Sorry, I missed this - please do post a photo, it sounds lovely. Old rose gold is such a pretty colour.

DJM, don't people get this much pressure over exams where you are? I've rarely been in an exam hall where that kind of behaviour wasn't on display in one corner or another. My first degree was in psychology - I can only conclude that at least half the candidates took that course as a self-help option. They made the lawyers look quite well balanced.

Yes, I saw someone pull hair out. Regularly and steadily over the course of the three hour exam. It was a little unsettling to watch, but horribly compulsive.

The colouring-in man was quite interesting. He had six colours of highlighter pen with him and he created a complex pattern of form, shape and colour. I was drawn to watch him at regular intervals, not least because he was singing a happy little tune as he worked away. The only explanation I can think of (beyond the obvious!) is that he knew he wouldn't do well but you have to turn up to be eligible for the re-sit unless you have a watertight medical excuse (death cert, for example!).

These are Law Society exams, rather than university exams. The Law Society don't mess about or have much interest in excuses. For example, I have a three hour paper on the law of evidence the day before my due date and I tried to submit an 'exceptional circumstances' form, just in case I do badly in the exam. I got a sharply worded response to the effect that I hadn't actually met the exception criteria yet. It's the day before so what's my problem? They kindly offered to review this if I have my baby early - by allowing me to submit a medical cert for consideration by the exam board. They just might let me do the resit as a first attempt.

I have no idea what the first time pass rate is. Not good, I suspect. That information is available on the class intranet but to be perfectly honest, I'm scared to look. I don't scare easily, but this one is making me nervous! 

BTW Jen
Your silver and amethyst ring is lovely and a much deserved treat. Enjoy !

ROTFL!!!  All of these visuals bring back bad memories of Nat'l Board Exams!

One Exam I was sitting for was kind of entertaining though, the Proctor passed out all the exam material, explained all the specifics and began the exam---using a microphone.  He then left and entered the mens room and didn't turn off the microphone---I'll just say we heard way too much-but it sure gave everyone a big laugh, which was kind of relaxing 

LOL that was the worst one so far! I really enjoyed law school (well mostly) but I'm usually ok with exams. Am hoping I will get my lisense to print money practice law next year, then the contents of DBL's inventory will be mine, all mine

I'm also hoping that the ring will fit for a few weeks yet - I bought an outfit to wear to a wedding next month in a matching shade.

He did when he came back into the room, we all tried to keep straight faces and this guy is usually very stoic, but finally some one asked if everything came out alright and this guy turned a shade of red I've never seen before and everyone burst out laughing and finally so did he 

He actually had a really good sense of humor, but he was a retired marine-so he usually seemed quit serious---but I think he faired ok!  No nervous break downs that I've heard of.

Ummm… to be honest, NO.  In my experience I have NEVER witnessed what you did—(I kinda wish I had  because what you describe is funny as h*ll).  Believe me, I’ve taken many exams (National Boards I & II, Surgical Boards and two Fellowship Boards) and never experienced anything aside from a random sigh every now and then.  Conversely, the mantra was “never let them see you sweat”. Everyone acted like they had things under control -- test day was like any other day.
Personally speaking, I wanted to throw up half the time but that’s a whole other story. The pass rate for first time takers for the surgical boards was 31%. So in reality, 70% of the people sitting around you would fail, yet they acted like they were some sort of modern day Hippocrates (Father of Medicine). It was a 3 day exam-- one day written and two days of oral exams. Most people fail on the oral portion.

The 600 candidates were split in three groups. I was lucky to get the written portion done on the first day. The exam is held in a huge hotel. Each proctor has a hotel room and the candidates are split up into groups and are ushered to floors. No one is allowed to talk and it always struck me as lambs going to slaughter. Once on your designated floor, the 400 candidates go from hotel room to hotel room for a one-on-one oral question with a proctor. There are 5 questions per day. A bell would sound off after 40 minutes signaling there was 5 minutes remaining until you have to switch to the next room.

Once in a room the candidate sits at the round table (commonly seen in hotel rooms) facing the proctor. The proctors are stone faced and emotionless the entire time. They are trained not to lead the candidate or say anything that would insinuate you are the right track. Once seated, the proctor hands you a case presentation. You have to work the patient up and ask for certain tests. When you ask for a test, they hand you the results which will give you another clue to solving the puzzle. Often times, the exam is designed to lead the test taker down the wrong path, at which time you have to back pedal to ask for the correct tests and go from there to get the diagnosis. If candidate is confident that they have come up with the diagnosis and appropriate work up the proctor is informed and he/she writes the diagnosis in your folder. At that time the candidate stands up proceeds to the door where they stand in silence waiting for the bell to signal movement to the next room.

My first oral exam, I was scared as h*ll. And like you Jen, I don’t scare easily. I methodically went through the first case presentation and after 15 minutes came up with the diagnosis and work up. (I got lucky because I memorized a table in one of my texts on the plane, thinking at the time it was a waste of time-- God was with me for that one!). I proceed to the door opening and look at my watch and realize I have to stand quietly for 30 minutes. Now, I’m getting really nervous. I felt like I may have missed something and start second guessing myself. I remember wanting to say I was just kidding and that I really wasn’t done yet. Just before the five minute warning bell sounded off, the proctor clears her throat and says to me: “I could get in a lot of trouble saying this but you are the first person in a day and a half that got this question right.” I couldn’t believe my ears—I wanted to hug this lady. After that, I had the confidence to nail all nine questions. I believe to this day that that proctor was the reason I passed.

Hey DJM-what is your specialty?

DJM-I pegged you as a Podiatrist---they always seem to have such great/quirky senses of humor

Hmm, wonder what's funny about feet?! That's giving me a giggle. DL, are you a doc, too?

In college MMA (many moons ago), I was a Vocal Performance music major. At jury time (when you had to sing in front of the voice faculty for your semester grade), the bathrooms would be filled with nervous singers - you can only imagine what was going on in there. As a rule, juries were not fun.

Yes, they were awful! Except by senior year you learned to go with the flow. As a music major - you know -- instrumentalists always seemed calmer than singers Did you do a Senior Recital? That was fun, actually, because we were graduating!