Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with test

Drug test questions

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:11:32 -0800

I have a question about being hired as a contractor for the Department of Justice and having to take a drug test. I applied for an entry-level position at the US Attorney's office in my city. I was brought in for an interview, and before it started I sat down with a woman from HR. She explained that if I were hired it would be as a contractor and not as a federal employee, which meant that my benefits would be provided by an outside company. She told me that I would have to get a security waiver, which meant a background investigation. She told me, without being asked, that there would be no drug test. I was glad to hear that, since I use marijuana most days.

The next day she called and said that they were offering me the job and I could start once my security waiver went through. They sent me forms to fill out. One of the questions on the form asked whether I have used any illegal drugs in the past 7 years, and I answered no. I submitted the form and went in for fingerprinting. They told me it would be a couple of weeks before it went through and then I could start.

Today I got a phone call from someone at USIS/Labat-Anderson, whom I recall the HR person saying would be the company providing my benefits, but with whom I had had no contact so far. The guy on the phone told me that he'd sent me something in the mail I'd have to sign and fax back to him. The package I received contained USIS/Labat-Anderson's substance abuse policy and a memo stating that the substance abuse policy was "referenced in the conditional offer letter of employment that you have received. As you acknowledged by signing your conditional offer, all applicants for employment with USIS are subject to pre-employment drug screening." The memo also says that I will have to take the drug test within 48 hours of receiving the notice. The aforementioned offer of employment, which I had never seen before, was also in the package.

Here's what I'd like to hear from anyone who has actual experience here:

1) Is there any way to salvage this job opportunity?
2) If not, how should I proceed?
3) Would failing the drug test mean more than just not being offered the job? Would it mean e.g. I would face penalties for lying on the security form?

Simple Quiz Maker?

ohyouknow — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:17:32 -0800

Can you help me create a Word test that I can email to potential employees (without them being able to cheat on it too easily)? And without purchasing new software? I need to test about 67 people on their Word skills -- and it would be much easier if I could email the test to them rather than have them take the test in my office.

What I'm envisioning is sending candidates a PDF of how I want their final product to look, along with a totally messed up Word document that they'd have about half an hour to fix.

Is there a way to do this just by looking at the document's history? Is there a way to make this happen without spending a few hundred dollars on a quiz license?

How do I set up a simple database for vocabulary terms?

washburn — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:07:02 -0800

How do I make a database of vocabulary terms and definitions to use for teaching? What software, settings, etc. should I use? I teach college level courses in the humanities, and my students are often responsible for learning a range of terms and definitions.

So, I'd like to compile a database of terms and their corresponding definitions. This database could then, theoretically, be used in generating quizzes, exams, and review sheets that I could give to my students. What would be the best software and procedures to accomplish this?

Is Microsoft Access the way to go? If so, as one who hasn't used Access before, where can I find a quick tutorial to help me learn how to best set up this type of simple database up and occasionally import some of its contents to Word?

A few considerations:

*I use Microsoft Word 2003. Items should be easy to import into Word and be saved as part of exams that include other non-vocab related sections.

*A feature of lesser importance (but still nice) would be an ability to tag terms, to indicate what sorts of subject matter they relate to.

*I'm not a programmer, so the simpler the better.

Thanks for any advice.

Census Worker

josher71 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:53:11 -0800

Census worker. What is it like to be one? I'm taking the census worker test here in Baltimore on Friday. I have a few questions though. If you do well on the test, what are the chances they will hire you? What is the actual experience like? Will I need to have a car? What different kinds of jobs are there?

How can I stop freaking out over timed LSAT games?

AAAAAThatsFiveAs — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:49:41 -0800

The LSAT is next week and my games section is abysmal. I know it's a psychological thing. What do you recommend? Hello Hive,

I've been doing self-study since the beginning of October with the PowerScore books and scads of real LSATs. My diagnostic was pretty middling (low 150's), though I've inched my way up to the mid 160's.

Games... There's just something about the timer running in the background that causes me to panic. But when I review the games afterward, I have *substantially* less difficulty and everything seems to click. To give you a typical example, I only managed to complete 1.5 games on the last timed practice exam. Reviewing them a few hours later, they seemed jaw-droppingly simple, and I solved them all within thirty minutes. Untimed games are usually a breezy affair, though the occasional bastardly one crops up.

Has anyone had this problem? If so, how did you conquer it? Should I focus exclusively on untimed games? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Mefites: Please hope me!!!

bebrave! — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:38:11 -0800

I need to take two exams in order to continue to compete for a job I have applied for. I very much want and need this job, or something like it (I am truly desperate!) The tests take place in about a week. The email that arrived from the HR person states that the exams I need passing scores on are: 1. Software Function and Use WOQAA198
2. Financial Services Basic Exam WOQAA130

This job is an intern (training) position for a state agency, after the year's training period the successful trainee will no longer be an intern and will probably get a small raise and a title of sorts, and have the security of a government job, which would be a HUGE relief to me.

