I sat for two modules today at my local REC that will remain unnamed due to it being my local REC for the foreseeable future. My proctor was 30min late to my first module (was waiting in the office at 0700 and they didn’t call me back for check in until 0755). Got into the room at 0800. On the sign in sheet it indicates this, however I was told at 11 that I was done. I didn’t pass the module but I was cut 30min short and mulling over 5-6 questions that could have pushed me over the edge and passed me. A few of them were CFR questions that I had to double check. While I was just squeaking by on this one, I can’t help but think that if I had had my full 3.5hrs I would have gotten a different outcome. Is there anything I can do to report this? Not only was I cut short, but I was blamed for starting late due to a medical device I was wearing that needed to be searched (I had doctors letter stating it was required for my care and had it open and ready for inspection when I arrived at 0700).
Part of me wants to let it go because I wasn’t prepared enough, I knew this much, and will pass it next time, but being cut short 30min sucks. 5min ok, but 30? Should I drop it? I didn’t want to make a big deal of it since I had another exam to take after, but should I go back next week and state my case?
/endrant
First thing, just airing a grievance in writing form shold make you feel a little better about being short changed. Making a complaint with the local REC probably won’t help much unless it’s the day before & the proctor knows to be on guard & be on time. Other than that, reporting it won’t do any good to correct past injustices but maybe help the next guy who gets screwed over by tardy or lazy REC personnel. If the tardy proctor was an ass or didn’t apologize I’d report it if it were me. If I felt it was just an average Joe or Josephine who just ran late that day I’d let it slide.
But if you fail the test because you didn’t get the allotted time, because the proctor was late, shouldn’t that be a valid issue? I would think there should be some recourse.
Yes, I guess you might be correct but any effort, energy & time spent pursuing that recourse could also be spent studying to pass the test the next time. People pass tests at REC’s everyday, ReformedSailor can do it easily too. He said the REC is near him & it’s not like he has to retake or double pay for a course somewhere. I’d be surprised if the USCG/REC tells him he has now passed because of tardiness of the proctor. The best they’d do is apologize & tell him the fail will be removed from his record like that matters to anyone? And unless their complaints department moves 4x faster than everything else with mariner credentialing it will take weeks, maybe months to get an apology or decision. From what he said, he was wronged & whatever he does will be a correct choice on his part. I just said what I’d do since he asked us. Pass next time, report the incident if they were assholes or nasty about the medical devise inspection or let it go if it seemed like a good person having a bad day.
Definitely feel better after ranting. The day I learned I’d have to wear a medical device while taking the test (a week prior) I went to the REC and specifically explained my situation and asked what I needed to do to be allowed to sit for my exam. I did all of it (a fair number of hoops) and made it as easy as possible for them to not have it be a big deal test day. When they searched it yesterday, it was somehow the biggest inconvenience in the world and they made it a big deal. I wouldn’t accept an automatic pass for that exam, it wouldn’t be right, but having it nullified and giving me the option to retake would be reasonable. If there was some sort of emergency and we had to evacuate the test area, my guess is they wouldn’t make us submit the exam on a shortened time. It’s pretty obvious, but if I was 30min late I wouldn’t even get in the door, so why, as the test taker, should I be treated any differently? Called NMC and they said to report it via email and they will send up the chain of command…
Haha. I can’t offer much but sympathy. I was an hour late starting one time because the man with the key to the building was late to work and nobody could open the building. No extra time for the exam was offered.
I was cut short 2.5 days for an upgrade exam. Originally had 5 days, they closed for snow one day, closed for a Christmas party the next, and closed for 1/2 day because the heat went out of the exam room. I still was able to test, but it was a bit rushed. Once you plan for it, it’s tough to change. I’ve found any complaints make it worse. I never complained, but had a friend run some things up the flagpole and was set back a couple weeks. It wasn’t right, but it happened.
Part of me wants to say that if you don’t know it well enough to pass it in 3 hrs, 3.5hrs wouldn’t make a difference. But to be completely honest, you are provided, by policy, 3.5 hours per exam. If they do not give that to you, they are in the wrong and a complaint is valid. The CG lives and dies by policy.
