During the exam
When you're doing a task, remember these points:
 | It's the end result that matters, not the route or time taken to complete it. |
| If you want to enter numbers (for instance, in Excel) using the number keypad, make sure that Num Lock is on. The exam may turn it off between questions. (If possible, use the numbers above the letters on the keyboard) |
| Do everything that the question asks, but no more. |
| Make sure Office has completed its calculations etc before clicking Next Task. |
| Don't leave toolbars you've opened or dialog boxes open when you click Next Task. Sometimes the software will remind you, but you will need to remember to do this yourself. |
| Before clicking Next Task, click in the middle of the document unless the question tells you not to - eg, in the Word exam, if you need to insert a table of contents, don't leave it selected. Click somewhere else in the document. |
| Make sure you have done what the question asks before you click Next Task - there's no going back! |
| To make the instructions re-appear, click the 'Instructions' button. You then enter the 25-minute timeframe. |
| All questions have equal value, so attempt to answer every one, even the more difficult ones. |
| In Office 97, remember that answers are either right or wrong. You don't get credit for partially correct answers. However, in Office 2000, you will be partially credited for partially correct answers. |
| Sometimes, not all the methods for answering a question are available. For example, in Word you may be asked to embolden text. You should at least know both the toolbar shortcut and the menu items in which to do this. If the message 'Method is not available' displays on your screen, try an alternative way of answering the question. |
| Before clicking 'Next Task', make sure your answer is visible on the screen unless instructed not to do so. |
If the exam crashes or hangs, call the Administrator. He or she will restart the computer, and continue where you left off. Don't try to fix it yourself - it is not part of the exam, and some testing centers may say that trying to mend it yourself constitutes a cheating action.
If you are caught cheating by an Administrator, you will immediately fail the exam, and the Testing Center will contact Nivo to report you. Don't forget that cheating includes:
| Taking any form of notes into the exam |
| Taking a laptop, palmtop or any other form of computer or calculator into the exam |
| Attempting to capture screen images and/or text |
| Writing questions down and taking them out of the exam room |
During the exam, you have full access to the program - including Help and the Office Assistant. Remember, though, that it will affect your time alotted for the exam.
If a message saying 'Method is not available' flashes across your screen, try a different approach to answering this question. For example, in Word, if you are asked to embolden text and you try to press Ctrl+B, the message may appear. You are expected to know that you can choose Format | Font and embolden the text from there too.
Don't be afraid to talk to your Administrator. He or she is there to help you.