the exam. They make you enter the launch code to ensure it opens properly.
From there you have 10 minutes to read the screens and begin the exam.
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If you have not done the AICPA sample exams I highly recommend them to get a feel for the beginning stages of the exam.
Good luck!

[RoseMarie]

If you have really bad anxiety it might be worth it but otherwise, it seems like a waste of money.

My experience was similar to Recked but slightly different. For example, we had to put snacks on a shelving unit inside the office (in view of the testing people), we also didn't need a 2nd form of ID (though I always take it just in case) and weren't allowed to take our NTS into the testing room. We had to write our launch code on a sticky note on the back of our DL and then when checking in write it on our dry erase board things then they took and threw away the sticky note. You just had to make sure to never replace both boards at once so you didn't lose your launch code.

[Puppykoala]

thanks for all your feedback and tips! much appreicated! I don't have anxiety taking exams. Been doing this my whole life so very comfortable sitting for exams. I was just wondering cus I noticed the option on NTS last night and figured to come here and take an ask. Seems like i just saved myself $30 for a nice steak dinner!

[Author]

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