One of my colleagues taught a PMP Prep course in early April, and one of the candidates in her class took and passed the online exam.
Here is the un-edited feedback from that individual:
"First of all, I learned that if you have an in-person exam scheduled, you will not see the online option. In order to see it, you need to cancel your exam (Fees are waved for now), and then re-apply and you will see the option.
I will do a quick bullet list of things that are good to know:
• you require a working webcam and microphone
• you can not have your phone near you during the test
• the test is open 30 minutes before to allow you to do the check-in process, which I will detail below
o it performs a systems test to ensure your internet speed is sufficient, and that you have a working microphone and webcam.
o they make you take pictures of your face, your ID (drivers license, etc) and 4 pictures of your desk area (front, back, left, right)
o you sign disclaimers about not sharing details of the test,etc.
• there is a tutorial at the beginning that lets you get used to the provided calculator and whiteboard (YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED A PHYSICAL CALCULATOR OR SCRATCH PAD/PEN)
o the whiteboard has plenty of functionality, and allows you to use text, which would allow the “brain dump”
o here’s an overview of the feature https://home.pearsonvue.com/op/online-proc...eboard-overview o unfortunately the calculator must be operated with the mouse. It does not interact with your keyboard
• they make you download and install an application (OnVue) which, once the test begins takes over your full screen
• highlight/strike through options are available, but the application makes you highlight the text, and then choose strikeout or highlight (there are keyboard functions, but they are not very intuitive. I think highlight was Alt+J for example)
• There is a chat function at the top. If you click it, it calls a proctor (they won’t be immediate). I did this at the beginning just to see the feature, not realizing how it worked. They just wished me luck, and I proceeded??. This function would be used by the proctor in case of technical issues. If they could not reach you there, they would reach out via phone (this is your only exception to the phone rule)
• just a tidbit, because I was unsure – I had snacks beside me on my desk and ate them along the way, as well as water of course. They did not raise any concerns.
• The 10 minute break allowed me to use the restroom and stretch a bit. I only used around 4 minutes.
Aside from that, the interface is pretty intuitive. Everything I explained above is walked through in the tutorial.
For more information on it, here’s a link. In fact, this is where you need to go to take the test when it’s time!
https://home.pearsonvue.com/pmi/onvue"
It would be great if others who have taken the PMP exam online in the near term could share their experiences! Saving Changes...
I made an attempt to take my test last Friday. I made it through taking photos and as far as I was aware, my details were being reviewed. On this screen, there's no chat or customer service number to contact. I waited the time mentioned on the screen then began to reach out to customer service. Unfortunately, wait times are extremely long (I waited 30 minutes to speak to someone who only transfered me to another person, then another 20 minutes after that). By the time they were able to help me, I was an hour and a half into the test time and there was nothing they could do for me. I was notified it would be 2-3 days before I was contacted. I ended up calling Pearson on Monday and found out that Pearson had my status as cancelled, but PMI had my status as skipped. I spoke to PMI today and they notified me it would take 5 days to resolve this issue.
Long story short, I hope you don't have the technical problems I had (not completely sure I've figured them out either) or your test will be delayed at least a week if not more...
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2 replies by Phil Akinwale and Tayyab Hussain
May 06, 2020 12:10 AM
Phil Akinwale
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Very sorry to hear about the hard time you had Erin.
How frustrating that must be and deflating too. I hope you have a much better experience when you do test and I hope PMI gets back to you quick. Do you think wi-fi connection or software had anything to do with it? Either way it doesn't sound as though they were on top of communicating with you in a timely fashion to resolve what it was. I would have expected a phone call from Pearson in 5 - 10 minutes with an active proctor being there, except they are spread thin viewing several students at once. Please let us know what unfolds. Best wishes.
May 10, 2020 6:13 AM
Tayyab Hussain
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I am so sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience. Can you kindly share the contact numbers for technical help, Pearson and PMI from where you got reply. God forbids but one of us might also need these numbers in case of any trouble. Many thanks.
Saving Changes...
Phil AkinwaleProject Management & Leadership Speaker, Coach, Trainer & Author| PRAIZIONMesa, Az, United States
May 05, 2020 10:13 PM
Replying to Erin Perkins
...
