My CUA exam is over, and I passed! After trying to cram 50 pounds of information into my knowledge-hole for the past couple of weeks, I am immensely relieved to be DONE. I can finally read something that doesn’t come in a three-ring binder. I may even knit again.
The timed two-and-a-half-hour test is given online, is open-book, and can be taken any time within a 24-hour window. I was happy to finish 50 minutes early and score above the minimum of 90% that I’d set for myself. (You only need a 70 to pass, but I’d have been very disappointed with myself to just squeak by.)
I panicked, however, when someone from HFI emailed me about half an hour after I finished the test to inform me to print the screen showing my scores as backup, as the company’s test server was having technical difficulties. Of course, I’d closed the browser several minutes before (and don’t have access to a printer today anyway, as I took the test at home to avoid disruptions). I immediately wrote back to her, listing my overall and section scores (I had taken the trouble to write them down, at least), and she responded that that’s all she needed. Whew.
So let me get this straight: test-takers can’t take the exam on a Mac, nor can they use any browser besides IE. And the leading company offering certification in usability places its exam on a an unstable system. And they’re willing to take me at my word on my scores? I guess I’m satisfied, as long as I never have to take the test again, but the whole process strikes me as rather flaky and less-than-usable.
I can’t wait to get my official CUA stamp and start notarizing the crap out of everything.
LLA says:
September 14th, 2006 at 4:15 pm EDTVisit LLA
WooHoo!!!!
I had no doubt in my mind that you would do swimmingly - and how nice to have it behind you now! Congrats!
And think how much fun it will be to wield your stamp as the weather begins to turn cooler, and simply everything is more fun to do…
(In my mind, you are running amok through the countryside, stamping everything just like “Cowboy X” from that old Electric Company cartoon…)
Flasshe says:
September 14th, 2006 at 5:38 pm EDTVisit Flasshe
I’m not sure what all this stamping business is about, but congratulations and I’m glad you no longer have to cram things into your knowledge-hole (that made me laugh).
2fs says:
September 17th, 2006 at 9:57 pm EDTVisit 2fs
I understand very little of this. But hey: anything that gives you a cool little stamp with your name on it, a stamp that officializes something or other, has got to be cool! Plus, you’re done in time for Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Terri says:
September 19th, 2006 at 12:14 am EDTVisit Terri
Have I not already mentioned the greatness of this news? Hooray! You are a woman of high standards. Good for you!
Editrix says:
September 19th, 2006 at 6:24 am EDTVisit Editrix
Aw, thanks! And Flasshe, one of the things I get with certification is a stamp with my name and CUA number on it, presumably for giving designs my seal of approval — although it seems really silly to me.
Flasshe says:
September 19th, 2006 at 4:36 pm EDTVisit Flasshe
Does that mean I have to run any UI changes to my blog through you first?
Ezra says:
September 20th, 2006 at 1:32 pm EDTVisit Ezra
Whoo hoo! Congrats.
And there’s instant gratification, which is cool. Our friend just took the California Bar Exam a couplea months ago, and she has to wait until November to get the results back, which, given that there’s a 50% pass rate, has got to be a little nerve wracking (though she seemed just happy it was over). That is booshit, but I guess it’s one of those lovely hazing rituals of lawyerdom that made me never ever want to be one.
But what I came here to ask was, how do you stamp a website?
Also, Our Mutual Friend who got the stamp once just stamped some random receipts I had in my wallet; should I turn her in for abuse of stamp?
Ezra says:
September 20th, 2006 at 1:33 pm EDTVisit Ezra
And, PS, didn’t I tell you you were going to rock the exam?
Roman says:
March 15th, 2007 at 4:41 pm EDTVisit Roman
Congrats on this. My company scheduled me for the training and exam, but pulled it a week before hand. I’m trying to decide whether to just fork over the money and try the exam without the classes. Do you think it’s doable? The sample questions on the HFI site are really easy to me, but I’m guessing the actual exam gets into the weeds a bit.
Thanks for any advice.