Prometric Testing Center

For those who that are taking long test such as MCAT, DAT, OAT, and ETC listen up.
Put on enough clothing layers because the rooms are cold. The air conditioner temperature in the building is set on 72 and a fan was on in the room that I was in the whole time.
I will not comment about the staff because there is nothing good to say about them.
Good Luck!

freezing, smelly and they don’t answer the phone. otherwise it’s well lit and the computer worked.

Can someone tell me what is going on with this testing center? Everyone working here looks so dreadful. A lady told me I was done with check-​in after checking my credentials, but when I lined up for entering the room, another lady yelled «what do you want» right at my face and the way she said it made me feel like I was dumb for not following the rule. Later on I was sent to another lady, and she literally mumbled every word so I had to keep asking her to repeat, which made me feel dumb again… Finally I was seated, and taking the exam. The room was so warm, so I took my jacket off. And… the lady who checked me in earlier was behind me trying to pull my jacket out of chair. I was spooked by her and almost jumped out of my chair. WTH!!! I was in a middle of my test and focusing on solving my problems!!! Why did you come from nowhere to take my jacket from me??? Do you really think there’s secret inside of my jacket that’s gonna help me ACE my test? OMG.
Anyways, I paid $$$ for my exam and unfortunately have to pay more for the rest of the sessions and come back again and again and again. I probably can’t avoid this place unless I move to another area… UGH!!!

I came here to take the GRE because I had no other options. This whole racket that Prometrics has going on is a really unfortunate situation because people are here to take really important tests that offer credentials to determine their promotability at work, employability in specialized fields, and suitability for graduate school and I’m not sure the employees who work here are fully cognizant of the potential gravity these exams could have on the outcome of somebody’s life (not to be dramatic or anything).
This is definitely the low end of the testing centers. I am hearing impaired and my testing monitor was visibly annoyed by my request to have her repeat herself, she was absent when I returned from my break, and refused to grant me any flexibility when I accidentally took a pencil out of the testing room to exchange it for a sharper one during my break (insisting that she didn’t let me out with it and so now she couldn’t let me back in even though I was trying to give it back to her!). A second assistant had to come in from the adjacent room to check me back in, though I was already late returning to my test by this point. I have pretty steady nerves and standardized tests don’t phase me a bit (they’re kind of fun), but the interpersonal dynamics here left me flustered and late for my test.
Because I think my feelings about this place are tied to the experience I had with one particularly ineffective employee and the impact that interaction had on my exam, I’m still giving them two stars. Why? They have ample parking, the check in process was fine, and it’s clean enough.
What other reviewers say is true: there is an arctic blast that comes on randomly and people will come and go throughout your test. Bonus details: my chair squeaked whenever I moved or took a deep breath, my S key was stuck, the bathrooms were clean when I was there, and they let you eat in the lobby (which is nice when it’s cold and raining). I place no real value on any of these things — it is what it is – I just wanted to let you know so you know what to expect.

I find it very hard to understand all the criticism in the below comments.
I took my SPHR exam here end of January, 2015 and experienced nothing but professionalism & comfort of a well-​maintained and well-​equipped testing center.
Personnel were very courteous, efficient & pleasant, conditions quite acceptable, location — convenient and safe.

