<p>Since it's late on the final day to sign up for the June exam, I decided to just write a quick post on how I tested standby at the last test date.</p>
<p>Testing standby can be a little bit nerve wracking. However, you most likely have little to worry about. It may be due to my area, but all standby testers were easily admitted to my testing center. Theres the relief for those that forgot to sign up or just decided they wanted to take the test before the summer.</p>
<p>Now, for the bad news. Theres a late fee of $39.00. That's a huge additional fee, but also remember that you only have a limited amount of chances to take this test as well.</p>
<p>So heres a few quick facts I haven't yet gotten out of the way yet to save time
* There is no guarantee that you will be able to test.
* First Come - First Serve (however, this most likely,from my experience, seems to be first in line after all the testers go in, first in)
* Do not make arrangements with the testing center supervisor beforehand. I think this also includes when you get to the testing center, because you must wait till everyone is already admitted before you are allowed to try and get a test.
* There are no accommodations for special needs (extra time, etc.) for standby testers</p>
<p>Registration Packet
* If you are a standby tester, you cannot sign up online. You must fill out a registration packet by hand.
+ This is not fun... It does take a bit and is a pain. Get it done early.
+ While the ACT website claims it'll be at your guidance area, this is not always the case. My school had it at the career center. Leave time to be able to locate where you will have to get a packet. They also should have a free practice ACT if they get the registration packets, so you may want to ask about those as well.
* Make sure you fill it out accurately and do not crease anything in any way possible.
+ While filling out the testing center codes, you can take advantage of the fact you have multiple choice options. If you go to one testing center and you think you don't have a good chance of getting admitted, you can then try another nearby testing center. Since the website asks all standby testers to arrive at about 8:00, most of them should follow that request. This however, really depends on how early you go and how close another center is. I had another center in less then a 10 minute distance, so this was an option for me.</p>
<p>Procedures:
* All standby testers (if they are like my center) will be lined up.
+ Try to be at the front of this line if at all possible. This is where the first come first serve basis will be determined.
* After all the regular test takers are admitted, they will call out for test takers with center changes and those with no room assignment.
* Then the standbys will be admitted. The supervisor will just take your packet and ask if your taking the test with writing or without writing. They also should ask for your ID. They then will most likely look at the room assignments and try to fit you into an empty room spot.
+ Another plus of being in front, is that you have more time to get to the testing room. This will help if you are not familiar with the school you are taking it at
+ Try to get to the testing room early. Not all proctors will be nice like mine and wait to see ensure that there are no standby testers still en route.
* Take a breath and try to compose yourself for the test =)</p>
<p>Now here's my little story for you:</p>
<p>When I went to my testing center in the morning, I arrived about 15 minutes before the requested 8:00AM. There was tension about having no assurance of being able to take the test, but I wanted to make sure I was there early. The registration booklet you have to fill out did say that standby testers were admitted on a first come first serve basis. I ended up being the third student to my center, and the first standby. </p>
<p>Over the course of time, people slowly showed up. All I really did for awhile was try to patiently wait, and tried to see if I could notice any other standby testers coming in trying to get an idea of how many other people I could potentially be trying to get in against. It didn't take long for another to show up with his white registration folder.</p>
<p>Eventually, the lobby became flooded with other testers and the proctor started to admit them. They organized testers by telling them to go wait against a wall. That was when I realized that we were not going to be admitted by who got to the test center first, but rather who was in that line first. So, I made sure to go by the front rather then go to the far end of the wall. We were actually admitted that exact way. Though to my surprise, the supervisor set a whole stack of standby tester forms the size of a textbook on the table.</p>
<p>All the standby testers ended up getting in. However, the supervisor made a mistake. They forgot to check my ID and assigned me a room number. I then went to the room, thinking nothing out of the ordinary (I assumed the room proctor would check it). I then got to the room, and started getting out my wallet to show ID. However, he told me it wasn't needed since they should've checked up front. I was confused, and even admitted that they had not. Though, he still didn't check in the end.</p>
<p>So I took the test. Nothing really special about that, other then I was happy that I got in. I was lucky enough to get a desk near a poster listing a ton of figure of speeches and started iterating through them in case I wanted to throw one in on the essay of the writing portion. Right before the essay started though, the supervisor came in. Apparently, they realized they forgot to check my ID and had to go from room to room, looking for the standby testers to check their IDs. If I had taken the test without writing, they never would've found me and my test most likely would not of been scored.</p>
<p>That's pretty much my story, though I'll share another interesting thing I found out happened at the test center. Apparently one of the proctors gave all the students in their room no time limit. The students happily took advantage of it, and from what I was told would spend upwards of an hour on one section. It may be karma, though, that the ACT ended up contacting them and telling them that they now had to come in for a retake. Their other test would not be accepted. So then they had to go in another test day and take the test all over again. The only positive thing for them, was that they only had to pay half price for the test.</p>
<p>So that's about it. Hopefully you know a little bit more about standby testing.
Now to get 8 hours of sleep for the SATs tomorrow.</p>
<p>EDIT: One last note, your scores will take forever to arrive in comparison to others. I still have not gotten my score.</p>