TOPIC: Dealing with noise and disruption during exam

I recently passed the exam, but found that the testing environment
was very distracting. Exam proctors were constantly coming into
the testing room and leaving - two or three times every minute to
perform minor room maintenance duties, like emptying a garbage
can or wiping the screen of a monitor. Even though I used ear plugs,
the clicking noise that the door made every time it closed and the
passing of a body right behind my chair was very distracting and
after two hours became very annoying.

My recommendation is to find a brand of super-duper earplugs-
mine were simply not sufficient to block out this distraction.

Doug,

Exam proctors coming into the testing room like you describe would be a clear signal for me to get up, go outside and complain to them right there on the spot. This sounds rather unacceptable.

Students must be aware that there will be some noise and some disruption during the 4 hours that they are in the testing room, but "two or three times every minute" is at an unheard level. I would like to suggest that it might be a good idea for you to write a short feedback to Prometric and send the email CC to PMI for their information.

And to everyone else: if the distractions are at the level that Doug describes you should raise your voice instantly.

Elevating the issue during the exam would have simply distracted me more
from focusing on the exam and wasted my time. There were three individuals
who apparently had duties that they had to perform in the testing room, and
each cycled through to perform what appeared to me to be housekeeping
duties. Very frustrating after 3 hours. I don't believe noise cancelling headphones
would have been allowed.