A good centre, nothing to worry about.
Skip reading this lengthy review if thats all you wanted to know ;) ;)
I took the TOEFL here on October 17, 2014 and the GRE Revised General Test on October 31,2014. My scores were what I expected, but the review is independent of that :) The reason I am writing this is because reading the other reviews got me unnecessarily nervous about this test centre. For TOEFL, I had an 8 AM appointment and was supposed to report by 7:30 AM latest. The traffic from Bellevue to this centre was very dense in the morning, it took us around half an hour I guess. Please check traffic on google map before you leave, I should have done that :) Parking at the test centre is marked by arrows and there is decent space. I reached at 7:30 AM and was hustled towards my designated room as soon as I checked in at the registration desk. I am not a USA citizen and my passport sufficed as the ID on both test days. They gave a confidentiality form in which you have to re-​write a few sentences in your own handwriting and sign, thats it. The waiting room was full of test takers on this day. The centre provides you locker with a key, but you cannot open the locker during breaks or any time till your test ends. If you wish you can bring food and water, but they should be kept on top of the locker, not inside. They provide you with scratch paper and two pencils. They take your photo. Also of course a security body check, they will ask you to empty your pockets and they use a body scanner. The reason I gave one less star is that the staff I got on this day, both at registration desk and the proctor seemed too formal and a bit intimidating, but nothing extreme so dont worry:) For TOEFL, you share room with other toefl test takers so you will face the problem that others will be speaking while you are taking, maybe, some other section of the test. Just be prepared for this distraction, it isnt as bad as you think it will be. On test day you will be able to cancel this background noise. The restroom for women was clean and hygienic.
My GRE date coincided with Halloween. I had a 12:30 PM appointment and was supposed to be there by 12:00 noon latest. The traffic was thin. Compared to toefl day, the waiting area was almost empty, just 2 – 3 others along with me. I went into the centre at 12:00 and all the processes and everything was exactly the same as TOEFL. They allowed me access to my computer as soon as I was ready, even though it was still 12:20 or so. The staff on this day was very warm and friendly, meaning they smiled and were soft-​spoken and made the whole experience a little less stern than toefl. So you see, same test centre, different staff experience. My biggest concern after reading the Unilocal reviews was noise level during test and if I will be sharing room with TOEFL test takers. Do not worry, GRE AND TOEFL TEST ROOMS ARE SEPARATE. No one will be speaking while you are taking the test, only distracting sound maybe keyboard’s typing sound during analytical writing section. You can use the noise cancelling headsets, I did for some parts of the test. But really the test area is very very quiet, do not worry about this. One last thing, dress in layers so you don’t feel too hot or too cold.
Everything said, don’t sweat all this small stuff;) :) and all the very best for your exam !!!

This place is disgusting and unprofessional. I have taken two 5−½ hour exams here now. My license requires me to take seven different exams. Each of these long exams has a fifteen minute break in the middle. During the first exam I tried to use the restroom during the break. Big mistake. The toilets were all overflowing and feces, urine, toilet paper, and toilet water was everywhere. I just had to hold it for the second half. During the second exam there was a man sitting in the cubicle next to me, sighing loudly, burping out loud and passing gas every few minutes. The exam room smelled like an open sewer. I had to take my sweatshirt and wrap it around my face to keep from vomiting. The staff standing in the room didn’t care; judging on the condition of the bathroom and their tolerance of the stench in the testing room I have to believe the staff actually enjoys basking in excrement and the fumes of bodily functions. I can’t believe this is a place that any professional organization would consider using for exams. A one star review on Unilocal isn’t really good enough; quite frankly this testing center should be shut down.

What can you really say about a testing center like this?
I’ve been here plenty of times for my CPA exams and retakes (ugh). I really don’t ask for much when it comes to these types of places; the computers worked, the employees were kind, and they followed what seemed to be standard procedures.
It’s here or Puyallup (in WA at least), take your pick. Either one (I’ve been to both) were fine by me! I just hope I don’t have to take any more tests here, for my own sake. Good luck!

Took my test a week ago. This place is terrible:
1) they seat students at different times so as you’re taking your test, people come in and out of the room every 10 minutes and the proctors give instructions to each entering/​exiting student WHILE you’re taking the test! The level of distraction is unbelievable.
2) the employees are rude and intimidating – they create an environment where there’s no room to ask questions or clarifications on policies
3) its cold so wear layers
4) I’d give them a negative 10 rating if possible
Stay far away.

This is the most unfriendly test site and it takes way too long for the test results. Facility is big but always a struggle to find a test time.

I am not sure what I was studying here or what was going on. It seemed unfriendly and kind of smelly. I couldnt really find the time to get the job done correctly. there really isnt much to talk about when I read these things.
I took i did my best. It went as well as it could.

