Managing unscheduled breaks

In most instances, candidates will take unscheduled breaks. If a candidate wants to take a break at an unscheduled time, you must put the exam into unscheduled break mode, make sure the candidate leaves the testing room, and log the time the candidate is in and out of the testing room. The exam clock continues to run while the candidate is away. You must resume the exam after the candidate returns from the break.

During unscheduled breaks, it is important to make sure that candidates do not access prohibited personal items. When a candidate takes an unscheduled break, the proctor attaches a lanyard to the candidate's locker key to remind the candidate that locker access is restricted. (If the candidate leaves the key in the testing room during the break, the proctor must still distribute the lanyard.) The lanyard is a visual alert for test administrators and indicates that a candidate is on a break with restrictions.

The restrictions vary by exam sponsor, but they usually restrict candidates from accessing certain items in their lockers and sometimes restrict them from accessing their lockers at all. After the break, the candidate must return the lanyard to the proctor. (The proctor does not distribute a lanyard when a candidate takes a scheduled break except for ARRT, GMAT, NCSBN, and PTE Academic candidates. For more information, see Reminding candidates of scheduled break policies.)

There is no break function for exams delivered through Administrator in Delivery Manager. To prepare a workstation for an unscheduled break, turn the monitor off before you escort the candidate out of the testing room. The exam time will keep running. For more information, see Managing unscheduled breaks in Administrator. For more information about Administrator, see appendix A.

Reminding candidates of unscheduled break policies

To view the following information in a script format, see the Proctor Break Script in the Resources application in the Connect portal.

When a candidate wants to take an unscheduled break, remind the candidate of the following:

Candidates cannot access any educational, test preparation or study materials, cell phones, or other electronic devices while on break. Accessing these items will be reported as misconduct. (Also check the client reference to remind the candidate of any sponsor-specific unscheduled break policies.)
Attach a lanyard to the candidate's locker key, or distribute just the lanyard if the candidate leaves the locker key in the testing room. Tell the candidate that the lanyard must remain visible during the break and cannot be in a pocket. Remind the candidate to return the lanyard after the break.
Remind the candidate that exam time does not stop counting down during unscheduled breaks.

If possible, alert the test administrator at the front desk that the candidate is on an unscheduled break and has a lanyard.

ARRT, GMAT, NCSBN, and PTE Academic candidates are required to have lanyards during both scheduled and unscheduled breaks. Also see Reminding candidates of scheduled break policies.

Using unscheduled break mode

Follow these steps when a candidate wants to take an unscheduled break:

The candidate does not need to first answer the question that is displayed on the screen before an exam is put in unscheduled break mode.

Remind the candidate that the exam time will not stop counting down while he or she is on a break.
Press Ctrl+Shift+F12 on the workstation keyboard.

The Delivery Manager – Login window appears.

Type your username and password, and click Login.

The Administrator Overrides window appears.

Select the Start unscheduled break option, and click OK.

While the candidate is away, the exam clock continues to run. This means that the more break time the candidate takes the less time the candidate has left for taking the exam.

The Active Break window appears while the exam is in unscheduled break mode. For more information, see About the Active Break window.

If time runs out when the exam is in unscheduled break mode, a message about the expired time appears after you log in to Delivery Manager. Have the candidate click OK to end the appointment.

When the candidate leaves the testing room for the break, verify the candidate's identity according to exam sponsor's policy, and sign the candidate out.

For more information, see Performing entry and exit monitoring.

When the candidate returns from the break, verify the candidate's identity according to exam sponsor's policy, sign in the candidate, and then escort the candidate back to the workstation.

For more information, see Performing entry and exit monitoring.

Click Resume in the Active Break window.

The Delivery Manager – Login window appears.

Type your username and password, and click Login.

The candidate can continue the exam from where he or she left off. Any necessary time adjustments are made automatically. Do not manually adjust the amount of time the candidate has left for the exam.

If required, create a case immediately after you assist the candidate.

Create a case if the following situations occur. Otherwise, you do not need to create a case for unscheduled breaks.

The candidate took an unscheduled break and the exam sponsor does not permit unscheduled breaks. Create a case, selecting these options:

Exam delivery

Candidate error or misconduct

Candidate refused to follow proper procedures

The candidate takes an excessive number of unscheduled breaks. Create a case, selecting these options:

Exam delivery

Candidate error or misconduct

Candidate took excessive unscheduled breaks

The candidate is gone for an excessive length of time during an unscheduled break. Create a case, selecting these options:

Exam delivery

Candidate error or misconduct

Candidate went over allotted break time