I made an attempt to take my test last Friday. I made it through taking photos and as far as I was aware, my details were being reviewed. On this screen, there's no chat or customer service number to contact. I waited the time mentioned on the screen then began to reach out to customer service. Unfortunately, wait times are extremely long (I waited 30 minutes to speak to someone who only transfered me to another person, then another 20 minutes after that). By the time they were able to help me, I was an hour and a half into the test time and there was nothing they could do for me. I was notified it would be 2-3 days before I was contacted. I ended up calling Pearson on Monday and found out that Pearson had my status as cancelled, but PMI had my status as skipped. I spoke to PMI today and they notified me it would take 5 days to resolve this issue.
Long story short, I hope you don't have the technical problems I had (not completely sure I've figured them out either) or your test will be delayed at least a week if not more...
Very sorry to hear about the hard time you had Erin.
How frustrating that must be and deflating too. I hope you have a much better experience when you do test and I hope PMI gets back to you quick. Do you think wi-fi connection or software had anything to do with it? Either way it doesn't sound as though they were on top of communicating with you in a timely fashion to resolve what it was. I would have expected a phone call from Pearson in 5 - 10 minutes with an active proctor being there, except they are spread thin viewing several students at once. Please let us know what unfolds. Best wishes. Saving Changes...
smita KaradgeSenior consultant| Infosys India PVT LTDBengaluru, Karnataka, India
they make you download and install an application (OnVue) which, once the test begins takes over your full screen... ....
can anyone help me to understand if taking form office laptop will have any issues as i do not personal system. what care should i need to take. Saving Changes...
smita KaradgeSenior consultant| Infosys India PVT LTDBengaluru, Karnataka, India
Apr 28, 2020 9:26 PM
Replying to Mohit Joshi
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Thanks Phil. Yes, the 10-minute break doesn't count towards the exam time. But it is important to get back before the 10 minutes timer runs out, otherwise (I was told, not 100% sure) the exam gets terminated.
they make you download and install an application (OnVue) which, once the test begins takes over your full screen ..
Can help how you managed to take it from home with OFC laptop or personal laotop as i have only ofc laptop. Anyone can guide on this. as i see system requirement doc onVUE but not sure if any issues while taking exam
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2 replies by Mohit Joshi and Stéphane Parent
May 08, 2020 2:07 PM
Mohit Joshi
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Smita,
I suggest check the systems requirements content on the Pearson Vue website for some recommendations. It provides helpful information on preparing your environment for test. Here's an extract on using work computers:
"Do not take your exam in a setting with a corporate firewall (including VPN), or, alert your Network Administrator to the network configuration requirements. We recommend testing on a personal computer. Work computers generally have more restrictions that may prevent successful delivery."
Always do a system check to assess compatibility & readiness for the exam.
I took the exam on my personal laptop and hence can't share any potential issues or specific precautionary steps to take when using a work laptop.
All the best !!
May 08, 2020 2:36 PM
Stéphane Parent
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Like Mohit, I used my personal laptop, a Surface Pro. I highly recommend you have a USB mouse connected to your laptop. I would avoid wireless mouse for this as you don't want to worry about connectivity in the middle of the exam - dead batteries, dropped pairing, ...
My Surface snap-on keyboard gave me grief but it did not impact my ability to do the exam since the mouse was sufficient.
they make you download and install an application (OnVue) which, once the test begins takes over your full screen ..
Can help how you managed to take it from home with OFC laptop or personal laotop as i have only ofc laptop. Anyone can guide on this. as i see system requirement doc onVUE but not sure if any issues while taking exam
Smita,
I suggest check the systems requirements content on the Pearson Vue website for some recommendations. It provides helpful information on preparing your environment for test. Here's an extract on using work computers:
"Do not take your exam in a setting with a corporate firewall (including VPN), or, alert your Network Administrator to the network configuration requirements. We recommend testing on a personal computer. Work computers generally have more restrictions that may prevent successful delivery."
Always do a system check to assess compatibility & readiness for the exam.