Excellent customer service, clean, quiet, efficient. I was thoroughly impressed.
The only minor thing was that the computer screens use a font that make reading slightly difficult. I prefer ARIAL or VERDANA but they use CAMBRIA or something with serif.
Overall this is a perfect place to take a test.
p. s. I am not offended that they made me take off my Jame Bond Omega watch… but what harm would it have been to keep it with me? It doesn’t fire a laser or anything…

Clean and efficient. They wipe down the computers with Chlorox after each test taker. Nice staff. Be sure to listen closely to the house rules when they explain them. They open at 7:00 on Mondays and you can start test immediately and get back to the real world when done. Good Luck with the test!

Some one has already said it but I will repeat, they have a lock on the market. Where else are you going to go to take some of these tests? I know this is the most convenient one for me. Im thinking about taking my next one in portland and making a trip out of it. I have been to other Prometric sites and this one is by far the worst.
Not to hate on the employees, they were great. Very nice, making jokes with me when appropriate, they made the testing environment and center as pleasent as it could be. But man that place is straight out of the ninety’s or something. It just reminds me of some crappy old classroom. And its ridiculous, they wand you down before you go in, check your socks, it would be easier to sneak a flask onto an airplane than into that testing room. Which i suppose is a good thing i would like cheaters caught if tried something. Some of the other testing centers are much nicer though. They are in better areas of town so the put a little more money into furnishing and such to make you feel more comfortable. This one you have to walk down this dingy shared ally way with the other strip mall neighbors to get to the restroom and the only water available is from the tap in it. Not a super pleasent place to take a test.
But again, why do they care? They have a lock on the market unless we all start car pooling to portland, whos in friends?

Since Prometric has a lock on this market, they have no need to provide good customer service. But to take my kid for testing and have the most unfriendly, unhelpful, unhappy woman handling our check-​in/​out was annoying at best. I’m not asking for a luxurious facility, but a smile never hurts.

FACT OR FICTION?
I was looking through the official GRE website as they list SOME of the following tips. See my own comments after «Fact» or «Fiction» following each tip.
1. Dress so that you can adapt to any room temperature.
FACT FACT FACT: This test center actual room temperature is fairly low. Wear a very light jacket with you inside the testing room. However, you have to keep the jacket on during the entire test as you cannot simply leave the jacket on the back of your chair.
2. Test centers do not have large waiting areas. Friends or relatives who accompany you to the test center will not be permitted to wait in the test center or be in contact with you while you are taking the test.
FACT: The waiting area is very small and can be really crammed if your test is at 8am. 8am seems to be the most popular testing time (at this location). Your friends are allowed to accompany you to the test center as you fill out the form to register but they must leave once you go into the testing room.
3. ID verification at the test center may include thumbprinting, photographing, videotaping or some other form of electronic ID confirmation. If you refuse to participate, you will not be permitted to test and you will forfeit your registration and test fees. This is in addition to the requirement that you must present acceptable and valid identification.
FACT: Passport is perhaps the most reliable document for test-​takers. Once you fill out the form to register, prior to your entrance to the testing room, they will take a quick photo of you.
4. Food, drinks and tobacco are not allowed in the testing room.
FACT (OR FICTION?): Although food and drinks are not allowed in the testing room, this testing center does have a small locker area. They will assign you a numbered key to a locker if you need to store your own belongings during the test. You have access to food and water during your 10-​minute GRE test break.
5. Do not bring cell phones, smartphones (e.g., BlackBerry® or iPhone® devices), PDAs and other electronic or photographic devices into the test center.
FICTION: Upon entering the testing room, they will ask you to place your cellphone in a secured manila envelope that is under the supervision of the staff members. You do not have access to your phone until the test is over.
6. Personal items other than identification documents are not allowed in the testing room. You will be required to follow the procedures set by the test center for storage of your personal belongings. You may also be asked to empty your pockets. Storage space is limited, so plan accordingly. You will not have access to your personal items during the test. Personal items such as hats, scarves, jackets and outerwear that are taken into the test room are subject to inspection by the test administrator.
FACT: Bring your passport/​ID into the room with you and leave everything else in the locker. They inspect every single pocket on your clothes. They also use a metal detector. This is like going through TSA. They even ask you to leave your watch in the locker.
They do have a restroom area towards the back of the building.
In addition, GRE recently raised their registration prices to $ 175. It was $ 160 last year. Reporting scores to more than 4 schools is now $ 25 per school (compared to $ 20 last year).

