Computer-based testing offers quick results Published Oct. 19, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Kali L. Gradishar 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Whether you are looking to get a jump start on a bachelor's or associate degree or you are working on completing a Community College of the Air Force Degree, the University of Maryland University College Adana National Test Center is capable of helping you get there. The NTC offers more than 100 different exams for college-level credit, as well as 68 professional licensures and certifications. Testing sessions are held 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday, as well as 1-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesday. Offering five testing sessions per week with nine computers available allows for a total of 45 exam opportunities per week, but "we're currently only filling a third of the capacity we have for testing," said James Joswick, National Test Center administrator. Test takers' options include the College-Level Examination Program, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support Subject Standardized Tests, Excelsior College proficiency exams and Pearson VUE exams. Subjects range from math, science and health sciences to humanities, history and business, among many others. "While this is a UMUC facility, we still offer these services to non-UMUC students or people just working on their CCAF degree," Joswick explained. "CLEP and DSST are the two most common because a lot of people who come in to test are working on their CCAF." The NTC has been up and running since Sept. 7, but waited to hold an official grand opening to allow time for any kinks to be worked out of the system. The official grand opening was held Oct. 5. "We're offering significantly more tests than paper-based tests offer," said Joswick. "With those (computer-based tests), you can get immediate results ... stating whether you passed or failed the exam. "Before it was an 8-10 week process - people took the paper-based tests, we collected them and mailed them to the states, then results were mailed back," he said. "The benefit of immediate results is the school here offers eight-week classes. If you have to wait 8-10 weeks for test results, students wouldn't know what class they should take next - whether they should take the class for the course they tried to test out of or move on to the next course." The computer-based tests include multiple choice exams, as well as essay and listening and speaking portions for public speaking and language exams. "Those aren't immediate results because the essay or speech has to be sent to the school to be graded," said Joswick. Along with the increased testing capability and decreased wait time for results, the time between scheduling and the exam date have also decreased. "I think people have found it easy to schedule and test at the times they want. If someone came in the day of the exam, it's possible for them to come in to test during the next testing session," noted Joswick. "That's how fast it is; we don't have to order the paper exam and wait. "We try to make it a comfortable environment to set the test takers up for success - from resources to study to having the equipment running well to ensuring the test proctor and scheduler are doing their jobs. We want to give them every opportunity to do well on the exams," said Joswick. There are three ways someone can sign up to test. People can call DSN 676-6367 or 676-3060, e-mail ntc-adana@europe.umuc.edu or visit the education center in Bldg. 975, Room 27, which is next the official document center. Study materials can be found at the base library or online through the Air Force portal or at www.militaryonesource.com.