I have many questions concerning the RPR exam!

Test TakingPreparing Your Equipment for Exam DayBY ANTHONY D. FRISOLONE As a chief examiner for the semi-annual NCRA certification exams, I have seen many candidates make the same mistakes I did when taking tests. I have seen test candidates become stressed out and unravel at the seams on test day because of faulty equipment or less than a full complement of supplies. Decrease your level of stress and prepare in advance by having the right tools for the big day. Before we consider equipment, let's go over some of the basics. First, get a good night's rest, which will help you focus on test day. Second, know where the test site is and how you are going to get there. Third, get to the test site at least a half hour early to set up and get accustomed to your surroundings. Finally, listen carefully to the instructions the NCRA chief examiner or test proctor has given. Although this exam may be the tenth one you've taken, a procedure may have changed. By not listening carefully, you could miss something that might cause you to have an automatic failure. Equipment and SuppliesNow that we have taken care of the basics, let's talk about your equipment and the supplies you will need for the test. First, make sure your stenotype machine is working properly. Check the ribbon cartridge if you are using paper, and make sure the cartridge is not frayed or dried out. Also, know how to print your notes if you are required to submit them. Always keep at least two ink cartridges or ribbons in your writers carrying case in the event that one of the extra ribbon cartridges fails. The Élan Mira and Fusion series of writers have what's called Test Mode. Knowing how to put your writer into test mode is important. Otherwise, you will be made to turn over your floppy disks or data cards. Next, make sure your writer's battery is charged and ready to go. Ensure success by bringing along your writer's AC adapter — do not trust your battery on test day. Also, make sure to familiarize yourself with your writer's functions, such as the ability to erase the RAM, which is now an NCRA requirement. Keep in mind that chief examiners and their assistants cannot help you per NCRA rules. Let's briefly talk about supplies. My rule is that more is better. Test day is not the day to travel light. Bring more than you need. I have seen candidates bring less than normal, only to go scrambling for replacement supplies. Having more than enough in the way of supplies will guarantee that you will have a less stressful testing experience. A week before the test, go to an office supply store and get high density disks, disk labels, and pens. After you buy those disks, format a few for your writer and a few on your computer. Put each set in a sturdy container. After you format your disks, label them with your NCRA membership number and the site code. Your test site number will be on your exam ticket (that you print out from your e-mail), or you can go to the NCRA Web site to find the code. Remember that you need a driver's license, your exam ticket, and your NCRA membership card to get into the test site. While we're on this subject, do not forget your NCRA membership number. Chief examiners can call NCRA on test day, but it makes our job easier if you have your membership card with you. It is just not possible to call for every candidate at the test site, so remember your membership card. Bring at least two fresh packs of steno paper for your machine. If you are still in school, buy a few extra packs of paper that week for the test. If you are working and still use paper, bring extra paper and not just the scraps left over from the last deposition you took. Let's talk about the computer you are using for the test. Most likely, you will be using your laptop with your CAT system loaded onto the computer. Make sure that you have a surge protector and not a power strip. Remember, a power strip is just a series of electrical sockets, whereas a surge protector protects against power surges. Make sure that your laptop has its power cord so you can plug it into your surge protector. The surge protector and cord should be packed into a laptop bag or a sturdy tote bag. Please do not use grocery or shopping bags because they are made of thin plastic and break easily when loaded. Know your CAT system well! Chief examiners cannot and will not help you with your CAT system on test day. It is not that we are mean and want to see you fail, but we are bound by our oaths as chief examiners and by NCRA rules. If you are unsure of your CAT system functions, I suggest that you start learning them well before test day. To help you become better acquainted with your CAT program, review its tutorial to help you with the basic functions you will need to know for test day. My suggestion is to learn the basic steps, such as reading your notes onto the system, translating the notes, and editing your transcript. Next, know how to put in headers. Every page of your exam must have a header that has your NCRA membership number and the site code. Know how to make an ASCII file. I am surprised at the number of court reporters who do not know how to make an ASCII file of their test transcripts. It is good practice to make ASCII files of your tests and to know how to put them on a floppy disk or CD. Doing so is good insurance in case the paper transcripts are lost. If you have a disk, you can at least print out the test again. Learning how to make an ASCII disk is a requirement for the realtime exam, but it is also good to know when you're working at a deposition or in court. Printers can be your downfall. I once bought a printer specifically for test taking and forgot to load the printer driver. My forgetfulness caused me to fail an RPR exam that I know I had passed because the computer did not know how to communicate with the printer. It was frustrating to wait another six months to take a test I know I passed. Don't let this happen to you! Practice printing your tests with the printer that you are going to use for test day. Do a practice exam the day before so that you can spot any problems with your equipment and address them then and not on test day. Specifically for RealtimeThis next piece of advice is for CRR candidates. Know how to hook up your writer to do realtime. I have seen CRR candidates have difficulty hooking up their writers to do realtime because they were unfamiliar with their equipment. Be respectful to your fellow candidates by knowing how to use your equipment and by being ready for the exam when the chief examiner says, Ready. Check your COM port settings, know how to open up a realtime file, and know how to use a USB-to-serial converter to do realtime. Have at least two USB-to-serial converters and their accompanying software on hand. It is also a good habit for your workday as well. Practice setting up your equipment, do a practice test, and make a usable ASCII file. Remember that the NCRA testing rules as of May 2007 prohibit test candidates from using wireless equipment to hook up to do realtime. You must use a serial cable or the cable that comes with your Élan Mira or Fusion writers. With regard to making an ASCII file on the CRR exam, make sure that your ASCII settings in your CAT system are set so that the test prints correctly. Always refer to the most recent edition of the realtime What Is an Error? document for current printing guidelines and what constitutes an automatic failure. Also, remove any headers or footers that will identify who you are or whom you are working for. The only identifying information on your test is your NCRA membership number and site number. And, finally, make sure to set your CAT system to display in all caps. Below is a handy checklist for preparing for test day. I wish you all the best of luck this coming May and November, and look forward to seeing you on test day. TEST DAY CHECKLIST Getting to the Test Site__ Directions to the test site__ Alternate routes to the test site__ Bus map__ Train map__ Highway mapAdmission to the Test Site __ NCRA Membership card__ Driver's license__ Examination ticket__ Printout ofWhat Is an Error?__ Printout of exam guidelinesTest Supplies __ Surge protector__ Extension cord__ Formatted floppy disks with labels__ Pens (black or blue)__ Felt tip marker for labeling disksPrinting Equipment __ Printer__ Printer cable__ Printer power cord__ Printer paperCourt Reporting Equipment __ Stenotype machine__ Charged battery__ Stenotype machine AC adapter__ Steno paper (if applicable)__ Two ribbon cartridges (if applicable)__ Laptop computer__ Laptop power cord__ CAT software security device__ Two serial cables (CRR exam only)__ Nine-pin adapters (male and female)__ Two USB-to-serial converters (CRR exam only)Anthony D. Frisolone, RMR, CRI, is an official in New York and a Chief Examiner for NCRA tests.    -    CRRealtime 9/6/2011 3:45:32 PM | FlagCopy (CNTRL + C) to a Word document and paste (CNTRL + V) and format so you can have a check list for test day. I apologize for it not being formatted better. Best of luck to you :-)    -    CRRealtime 9/6/2011 3:47:41 PM | Flag