Two for the show…
Three to get ready…
And four to… FAIL!
So, Monday I took my second test. I did not pass.
Okay, maybe a little more than “did not pass.”
I bombed it.
Big time.
{Insert long, descending whistling noise followed by “Ba-Boom” sound here.}
I knew it about halfway through the test, when I realized that all the questions on the test were a whole lot more difficult than the questions I’d been presented in the practice materials I had. I actually laughed at that point, knowing right then and there that there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that I was going to pass that test.
In an odd way, after I got my score, I was actually relieved that I bombed as badly as I did. It’s weird, but not passing a test by a significant amount was actually easier to take than missing it by just a few points. Somehow missing the mark entirely doesn’t feel nearly so bad as coming close to the target and not making it.* Go figure.
Good thing for me, then, that I missed the mark by… well, let’s just say by a lot. Don’t want to break any of the non-disclosure agreements here, you know, but I don’t think I’m doing any harm in saying that there was one section that I bungled entirely. As in: I didn’t answer a single question in that section correctly.
That’s not just bombing a test. That’s bombing a test with conviction.
Now, of course, I have to figure out when to try again. Making that decision is proving to be quite a bit more difficult than I would have thought. On the one hand: I want to give myself enough time to try and learn whatever it is I didn’t know the first time around. On the other: I don’t want to wait so long that I start forgetting all the material for the sections I did well on. Plus the added factor of holiday dates to work around.
Quite the quandary.
Whatever the case, who knows when I’ll be blogging on a regular basis.
Of course, that isn’t the only reason I wanted to pass the test. No, the biggest thing that’s been on my mind, the biggest regret about not passing this particular test, is that I’ve been with this same material for over two months now. And, honestly, I’m sick of it, and really wish I’d passed so that I could move on to the next one. On to something new.
But I guess we can’t all get what we wish for…
* Don’t mistake my brevity, though. It was still quite the downer…
The GeekHiker 
Aww, that sucks. I’m sorry. This is probably more common than you realize and not a reflection on your abilities. You know that, right?
By: spleeness on November 10, 2010
at 7:17 am
I think you are awesome, and completely agree with Spleeness.
I’m so impressed with your commitment to success, and that you won’t let this one bomb set you off course.
((Big hugs!))
By: missmccracken on November 10, 2010
at 8:27 am
Better to be the Relieved Bomber than the Mad Bomber, I always say.
Okay, I don’t think I’ve ever said that before.
Anyway, now that you have a better idea of what they are looking for I would think your next attempt will be a more successful one.
By: Homer-Dog on November 10, 2010
at 12:39 pm
Remind me why you’re taking this again? Is work forcing you to do it? Do you get a raise or a new title or some sort of reward? I sure hope so. I would probably drop out at this point…but I’m a big slacker.
I hope that taking the test will actually help you prepare for when you have to take it again. And obviously I wish you a lot of luck. We need you to pass so you can get back to posting!
By: Mel Heth on November 10, 2010
at 1:09 pm
Yikes, sorry to hear that! I second Mel’s questions: is there a compelling reason that you are doing this? You seemed to be hinting in the last post that there is something on the other side of the tunnel, and that if only you pass this test, there is gonna be something new. I’m sure that whatever the reason, it’s good enough for you to have made an effort, and try again. Now that you’ve learned what is actually there in the test, you’ll be more prepared next time. We are all pulling for ya! It’s okay to have setbacks (case in point, I applied for a job I really wanted a while ago but didn’t even make the interview list…) — don’t give up!
By: K on November 10, 2010
at 5:04 pm
That bites, although, like you said, a far-fail is easier to deal with than near-fail—none of that ‘if only’ crap that we use to torture ourselves.
As for when to try again, well, shoot, it hasn’t even been a week. Go for a couple of hikes, breathe, then decide what next.
Still, bites.
By: absurdbeats on November 10, 2010
at 7:01 pm
If they made a “you bombed with conviction” balloon, I would send one your way in celebration. Hey…if this whole computer gig doesn’t work out, I think we just found a new career path for you!
By: JENNerilizations on November 10, 2010
at 7:10 pm
wow. did your practice materials not tell you about a whole section that was going to be on the test? i’m just wondering how this discrepancy happened.
scheduling for anything the month before the holidays is hard, but i agree that you don’t want to wait too long that you forget what you have learned. sometimes i schedule things as a way to force myself to prepare … without it scheduled, i can push it off indefinitely.
also … stuff happened, and my blog moved.
By: seine on November 10, 2010
at 7:16 pm
Eek. I can’t comment on the bombing the test part because I can’t manage not passing tests well. Never learned how to really do that correctly and it still rattles my nerves to think of failing written assignments of any kind so: I’ll say that I’m glad you are already planning your strategy for the next opportunity, that I’m sure you are going to do better and that you should also take some time to breathe from this. Ignore it for a couple of days. And then kill it!
By: narami on November 11, 2010
at 4:34 pm
Bummer, man. That sucks.
Hey…did you know that there are people out there who just get a job, go to work and come home, and never kill themselves to get advanced certifications or take tests or anything like that?
Yeah. I can’t imagine it either.
By: hebba on November 14, 2010
at 5:22 pm
You know what, I entirely agree: there is nothing worse than failing by only a few marks; better to completely get wiped out.
Next time though… you have plenty of time to pass, the world isn’t going anywhere!
By: SJ on November 14, 2010
at 10:28 pm
Spleeness – It probably is. Though I hope not to become a “repeat offender”
MissMcCracken – Thanks. Too bad “awesome” doesn’t count on a resume. 😦
HomerDog – Trying to start your own catchphrase? I hope so, but the test is so broad, it’s difficult to know exactly what to expect…
MelHeth – I have my reasons. LOL – find somebody to pay me to write this stuff, and I’ll drop out of the whole testing thing!
K – K! How have you been? I’ll try not to give up, but as I write this two weeks later, I’ll admit it hit me harder than I thought it would…
AbsurdBeats – What’s next, methinks, is to study and try again. As unappealing as that might be…
JENNeralizations – Aw, thanks. Uh, wait, what career path?
Seine – Section? Yes. Nature of questions? No.
Narami – I hope I do better the next time. These tests are darned expensive!
Hebba – Yeah, there are definitely people like that. There are also people who don’t have to do much work at all and make tons of money. Luckily, I have the pleasure of working with some of them. *grimace*
SJ – Heh, unless that whole Mayan Calendar has something to it… 😉
By: geekhiker on November 26, 2010
at 6:05 pm
a bit late with my comment, and i’ll just be repeating what everyone says – sorry dude, that sucks. you need a break and then maybe another attempt? at least you’ll know what you’re up against. and most likely you’ll pass.
By: blakspring on December 1, 2010
at 1:02 pm