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| Carla McLaughlin stands in the testing offices in MSU's Reid Hall 243. MSU photo by Jennifer Shoemaker. |
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Stop. Time is up. Put your pencils down.
As jobs become more specialized and more professions require licenses, people who thought their test-taking years were far behind them are facing examinations once again.
Today, mechanics, firefighters, financial planners, computer specialists, medical assistants and even those in clerical positions often require special certification before employers will hire them, says Carla McLaughlin, testing service manager at Montana State University. To give professionals access to these exams, MSU recently contracted with two new testing companies to offer nearly any professional or academic exam in the nation.
"These new tests give us the chance to reach out to more people. The university is about community, so being able to offer this service to everyone is just great," Mclaughlin says.
As an authorized Pearson Vue center, MSU offers certification exams for computer software such as Microsoft and Adobe. Another partnership, with Schroeder Measurement Technologies, allows the center to provide exams in fields such as medicine and law.
When test-takers arrive at MSU, one of the first things they will notice is that the exam experience has changed from the pencil and paper days.
Instead of long rows of desks in the exam room, there are mainly computer stations. Most tests -- both professional and academic -- are now computer-based, and even less computer-savvy test takers rave about the ease of taking computerized exams. Simple instructions let test takers easily navigate from question to question and eliminate the worry of entering a response on the wrong line of the test form. Computerized exams also give test takers the chance to immediately see their scores upon completing many standardized tests, eliminating the stress-inducing wait to find out how they scored.
The computers make many tests easier to complete, but they certainly don't eliminate the stress of taking the tests themselves, so McLaughlin has worked to reduce that stress by providing an unusually calm and pleasing environment.
McLaughlin, the testing service's director since 1998 has filled the entryway with plants and calming music. Paper snowflakes hang from the windows.
"People come in and say, 'This is the most relaxing office I've ever seen,'" McLaughlin says. The testing room itself is clean, but intentionally Spartan, "to avoid distracting people during the test." Test stations also have earphones and panels to block out noise and visual distractions.
Although the center offers new professional exams, McLaughlin says the majority of the tests she proctors are still two standard academic tests -- the GED for high school diploma equivalency, and the Graduate Record Exam, which is required for students pursuing a graduate education.
McLaughlin says the GED students in particular remind her why her job is important.
"Society has some of these kids just so beat down. People tell them they'll never make anything of themselves. And then they come in here, pass their GED, go on to college, graduate and become doctors, lawyers . . . they just thrive on it," she says. "These tests give them a second chance."
To help working people get access to the tests they need, the MSU Testing Service stays open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, and limited hours on select Saturdays. The MSU Testing Service is managed by the College of Education, Health and Human Development. For a full list of tests offered or to schedule an appointment, contact Carla McLaughlin, (406) 994-6984, carlam@montana.edu.
Carla McLaughlin (406) 994-6984, carlam@montana.edu
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| [View or Download] | 1. | Carla McLaughlin stands in the testing offices in MSU's Reid Hall 243. MSU photo by Jennifer Shoemaker. |
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