A little Hx (I will try to keep this short): I have worked for 25 years in a relatively specialized field that is not really business related (I am a dog /cat wrangler, or, veterinary technician). Except for a little relief work and/or owners of the clinic dying or retiring, I have had the same employer most of this time. This (animal medicine) is a "dream job" for many, as it is all about "saving the animals", and because of my longevity/experience, I have a great reputation and have gone as far as a person can go without a DVM, but the problem is, a person can't really pay their bills or raise a family on the financial compensation. And I like the work just fine, but the money and the "hard labor" aspect can be tough for a woman approaching 50.
This was ok for the longest time, because my job in the family sense was to make a little grocery money and get out of the house a few days a week. Now, the situation has changed. My partner has gone from a hard-charging reliable family guy to one who has decided he will forevermore work only for himself, so he pushes an aerator around and swings a hammer here and there but has for all intents and purposes quit providing for our family (we have two kids and I helped him raise the others he had to adulthood). He gets out of bed everyday between 10 and 11 AM and doesn't see a problem with that. (That whole issue is a whole total 'nother Mefi question, but not today's!) I was a more-or-less suburban housewife encouraged by my spouse to keep that job for it's few bucks and respectability.
A few years ago now, things started to get really tight so, since I realized he wasn't really going to work anymore and he wouldn't support my going back to school (for something or anything) I have been trying to find something or anything else I can do that will pay the bills and keep my kids safe and healthy until they are grown.
I have a Bachelor's (in Biology) in addition to my animal medicine education/experience, but did not use it to do anything else (see above, and yes, my fault).
So a couple years ago I found a great job with decent money and benefits (which I formerly depended on my spouse for) which worked me hard but I loved and was related to animal medicine, but they canned me after a year and would not say why. It has been painful but also qualified me for unemployment insurance which has actually "paid" better than my vet tech job. I have used this time to try like heck to find a "real" job. I have applied to every job I can find that I am qualified for and think I would like to do. I keep getting axed at the final weed-out (when I am 1 of 6 or 1 of 3, out of an initial 100-ish). This, I don't think, is so weird, things are tough out there right now. But the unemployment money is about to run out for real, and I need to know how to ace these tests. If they don't pick me for another reason, then, fine. But I don't want it to be because I can't pass, and I have no experience in "business".
I can do anything, do any job, have proved myself a bazillion times at my hard work and adaptability.
I think they want to know I know computer and business basics. The reference librarian sent me home with a small armful of books, but can anyone out there help me get ready in a couple of days?

Where can we get an advanced London Eye(s) Test?

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:17:22 -0800

Advice on where to go in London for more advanced eye problems? My wife is having problems with her eyes, black spots and a cloud on one eye. We want to get her eyes tested further....

She is an EU citizen with an EU health insurance card. We live in the Camden area, does anyone know of a suitable place in London where she could go and around how much it may cost?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

test out of nursing school?

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:16:08 -0800

I'm a nursing school student and I'm interested in testing out of as much school as I can. I live in California, I have an extensive health care background, and I'm already in nursing school. Every nursing school I've researched offers a "challenge" option for each nursing course - where someone who is already experienced in that area can test out of the course. There is a paper and a clinical portion of most of these challenges. In practice, I've never heard of anyone challenging nursing classes or nursing school. If you have any experience with these challenge exams, or any ideas about where to talk to people who have actually challenged these complex courses, or any idea where to find the law that requires this challenge option, I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you!

Am I considered a stoner if I eat hemp seed?

torquemaniac — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:02:31 -0800

If I consume dietary hemp seed, will the THC show up on a drug test? I bought some Canadian hemp seed on Amazon.com to add to the mash diet I prepare for my parrots. I've been dipping into the mash occasionally as it is an excellent source of nutrition (and complete protein) & is quite delicious to boot. Is there a chance that I could fail a drug test the same way poppy seeds on a bagel could fail you? If so, is there any rational response to a failed drug test that would convince an employer that it's a fluke (I have a five pound bag of the stuff I could use for proof)?

Stress Detector

philosophistry — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:32:48 -0800

Is there a device that can automatically observe your stress levels in real-time? A research scientist mentioned she knew of another research scientist who had a device like this. As she said, "It reminds [me] of a researcher who has a sensor on her computer, which can tell if you're stressed as you're typing away at work." When I followed up with more questions, she couldn't recall details.

I also vaguely remember this being possible. Maybe through a webcam that can tell your facial expressions. Anybody have any leads?

As a half-measure, I bought a heart rate monitor which is effective at telling you when your blood is boiling. While you may not need a monitor to tell you this, I believe in the saying, "if you can measure it, you can control it."

Herpes blood test in NYC

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:22:05 -0800

Where to get a herpes blood test in NYC? I have been in an exclusive relationship with a man for the last few months. Previous to our getting together, he was married for 10 years to a woman with genital herpes. They always took precautions to abstain when she had an outbreak to prevent her passing it to him. But, as he assumed they would be married forever, he did not worry about it too much.

