WTF? Proctor asks me to lend my spare calculator to another candidate...

[vjrao]

Hi all,
Just to update you on this issue, I cut and pasted my original post above and sent it to GARP. I just received this response:

"Dear Vj,
Thank you so much or your feedback. We will certainly be reaching out to the proctors as they should not have done that.
Again your comments, and feedback is most appreciated so thank you."

To be honest, I don't think that there is anything that they can do to remedy this situation now -- 4 days after the test. However, ensuring that it doesn't happen again would be a step in the right direction. In any case, I'll just have to wait and see what my results are. As you all might imagine, if I pass, I won't care.... but if I don't pass I'll have to wonder how much this incident contributed to my failing. In any event, I'll just have to wait until Jan 2nd. Good luck to everyone and Happy Holidays.

 

[mongooseny23]

i'm glad this matter has been reported. The actions of the candidate and the proctor warranted reporting to GARP. Please keep us updated on the matter.

 

[vt2012]

Well I too found the proctors inefficient. One they did not check my calculator. another thing they did not read out the exam instructions completely third whatever they read out was in the Native regional language and not in English. last I had to fill my name on my sactron after the 4 hours had started. Clearly unprofessional compared to CFA

100% agree.

Once again, GARP mimics CFAI policy and procedures; and succesfully fails...
1. English is not my native language; however I spent 8 years in US as Sr.Researcher and 3 years in UN as Sr. Officer; no complaints about my English so far... But here...
Before the exam Proctor desperately tried to fight with instructions: "... rise your hand" instead of "raise", "eriser" instead of "eraser" etc. I don't even wanna make any comments concerning pronunciation - barbarian (even to me - !
2. After 13:45 one guy was trying to enter and sit for exam; firstly he was rejected ("No admittance after 1:45 to the room"), but after 5 minute "discussion" outside the room he was ... allowed to sit! I'm shocked!!! No mentioning he distracted all of us asking trivial things about what was already mentioned.
3. Again and again this stupid policy on answer changing:
Question: " ... Suppose I wish change answer more than once?"
Answer Proctor #1: You cannnot change answer more than once. Question: Why? No answer
Answer Proctor #2: Just do whatever you want. "Erise" your old answers and put new instead.
4. Concerning calculator(s) policy: (again, frankly speaking, I don't remember GARP policy exactly):
Once I sat for CFA exam in (say, CIS country.) There was exactly the situation under discussing.
And, luckily, there were 2 CONTROLLING PROCTORS from the CFA Institute.
Answers followed immediately were:
1. One calculator (approved) ONLY!
2. NO borrowing
2. NO lending

 

[vjrao]

From all of these stories, it seems that GARP does not have a good grasp on how to train the exam proctors. I have never had any issues during a CFA exam (unfortunately, I've taken the CFA exams more times than I would have liked) and I have always found the proctors at the CFA exams to be very professional. Given that the FRM is a lot newer exam than the CFA, I think it would be helpful for all of us to report these discrepancies in testing policies to GARP so that they can improve their process. Additionally, we need to all make sure that we are all prepared appropriately for the exam and that we push back when a proctor tries to enforce a rule that is not part of the GARP testing policy.

 

[vt2012]

As my former chief used to close the letter:
Peace...

 

[caramel]

From all of these stories, it seems that GARP does not have a good grasp on how to train the exam proctors. I have never had any issues during a CFA exam (unfortunately, I've taken the CFA exams more times than I would have liked) and I have always found the proctors at the CFA exams to be very professional. Given that the FRM is a lot newer exam than the CFA, I think it would be helpful for all of us to report these discrepancies in testing policies to GARP so that they can improve their process. Additionally, we need to all make sure that we are all prepared appropriately for the exam and that we push back when a proctor tries to enforce a rule that is not part of the GARP testing policy.

I did write to GARP and they forwarded my complaint to higher management they said. Well ill pronounced English was there , but in India the native language is Hindi. I do understand hindi but not so well as I lived many years abroad. The CFA proctors from my area last time were British Council library people , so more cultured and professional , In fact many notches higher.

 

[1.645SD]

caramel Proctor in Dubai didnt even know about answer sheet ..

 

[caramel]

caramel Proctor in Dubai didnt even know about answer sheet ..

I suggest you write to GARP , I did and hopefully their mgmt looks into it

 

[bhar]

In the first place the candidate without the calculator is in itself a sign of un preparedness. Even if you gave the calculator for argument sake, I can bet for sure that the candidate would not have passed the exam.

 

[Hend Abuenein]

You'd be amazed bhar,
On GARP's Facebook page last July, a candidate who passed the exam for something like 1224 had written the exam WITHOUT A CALCULATOR!! He forgot to bring it.
And this guy was not given a calculator by anyone.
He had waited until the results were out to tell his story, thinking he would never pass, because he had to make many approximations. But he did!

 

[bhar]

He must have been really prepared or he must surely have a lot of background in the topics that were tested. This could be a one off case.
This leads me to another thought that FRM, in comparison to the CFA, is quite unprofessional in many ways. In terms of maturity and standardisation too, FRM has several strides to make. Whatever feedback was given to the institute is never acknowledge leave aside, implemented. I am sure you will agree that, the funds that are being collected should be directed for the improvement of the exam administration and exam maturity, than any other activity at the moment.