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Testing Centers Mystery Shops

January 02, 2024 06:58PM
Has anyone done these shops where you go to a testing center to monitor their protocol and fail the test on purpose? Those that have done it before, has anyone made it one of their regular shops?

At one of the holiday parties I attended, I spoke with someone who works at a testing center and they brought up the topic of mystery shoppers. They giggled and said that they have a good idea who the mystery shoppers are because of the questions that they may ask or the way they behave are not typical of regular test takers.

I think someone posted about one assignment where they wanted you to attempt to cheat by sneaking in notes.
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January 02, 2024 09:21PM
got caught in a glitch, please delete.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2024 09:22PM by Morledzep.
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January 02, 2024 09:21PM
I did one. Before I realized that the purpose of the shop is to try to get the folks working there in trouble. I won't set folks up for failure. You're supposed to try to get them to accept a bribe to make it so you pass the test, and you're supposed to try to sneak a piece of paper into the test in a pocket, like the answers to the test or whatever.. I won't do another one, not for any money.
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January 02, 2024 10:39PM
I’ve done several of them, Momo. I won’t do them anymore for less than $100, and they aren’t willing to go that high. It is a LOT of information to remember, and there is no using a cell phone or jotting notes down on a piece of paper. It is literally just you and your brain. They want to know how many positions, how many test-takers, every timing you could possibly imagine…it’s too much stress for the $40/$50 they’re offering.

And yes, the scenarios involve offering bribes and attempting to cheat in some manner. I didn’t have a problem with that; it’s testing compliance, just like with so many other shops we do. If the company is employing a dishonest employee, they’ve got a right to know it.

Sorry, Morl, you and I disagree on that.

I’m not shedding any tears that they won’t come up on the fees.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
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January 03, 2024 08:49AM
I didn't realize I had hit post because I meant to add more to my original post.

This person told me that besides the oddball questions or mannerisms that tip them off, when the intake of the test taker occurs, they can see how many times you've been there for each test. They can't see your past scores, but there is no way that you should be there trying to pass the real estate license exam for the 8th time unless you are the mystery shopper.

It is interesting that they said that because you would think the MSP and the client would want to make sure the employees can't sniff out who the MS person might be just by looking at prior tests and simply remove that person from the system. This way when the shopper goes back to take the test.

This person was able to describe what the supposed mystery shopper looked like.who has been there to take the real estate test a gazillion times. They were able to describe another person whom they suspected was a shopper.

I saw the $100 offer that asked that you try to bribe and try to cheat.
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January 03, 2024 09:10AM
I'm surprised they don't scrub the records; it seems like it would be an easy thing to do as long as you've never been there to legitimately take an exam.

The locations I visited were all at major universities, and the folks in the testing centers there were what I would call "career employees." They didn't look the type to risk their University pension for a piddly bribe. Nobody's ever shown the slightest bit of interest, and the offer is usually met with, "The tutoring office is just down the hallway."

Are you going to do it for the Ben Franklin, Momo?

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
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January 03, 2024 09:13AM
I was seriously considering it since it wasn't the testing center that this person I was talking to worked at.

I was reluctant because the MSP was European based with no presence stateside.
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January 03, 2024 09:20AM
Are we talking about the same one? I'm thinking of the naked MSC, and their corporate headquarters are in Virginia.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
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January 03, 2024 10:35AM
I done the normal well for me ones with the Naked MSC last I was doing almost quarterly for $70 a pop at 2 local to me locations but decided just not worth it and needed $100. 5/2/23 was the last one I did. The other MSC is UK based and starts at a higher pay and I was able to get $100 from them. Rotation is something crazy thou like once every 3 years at the same location down from once per life, so I suggest asking for $200 or more. The UK based MSC does a different client of testing centers than the one the Naked MSC does. They really are not that hard and similar between the 2 MSCs but do take some time as you have to stay so long for the exam around 90 minutes plus maybe 30 minutes for the report. Quarterly yeah, I will do for $100, Once every 3 years more like $200 maybe more.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
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