CQE References allowed in the Exam Room

J

Jessic2952

Hi!

Just signed up for the CQE exam in December. I have taken copious notes off the web-based, self-pased CQE exam prep course offered by ASQ. There is also a PDF version available to print and take into the exam except it is 915 pages :mg:

My question is, are my handwritten notes in my spiral-bound, college-ruled notebook going to be allowed? I was reading in the restrictions that no blank tablets, or tablets with blank pages are allowed. I have filled up an entire 5-subject notebook plus the first subject of another, 5-subject notebook. I'd hate to have to remove 4 subjects of blank notebook paper...
Alternatively I could condense and print out the PDF and place into a 3-ring binder if that is allowed, but the rules on "permanently bound" seem ambiguous to me.

FWIW I have emailed the proctor, Prometric, several days ago and am still awaiting a response, but figured I'd find out from recent test-takers what you saw as allowed during the exam.

Thanks in advance!
 

David-D

Involved In Discussions
I took the CQE (and other ASQ exams) over the years and never had issues with bringing in reference material. They would require you to take out any sample exam questions, such as the blue sheets in the CQI binders but generally didn't cause much issue. I'd think that them not wanting you to bring blank notebooks would be based more on not wanting you to copy their questions and leave with them since they would reuse a portion of them.

All that being said, my past experiences were all on paper based exams proctored by ASQ members. Now that they have shifted to computer based exams with a 3rd party proctor, I think they may be more all over the place if the other recent comments on Elsmar regarding people with the new exam proctors.

Best of luck,

David
 

David-D

Involved In Discussions
From the thread titled "ASQ is Transitioning to Computer Based Exams:" by NicoleinFlorida


I am back and I passed the exam. It is my first ASQ Certificate exam.

The overall experience is OK. The good thing was I had the result immediately after the exam. There were 145 questions for 4 hours and 10 minutes. 10 questions are not scored and will be used in the future exam, but I could not identify those testing questions.

If you will take the CBT at a testing center, please be there as early as possible. My exam was scheduled at 12:30pm, and I arrived the testing center around 11:50am. And the registration took over 30 minutes, because the lady was unfamiliar with the open book policy with ASQ. So I went through the requirement word by word with her. She even mentioned that the QCI CBA Primer was not a binded material for her. But I insisted that the binder was allowed for the previous exams and finally, she agreed with me. She checked all the pages of my reference material to ensure there was no loose page, which took about 15 minutes.

After the registration, I entered a waiting room for in-person check, which took about another 10 minutes. Because there were some students waiting for the GRE exam too. So I have to wait. Finally, I got my spot at 12:40pm. The another good thing of CBT was even though I was late, I could still have 4 hours that will only start counting after click "Start Exam".

The exam interface was simple and easy to use. The system also provided functions such as flag and strike-through answers. It also provided the calculator on the page, so you don't have to bring your own calculator.

The only thing I could bring into the exam room was the reference material. Water, snacks, or even pens had to be locked in the locker. When I need to take a break, I made a break record at the registration desk and repeated the in-person check when came back. For a short break, such as using the restroom, it took me 6-7 minutes. And the exam clock was counting all the time.

Conclusively, the experience was OK for me. I did not take any paper ASQ Exam before, so I cannot provide more comments about the difference. And if you have any comments or concerns, please let me know. :cool:
 
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J

Jessic2952

Excellent, thanks. I am hoping to have someone at the proctor get back with me soon. It's been a week and still no response :mad: ugh.
 

David-D

Involved In Discussions
I'd suggest calling (or emailing) ASQ directly and asking them. I've found them to be very responsive in the past.

The change from paper to computer based exams has also meant that rather than having an ASQ proctor who knows things (and has usually passed a couple certifications themselves) you now just have a generic proctor with no knowledge of ASQ or its exams.

David
 
J

jonw9

This is certainly a "your mileage may vary" situation. I took the exam yesterday, and none of my items were looked at. No books cracked, no chewing the binder for questions, no verification that my papers were bound. The didn't look at my calculators. You get the point.

I did get checked before going in, and was told to remove my watch, empty my pockets and got wanded with a metal detector.
 
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J

Jessic2952

Oh ok that's interesting. Well I spoke with ASQ and they said I could take my handwritten notes in, but to not leave them in my spiral-bound notebook since I have a lot of blank pages left in it. They said I could take them out and put them in a 3-ring binder which I did. I printed off a bunch of other stuff and have plans to put one more set of notes in there. My exam is Friday. Wish me luck! Thanks for the help everyone.
 

David-D

Involved In Discussions
Best of luck on Friday. Get some sleep, arrive early, and take the exam at a good pace (don't overly focus on any one question - you don't need to get them all correct, probably only about 80%)

David
 
J

jonw9

Yes. I thought I was flying with like 25% done quickly, 33% like in the first hour. By the end I submitted with 30 seconds remaining.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

JeantheBigone

Quite Involved in Discussions
I took mine today. :read:

The proctors looked at me a little funny when I showed them the CQE book and binders I planned to take into the exam room with me. After they checked with ASQ policy it was all good.

They did wave a wand up and down my arms (kind of like TSA), made me pull up my pants leg, turn my pockets inside out. They did let me bring in a magnifying glass (those darn teeny subscripts and superscripts in the CQE book!).

I finished with 1/2 hr to spare. First I went through and did the "easy" ones but flagged all the unanswered ones and the ones that looked like they could turn into lengthy calculations. There were a couple I finally guessed at.

But I didn't realize they score it immediately. When I saw the screen saw "Congratulations, you passed" I almost wanted to pass out! My brain was fried!
 
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