EPPP Exam: What to Expect When You Sit Down for the Exam

EPPP Exam: What to Expect When You Sit Down for the Exam

One of the best ways to help manage anxiety and stress as you prepare for your test date is to know what to expect! No one likes to be faced with unanticipated surprises, especially when already in a heightened state of stress. The more you know what to expect, the more prepared you will be to perform your best on test day.

Before we jump into what to expect at the testing center, you want to also think ahead and plan for the day before and day of your exam. Make sure you have gas in your car, that you know the location of the testing center where you plan to take the exam, and that you have all of the items you plan to bring with you, including snacks, ID, and perhaps some last-minute notes to review. You want to plan to arrive at the testing center 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.

As you enter the testing center, you will be asked to show two forms of identification. These forms of ID need to contain your name as it appeared when you registered for the test and can include any of the following:

• Driver’s license
• Passport
• Military ID
• Student ID with photo
• Green card or visa
• Credit card

You will also be asked to sign your name on a digital signature pad and have your photo taken. These measures are simply to provide security and assure the staff at the testing center that you are who you say you are.

You will be fingerprinted at the testing center as a means of verifying your identification. Although this might sound a little intimidating, it is simply required so that test administrators can verify your identity if you choose to leave the testing room at any time, such as to use the restroom or take a short break. You can also expect to be fingerprinted upon your return to the testing room.

Remember, for the EPPP, you are not provided scheduled breaks. The clock will continue as you take your breaks and you can take a break at any time during the test for as long as you like. While taking your practice exams, prepare to allow time for breaks and know when you wish to take them. For example, you might find it helpful to take a break after every 75 questions. Some prefer to take one longer break while others find they need more frequent short breaks. Check in with yourself while taking your practice exams to learn what your body needs.

Finally, personal items such as cell phones, watches, wallets, purses and snacks that you may bring, will be required to be stored in a locker provided by the testing center. These personal items are not allowed in the testing room. To make things a little more manageable, you may wish to simply leave most of these items in your car prior to entering the testing center.

As you arrive to the testing room, you will be assigned a computer station where a whiteboard and whiteboard marker will be provided. You will be monitored by the exam administrator with audio and video being recorded as you take your exam. When you wish to take a break at any point in time or when you complete the exam, you will need to raise your hand and the proctor will then assist you and escort you out of the testing room.

The front desk staff member will then provide you with a printout of your score report which will give you your scaled score. To save yourself some stress, you may find it helpful to know what a passing score is for the state in which you reside ahead of time. You will then immediately be able to determine if you passed. If you did not pass the exam, this report will also provide some detail on how you performed in each area of the test as a means of helping you prepare moving forward.

Here are just a few more important points to note:

• If you need to have accommodations and wish to request them, prepare in advance by contacting Pearson Vue once you register for the exam.
• Think ahead in preparing for the rest of your day after or before taking the test. Do you think that you will feel up to going to work that day? If you don’t pass, do you think that you will still want to keep your dinner plans with friends? If you’re not sure, it may be best to keep your schedule open for the full day.
• Remember the whiteboard provided for you? Prepare to make use of it! Think of up to 7 topics that you find with which you most struggle to remember and review them prior to entering the testing center. Once given your whiteboard, “dump” all of that information on the whiteboard so it’s available if needed. This might include things such as t-scores on a normal distribution, acronyms, age ranges for different stages of development, etc.
• Know your body and how it best performs. If you find that coffee makes you jittery or carbs make you tired, try to avoid those foods before your test and fuel your body so you can perform optimally.