Testing Center Student Guide

In order to successfully provide equitable access for all, the Testing Center does have certain procedures and rules to help facilitate a seamless and less stressful testing environment. We encourage you to review the information provided here, in order to be more knowledgeable and comfortable with the Testing Center’s practices.

Contents

Scheduling Deadlines

We highly recommend taking the time to review all of your courses’ syllabi first and foremost. There are 3 simple steps to getting ready to use the testing center. Once you have…

  • Set your schedule…
  • Met with your instructors to discuss your accommodation options (note: some instructors can provide accommodations and therefore render the need for the testing center unnecessary) and…
  • Verified that you will need access to the testing center…

then all of your exams need to be scheduled. Typically, scheduling is accomplished in the first week of semester, which provides you with two major benefits: Availability of the testing center and Peace of mind!

Important Notes for Final Exams

  • To accommodate the number of exams administered during finals, the testing center operates under alternative block times to ensure we have enough space to administer exams with extra time. These block times are 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
    • You should schedule the 10:00 and 10:30am finals at 11:00am; the 12:30pm and 1:00pm finals at 2:00pm and the 3:00 and 3:30pm finals at 5:00pm – unless there is a time conflict with another exam or you have explicit permission for an alternative start time from the instructor.
  • Please schedule all exams early in the semester so that you don’t miss the scheduling deadline and risk taking an exam without accommodations.
  • When scheduling your final exams, select the time block that overlaps your class.
  • When scheduling at a different time than your class, you must obtain prior approval from your instructor. Ensure that you have CC’d [email protected] when obtaining permission.

Deadlines

  • You will need to have your exams scheduled 5 business days (1 week) before the first exam date for fall & spring semester. The deadline for final exams is 14 business days (3 weeks) before finals begin..
    • During summer terms, when the volume of exams is lower, the deadline for scheduling exams is 3 business days. and 1 week for finals/end of semester exams.
    • See Important Dates & Deadlines for specific semester deadlines.
  • You will need to schedule exams at the same time/date as the rest of the class.  When scheduling at a different time than the class, you will need to obtain prior approval from their instructor.
  • Any changes to scheduled exams (dates/times) can be submitted through the AIM Student Portal and will need to be completed at least 5 business days (1 week) before the new date of the exam (2 business days during the summer semester).
  • If you miss a deadline, and the course instructor is unable to accommodate your needs, you may have to take the exam without accommodations. Exceptions to Testing Center deadlines may be approved on a case by case basis.

Things to Remember…

  • You should schedule exams with the testing center ONLY if your exam requires a proctor AND your professor is unable to provide the necessary exam accommodations.
  • You will only be able to schedule exams with the testing center in a manner that is consistent with the course requirements; meaning the criteria has to match the same guidelines as your peers. Special requests are subject to approval by the instructor and cannot be granted by the Testing Center

Faculty Notification Letter

A Faculty Notification Letter (FNL) needs to be requested through the AIM Student Portal every semester you want to receive accommodations and before you are able to schedule exams.

  • Faculty will complete the Testing Agreement that is included within the FNL email they receive.
  • After both of these steps are completed, the testing center will be able to approve the exam request.
  • Please review our tutorial on how to request a faculty notification letter, if needed.

Exam Scheduling

Exam requests must be submitted in advance with at least 5 business days (1 week) for exams and 14 business days (3 weeks) for finals.

Modifying an Exam Request

  • You can reschedule or cancel an exam request, but ONLY if the request has already been approved.
  • You can make modifications, but they have to be made in advance, with at least a 5 business day notice (1 full week) for exams and a 14 business days (3 weeks) notice for finals.\
    • During summer terms, when the volume of exams is lower, the deadline for scheduling exams is 2 business days. and 5 business days (1 week) for finals/end of semester exams.
    • See Important Dates & Deadlines for specific semester deadlines.
  • Whenever you modify an exam request, the status of that exam request is changed to Pending and will need to be reviewed and approved by a Testing Center staff member.
  • To Modify an Exam Request:
    • Navigate to Alternative Testing under My Accommodations on the left side of the screen. All upcoming exam requests will be shown at the top of the page
    • Locate the test you want to make changes to and select Modify Request
    • If you choose to modify your test request, it will bring you back to the exam request page where you can adjust any or all of the original options.
    • Once all changes have been made press Update Exam Request. You will be able to view the changes on the main Accessible Testing page.

Cancelling an Exam Request

To cancel an exam request:

  • Navigate to Alternative Testing under My Accommodations on the left side of the screen
  • All upcoming exam requests will be shown at the top of the page
  • Locate the test you want to make changes to and select Cancel Request
    • You will be presented with an important notice to read
  • Click confirm cancellation

Make Up Exam Scheduling

  • You are responsible for scheduling make up exams according to the instructor’s make up policy and the TAMU Student Rules http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule07.
  • The process to schedule a make up exam follows the same process as scheduling a regular exam and includes the following steps:
    • Under My Accommodations, select Alternative Testing
    • Beside Select Class, click on the down arrow and choose the correct course.
    • Make sure to select “Makeup Exam” on the drop down menu when filling out the request.
  • Click on Schedule An Exam

AIM Mailbox

  • The mailbox in the AIM student portal serves as a record of all email interactions sent to you by the Disability Resources.
  • You may only view emails in the mailbox but cannot reply through the portal.

Test Day Information

Arriving at the Testing Center and Study Areas

  • The Testing Center is located at the Student Services Building Suite 111.
  • Arrive on time. Check-in for your exam up to 15 minutes before your scheduled start time.
  • If you arrive early for your exam, please remain out in the main lobby where you may use the tables or the SSB Student Room 109.
  • During busy testing days and finals, the TC is not able to accommodate all exams in our testing rooms and will use various locations. Impacted students will be notified before each exam or final.

Items Not Allowed in the Testing Rooms

  • Calculator lids
  • Food or drink with the exception of water in a see-through container
  • Hats, backpacks, or bags
  • Cell phones, smart watches, tablets, or other electronic devices
  • Items that are not essential for completing the exam
  • Clear bags only for pencils or medical devices

Checking In

  • Store non-essential items in the Testing Center lockers. Consider leaving valuable items at home.  Pack light on test day to ensure your belongings will fit in the lockers.
  • Store cell phones and smart watches in lockers. Turn all sounds off.
  • Supply your own materials. This includes scantrons, calculators, pencils, etc.
  • Start your exam on time. Students who arrive late may be instructed to take the exam in the classroom or to reschedule the exam with the instructor.
  • Present your valid photo ID (i.e. driver’s license, student ID) when you check-in.
  • You will be assigned to a testing room and seat.

During your Test

  • If you need to leave the testing room for any reason, please check in with the TC staff.
  • Ask the check-in staff when you are concerned with an exam question, instructions, or testing environment.
  • You must consult with the check in staff immediately if you need to stop the exam. Once your testing time begins, it will not be stopped unless there are extenuating circumstances.
  • Complete your exams during your approved testing time, including filling out your scantron.
  • Return all exam pages and scratch paper to the check-in staff. Students will not be allowed to keep testing materials without written instructions from the course instructor.

Location & Hours of Operation

The Disability Resources Testing Center is located in Suite 111 of the Student Services Building.

Fall/Spring

Monday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Finals: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm

Summer

Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Finals: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm

Contact Information

[email protected]
979-862-4570 for Scheduling Questions
979-458-1102 for Check-In Desk/Proctoring
979-458-2861 for Testing Center Program Coordinator
Student Services Building, Suite 111

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