I took the exam on my personal laptop and hence can't share any potential issues or specific precautionary steps to take when using a work laptop.
All the best !! Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
May 08, 2020 1:33 PM
Replying to smita Karadge
...
they make you download and install an application (OnVue) which, once the test begins takes over your full screen ..
Can help how you managed to take it from home with OFC laptop or personal laotop as i have only ofc laptop. Anyone can guide on this. as i see system requirement doc onVUE but not sure if any issues while taking exam
Like Mohit, I used my personal laptop, a Surface Pro. I highly recommend you have a USB mouse connected to your laptop. I would avoid wireless mouse for this as you don't want to worry about connectivity in the middle of the exam - dead batteries, dropped pairing, ...
My Surface snap-on keyboard gave me grief but it did not impact my ability to do the exam since the mouse was sufficient. Saving Changes...
I used my office laptop and did have problems (see above). I recommend performing the systems test a few days before as well as the night before. I believe my problem was that there were applications running in the background that I had closed, but were not completely exited. I believed I had successfully closed them since I was directed back to the OnVue application. I ended up working with the system administrator at my company to ensure these would be turned off next time I tried to take my test. My next attempt is TBD, so not sure if that really is the problem or not.
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3 replies by Pierre-Marie FABIN, Stéphane Parent, and Tayyab Hussain
May 08, 2020 2:58 PM
Tayyab Hussain
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I second your opinion, I am scheduled to take my ACP exam on 17th May. Hence, I performed system checkup test couple of days ago. Initial phase went fine, however upon initiating the sample test, it gave me a message that I must close one application running in background (any desk) and screen went blank. Since it was a test run, I was able to close this application and run it again and it worked fine. My opinion, close everything running in background (google drive, drop box, updates services, antivirus etc) before initiating the test and hopefully it will work fine. I will run the system check up at least two times before the actual test. May the force be with us ??
May 08, 2020 3:25 PM
Stéphane Parent
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Something else to worry about with work equipment: you may not have administrative privileges to install new software. I don't on my work laptop.
May 11, 2020 11:37 AM
Pierre-Marie FABIN
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And do you have to pay fees to reschedule your exam for this issue ?
I used my office laptop and did have problems (see above). I recommend performing the systems test a few days before as well as the night before. I believe my problem was that there were applications running in the background that I had closed, but were not completely exited. I believed I had successfully closed them since I was directed back to the OnVue application. I ended up working with the system administrator at my company to ensure these would be turned off next time I tried to take my test. My next attempt is TBD, so not sure if that really is the problem or not.
I second your opinion, I am scheduled to take my ACP exam on 17th May. Hence, I performed system checkup test couple of days ago. Initial phase went fine, however upon initiating the sample test, it gave me a message that I must close one application running in background (any desk) and screen went blank. Since it was a test run, I was able to close this application and run it again and it worked fine. My opinion, close everything running in background (google drive, drop box, updates services, antivirus etc) before initiating the test and hopefully it will work fine. I will run the system check up at least two times before the actual test. May the force be with us ?? Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
May 08, 2020 2:49 PM
Replying to Erin Perkins
...
I used my office laptop and did have problems (see above). I recommend performing the systems test a few days before as well as the night before. I believe my problem was that there were applications running in the background that I had closed, but were not completely exited. I believed I had successfully closed them since I was directed back to the OnVue application. I ended up working with the system administrator at my company to ensure these would be turned off next time I tried to take my test. My next attempt is TBD, so not sure if that really is the problem or not.
Something else to worry about with work equipment: you may not have administrative privileges to install new software. I don't on my work laptop. Saving Changes...
Kiron, you always pioneer to provide feedback of new processes however my concern I am afraid that the online exam would drop the standard and value of the certification because I do remember how hard we all sat with all that check up and empty all pockets no lavatory brakes entering the room was harder than air port security to sit for airplane. I know many are happy for that and we are also happy for them but the level of difficulty is certainly less than going to a proctor room. I am sure that the laptop camera can not do 360 monitoring maybe initially they might ask you to go around the room but once you sit facing camera the back of the laptop can not be monitored. Saving Changes...
