Computer-Based Testing

Your testing confirmation information, sent to you after you schedule your assessment, lists your assessment selection, assessment date, testing time, and test center. Please report to the test center 15 minutes before your scheduled testing time. On the day of the assessment, you may wish to dress comfortably in layers. This will allow you to adjust for the temperature at the test center, which may vary and may not be under the control of the assessment administrators. Please wear soft-soled shoes to help maintain a quiet testing environment.

Pearson Professional Center Tour
Preview a visit to a Pearson Professional Center, including a view of the typical testing room and other test center areas.

Testing Tutorials and Demonstrations
These tutorials can give you a sense of what you will experience during your OAE assessment.

Required identification. You must bring proper identification with you to the test center. Your identification must be a current, government-issued identification printed in English, in the name in which you registered, bearing your photograph and signature. Copies will not be accepted.

Acceptable forms of government-issued identification include photo-bearing driver's licenses and passports.

Review the complete Identification Policy.

Online Proctoring

Your testing confirmation information, sent to you after you schedule your assessment, lists your assessment selection, assessment date, and testing time. Sign in to your account and start your assessment within the exam window precisely 30 minutes before and up to 15 minutes after the specific appointment time.

Make Sure You Have the Right Equipment

You provide your own equipment for testing. You must have access to the following:

• Required—a desktop or a laptop; tablets and touch screens cannot be used for your assessment
• Required—a single monitor; extra monitors are not allowed; you need to remove them from the testing room, if possible, or unplug them
• Required if using an external monitor with a laptop—you must have an external mouse, keyboard, and webcam and the lid of your laptop must be closed
• Recommended—a personal computer rather than a work computer, which may have additional security that can interfere with your testing session

Take the system test before you register . This will determine if your equipment is eligible for online proctoring.

Prepare Your Testing Environment

For best results, prepare your testing environment before your appointment. Every online-proctored testing environment must meet these criteria:

• Quiet—background noise may distract proctors monitoring your assessment session and could interfere with your session
• No interruptions—inform any other members of your household that you are taking an assessment and cannot be interrupted during your entire appointment time
• Well lit—proctors must be able to see you and your testing space well; do not sit in front of a window or other strong light—if you are backlit, you are not clearly visible (draw shades or curtains, turn off lights behind you)
• Others cannot see your assessment—no one else must be able to view your computer or monitor
• Nothing in arm's reach that is not specifically allowed
  • ONLY equipment or materials that have been specifically approved for use during an online-proctored assessment will be allowed; these must be on the desk during check-in
    Note: There is a difference between what is allowed at a testing center and what is allowed in an online-proctored testing session
  • If you plan to use your mobile phone for check-in, be sure to place it out of arm's reach after you finish using it; otherwise, place it out of arm's reach in one of your environment photos
• No one else in the room—ideally, you should prevent others from entering; if someone does inadvertently enter, say "Please leave; I'm testing." No other communication is allowed.

Required Identification

You must present proper identification at the beginning of the assessment session. Your identification must be a current, government-issued identification printed in English, in the name in which you registered, bearing your photograph and signature. Copies will not be accepted.

Acceptable forms of government-issued identification include photo-bearing driver's licenses and passports. The Department of Motor Vehicles provides acceptable photo-bearing identification cards for individuals who do not have a driver's license.

Review the complete Identification Policy.

Computer-Based Testing

Nursing mothers who need to make arrangements for bringing specialized equipment or storage materials should follow the Alternative Testing Arrangements process to ensure prior approval and the ability of a test center to meet your specific needs. Please note that children will not be allowed in the testing center or into the secure testing room.

Online Proctoring

Nursing mothers who need to make arrangements for using specialized equipment should follow the Alternative Testing Arrangements process to ensure prior approval. Please note that children will not be allowed in the testing room.

Computer-Based Testing

The assessment session is designed to allow sufficient time for sign-in, review of the Test Center Rules , and communication of directions before testing begins and for completion of the assessment by examinees. Some examinees may finish testing well before the scheduled ending time of the assessment session. However, you should be prepared to use the entire session. You will be allowed no more than the allotted time to complete the assessment.

Before testing, you will be presented with a nondisclosure agreement, which will ask you to indicate your agreement to the conditions set forth on this website and the rules communicated to you orally or in writing at the assessment administration. You will have five minutes to review and accept the terms of this agreement. If you do not respond within five minutes, or if you indicate that you do not accept the terms of the agreement, your assessment session will terminate, you will not be permitted to take the assessment, and you will receive no refund or credit of any kind.

You will be monitored at all times by video and audio recording. If you leave the testing room at any time during the assessment (e.g., to take a restroom break), your identification will be checked and/or your palm scan will be taken when you leave and when you re-enter the testing room.

During testing, you may take restroom breaks. Any time that you take for restroom breaks is considered part of the available testing time. You may not leave the testing facility or room in which you have been seated for any purpose (other than to use the restroom, as permitted) until you have been officially dismissed by an assessment administrator. During the assessment administration, you may not communicate with other examinees or any unauthorized persons in any way, either in person or by using any communication device.

