This probably would've been a better post if I had had time to write it a little closer to the event, but c'est la vie. I was feeling a little under the weather when I took the exam this time, so instead of being nervous, I tried to focus on just feeling sick and being angry that I had to go take a test instead of being nervous. I cut time a little close on getting there; I wasn't sure if you had to be there half an hour before the exam started. I think I made that time by about 30 seconds.
I was kind of concerned about getting set up and entering the terms in time, but I didn't have anything to worry about. I got everything all set, worked out the terms, and got myself in a comfortable writing position, and then decided not to do any practice material. I never practice before I CART for real, so why practice then?
I didn't try to do any fancy briefs with the terms. I knew I wouldn't remember them and I'd default to stroking them out, anyway. I think I did make briefs for a couple, and I think I actually remembered to use them. But for the most part I just wrote the words a bunch of times and tried to get possible misstrokes in my dictionary.
I had to wait for the CRR to be given first. We had the unusual circumstance of a candidate taking the CRR, and then going over to the next room for the RMR. The chief examiner let us know that after the CRR, she wanted everyone to stay seated, and the CRR/RMR candidate would gather up his things and go to the other room before she played the CBC/CCP exam.
One of the candidates said something about a lot of "movement" during the exam, and the examiner said she saw it. I had decided to just sit with my eyes closed during the CRR and wait for it to be over, so I didn't see anything. I thought maybe a lot of people went by the door or something.
When it was time for my test, I was nervous I wouldn't have enough time to get comfortable and get in the groove, but it turned out to be fine. I wrote the warm-up minute, and it was pretty terrible at first, but I got things under control before the test started. I kept getting nervous and feeling like I was losing control, but I tried to focus on getting my arm comfortable. I can always write better if my arm feels like it's in a good spot.
I also continued my new strategy of looking down at something in the same spot my computer speakers are at home instead of looking up at the whiteboard, and that worked well. I could just kind of zone out/let my eyes glaze over, but also focus on something at the same time. I think it must be training from when I CART that when I look away from the screen, it takes pressure off and makes it easier to write.
There were a couple sections where I dropped the ball and it was a struggle to push through, but I did it. The topic we were given was "patriotism." I think the text was some kind of Presidential acceptance speech. It felt really comfortable and familiar since I've been doing a political science class all semester. That probably helped me be less nervous, too.
After the exam, one of the candidates was complaining about how the RMR candidate was "a mess," and was messing around with his equipment and stuff. I guess that's what was going on during the CRR. I don't think it would've bothered me even if it had happened during my test. I couldn't see anyone during my test, and I couldn't hear him doing stuff even with my eyes closed. The chief examiner said she would let NCRA know about it.
I feel really confident about the exam. Barring any formatting/equipment/other weird issues like that, I think I passed. It's about a million times harder to wait for what I think are passing results than it was to wait for what I was almost certain were failing ones. They said we should have the results by "mid-December," so I guess I've got about a week and a half left until I find out.
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