This place is weird. I am not sure if it’s just because of the regulations required to test here or what. The lady the that «greeted» you (greeted being used loosely here) clearly hates her job. She did not explain anything, smile, or really do anything to acknowledge your presence other than glaring at you and handing you a long list of rules. The whole experience was odd. I was scheduled for an 8am test, showed up at 7:30, and was not admitted to my test until 8:20. Sweet… An extra 20 minutes of stress.
Considering there are NO options when it comes to taking the Physical Therapist Assistant exam, I guess this place did the job. Would I choose to hang out here and spend large amounts of time? Not a chance in hell.
Good luck fellow testers!

This is by all means a below-​average testing facility. I should know: I’ve taken and passed more than a dozen Prometric and Pearson Vue tests for various IT certifications in the past four years, so I’ve seen a lot of testing centers recently. At this particular center, everything is in place, but nothing is quite right. You get the sense that they have leased the cheapest office space and furnished it with the cheapest fixtures they could find, so that they could maximize their profits at the expense of your testing experience. Even the sign above the entrance looks low-​budget and tacky. Other examples: (1) They do provide lockers, but they were too cheap to buy normal ones. The lockers are *tiny* compared to most testing centers, so small that an average-​size student backpack won’t fit inside; their proposed resolution was either to leave my backpack (including my computer) out in the open on a shelf in the public lobby for someone to steal it, or to leave it in my car for someone to steal it. Yeah, right. I ended up having to remove my computer, cables, accessories, etc. from my backpack one by one and pile them all into the tiny locker, then leave my empty backpack on the shelf where someone could steal it while I was taking my test. (2) Unlike many testing centers, these people are too cheap to provide disposable earplugs; they do provide earmuffs, but their earmuffs are so cheaply made that they’re just for show, and they don’t actually block any sound at all. The kind you can buy for less than $ 20 at the local hardware store, e.g. to use with a chainsaw, are much better. (3) The bathrooms are just plain gross and are desperately in need of a fresh coat of paint, especially on the stall partitions.

A mandatory certification test lead me here. They have a few testing centers available for me to choose from, far south in Puyallup or way north in Mountlake Terrace. Upon arrival and sign-​in, the body scan begins. They’ll have you put up your belongings in a locker, then they’ll wave a metal detecting wand over your body and limbs, ask you to pull back your sleeves and pant legs, then pull all out pockets inside and out. I am surprised they didn’t throw me over the table for a strip and cavity search! The testing room is a bit chilly and it was hard for me to concentrate as the foo next to me was constantly typing (an essay?) and the keystrokes annoyed. I used the headset that looked like what a airplane traffic controller would use and slipped that on. It wasn’t much better but enough to get me back on track. Happy news is that I passed so that is all that really matters in the end. Just an unsual experience.

Haha I didn’t realize I checked into this place on my iPhone, so now Unilocal is asking me to write a review. Sure, what the hell.
I dread this place, but it’s not because of the staff. The staff is fairly friendly, they fingerprint you as you want in and out of the testing room, make sure you don’t cheat, etc. They don’t have water besides tap from the bathroom, so bring a water bottle if you want (they provide lockers that you can access during break).
I am glad they also open on Saturday too. I am a regular at this place since the CPA has 4 sections, so it’s fun to observe really nervous people as they come here to take their GMAT or GRE or DAT or whatever it is. After you come a few times, it’s just that: a testing site. No need to be nervous if you know your stuff =). And if you don’t know your stuff, while are you reading this review? Go read your book =).