The test center at which you take your assessment(s) may administer a variety of assessments, including those for other professional licenses. Please be aware that other individuals at the test center may be taking assessments that have rules, policies, and other terms and conditions that may be different from those that apply to the assessment that you will be taking.

Prohibited Materials

The following materials are prohibited at the test center:

• Smoking and the use of all tobacco products
• Visitors, including relatives, children, and friends
• Weapons of any kind

Additionally, any personal items that you bring to the test site must be stored in a locker outside of the testing room during the test. This includes jewelry, watches, wallets, and purses in addition to the following items, which are considered to be prohibited aids:

• Cell phones
• Electronic communication devices, visual or audio recording or listening devices, or any device with an on/off option, including, but not limited to, MP3 players, PDAs, tablets, computers, CD players, removable storage devices, calculator watches, clocks or watches with alarms, spellcheckers, etc.
• Eyeglasses with communication and recording devices; note that during the check-in process you may be asked to remove any pair of eyeglasses for a visual inspection, but the test center proctor will not touch or otherwise handle your glasses
• Calculators and calculator manuals (on-screen calculators are automatically provided for tests that allow them)
• Handwritten or printed materials, such as dictionaries, notebooks, scratch paper, textbooks, etc.
• Packages and bags of any kind, such as backpacks, briefcases, etc.
• Hats or headwear, including barrettes and hair clips larger than ¼ a quarter -inch wide and hairbands larger than ½ a half -inch wide, except for those being worn for religious or medical purposes
• Food and drink, including chewing gum
• Unauthorized aids, such as slide rules, rulers, translation aids, highlighters, etc.
• Unauthorized medical devices, defined as any device not noted on Pearson VUE's Approved Comfort Aids list , unless prior approval has been obtained (refer to Requesting Alternative Testing Arrangements for more information)

Violation of test site rules, including the possession or use of prohibited materials during an assessment administration, may result in the voiding of your scores.

Online Proctoring

The assessment session is designed to allow sufficient time for sign-in, identification confirmation, and communication of directions before testing begins and for completion of the assessment by examinees. Some examinees may finish testing well before the scheduled ending time of the assessment session. However, you should be prepared to use the entire assessment session. You will be allowed no more than the allotted time to complete the assessment.

For an online-proctored test, the check-in process includes:

• Taking photos of (1) your government-issued ID, (2) your testing environment, and (3) your face (a headshot)
• Having your photos reviewed before your assessment is queued up. Most candidates will start their assessment within 15 minutes of their appointment time.
  • If your pictures don’t pass review, you’ll be joined by a greeter as soon as possible to help you troubleshoot.

Before testing, you will be presented with a nondisclosure agreement, which will ask you to indicate your agreement to the conditions set forth on this website and the rules communicated to you orally and/or in writing at the test administration. You will have five minutes to review and accept the terms of this agreement. If you do not accept the terms of the agreement within five minutes, you will not be permitted to test and you will receive no refund or credit of any kind.

You will be monitored by a VUE-certified proctor via webcam and microphone throughout your assessment to ensure the integrity and security of your assessment experience.

Breaks. Unscheduled breaks during testing are not allowed. See the assessment information page for information about any breaks that are included during the overall appointment time.

What Could Cause Your Assessment to be Stopped and/or Revoked?

We take steps to ensure that every testing experience is a good one, but there are two main reasons your assessment could be stopped.

• Your assessment cannot be launched—if technical problems with your computer or internet connection prevent the assessment from launching correctly.
• Your assessment could be revoked if the proctor sees any irregularities.
  • You must stay within webcam view.
  • You cannot get up and walk around.
  • No one can enter your testing environment.
  • You cannot leave your testing environment.
  • You cannot use paper and pencil/pen.
  • You cannot access your cell phone without explicit permission by the proctor.
  • You must be clothed (no hats or hoodies).
  • A beverage in any container is allowed, but no food or smoking.

Additionally, you could receive a warning for the following activities, which could lead to your assessment session being revoked:

• Moving your webcam—you cannot move your webcam once your assessment session has started.
• Mumbling or speaking out loud will lead to a warning.

Violation of testing rules, including the possession or use of prohibited materials during an assessment administration, may result in the voiding of your scores.

Computer-Based Testing

When you have completed testing or when the assessment session ends, whichever occurs first, your assessment materials will be collected or secured and you will be dismissed. Once you have been officially dismissed, you must leave the testing facility.

Online Proctoring

When you have completed testing or when the assessment session ends, whichever occurs first, you will be dismissed from the assessment session. Once you have been officially dismissed from the assessment session, your session is over and you will be logged out of the system.

Computer-Based Testing

If you have comments about the test center or the conditions under which you took an assessment, please submit your comments to Evaluation Systems no later than seven days after your assessment date.

Online Proctoring

If you have comments about the conditions under which you took an assessment, please submit your comments to Evaluation Systems no later than seven days after your assessment date.