He did not realize until his most recent doctor visit that it was possible to contract herpes even when avoiding sex during an outbreak. After his doctor visit, he told me about this issue, sincerely apologizing for not bringing it up earlier, as he didn’t realize there would be any risk.

Neither he nor I have ever had any symptoms/outbreaks, but we want to get tested just to make sure. We are both recent transplants to NYC, and neither of us have health insurance or a GP (his recent doctor visit was before he moved). I called both Planned Parenthood and NYC Department of Health, and neither provides blood tests. They will only test current lesions.

So where is a free/cheap/sliding-scale clinic that will provide blood tests for both a male and a female in NYC?

mystery diagnosis

WeekendJen — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:04:45 -0800

Did the hospital save my blood samples and could they be retested? Would swine flu cause a positive test for regular flu? In March I was in the hospital for 7 days with an undiagnosed virus. In April the swine flu was identified and the county I reside in had the highest # of infections in my state and my town's schools closed for 2 days due to student infections. While in the hospital I tested negative for regular flu, but was not tested for swine flu becuase it was not a known issue yet. So if I had swine flu, would my regular flu test have come back positive? If not, is there any chance the hospital would have saved any of my exorbitant amount of blood samples and could those samples be retested? If I gave a new sample, would that test positive for swine flu fighting blood particles (or, um, whatever fights viruses) now that I am recovered?

Thanks for any help!

Test creation software?

fogovonslack — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:25:36 -0800

Please help me find software for creating tests from a bank of questions, ideally open-source and even more ideally Linux. I teach at a community college, and (most of) the texts I use come with proprietary test creation software and prefab testbanks. The test questions range from mediocre to bloody awful, so I generally delete some questions and rewrite some proportion of the remaining.

I've recently bought a new laptop and think it's about time to get around to developing my own bank of test questions (as I've meant to for years), and I don't want to be yoked to a proprietary software format and at the mercy of book publisher whims.

Is there an independent test creation software package that's any good? Better yet, as I'm running Ubuntu on my new machine, is there a Linux package? When I search for linux/ubuntu test software, all that seems to come up is software to test code, not software to write tests.

Help us hack the ACT test!

chara — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:28:33 -0800

I'm interested in starting an after-school ACT test prep program for the high school students that I work with. I'm not an educator, so I don't have a clue where to start. What are the best techniques, from start to finish to organizing and operating a successful group test preparation workshop? How can I help my students acquire the techniques they need to do well on the test? More info:

I will be meeting with the students two times a week (probably Wednesday & Thursday)

Most of the students are scoring within the 15-18 range, well below the national average.

Hiring a tutor is probably not possible, due to our limited budget. I pitched my idea to the school's teachers, but many of them have their own separate after-school programs.

My plan right now is:
1) Have them take a practice test the first day to find their strengths and weaknesses
2) Next day, we'll troubleshoot the most commonly missed questions as a group and discuss why they got the question wrong, what techniques they can use to get it right next time, etc.

Is this an effective plan? What else should I add? What things are important for them to know? I'm really clueless about these kinds of things. I'm comfortable with the test myself (I got a 30 when I was in high school), but I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with the teaching part; I sometimes find that things make perfect sense in my head, but I have difficulty explaining them to others.

How can my 74 yr old ex husband make an informed decision about his super high PSA results?

naplesyellow — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:12:36 -0800

I am good friends with my ex husband. He learned a couple of months ago that his PSA was over 20. He was also having a serious problem with his leg at the time (he had a femoral by pass surgery). That surgery went well and he has recovered from it..but during that time the high PSA results were put on the back burner until he could get through the surgery. Ex was buoyed by reading that very high results can be accounted for by other reasons aside from cancer and his urologist prescribed Avodart and scheduled a new PSA test (which came back recently..much improved..down to 8).

Far from congratulating my ex for this improved number the urologist told him today that ex very likely has prostate cancer and he should have a biopsy and whatever treatments the biopsy indicates. The trouble is that ex h and I have both read articles that indicate that biopsies might actually cause cancer to get into the bloodstream (and if you think of it this seems very logical). When this concern was raised with the urologist today (according to ex's account) the Doctor lost patience and told ex that it is all his decision and he can't decide for him..and further, that the article my ex cited is "old."

Ex's problem is complicated by the fact he has a colostomy and his prostate can not be accessed by normal means. I realize all these health problems I have described make him sound like a total wreck..but he isn't, he has had quite good health for most of his life and he is strong and youthful.

I know you aren't his doctor...but what about his age (74) and the idea that biopsy can spread cancer? How can anyone be expected to make a good decision with so many conflicting ideas about both PSA and biopsy?
This is quite a terrible predicament where you have to rely on people who make money with surgeries and strategies that you have no way of knowing are going to extend life or not! When ex asked the dr what would he do if he were in ex's position the answer was naturally biopsy and surgery!

Please help us to figure out where to go for better easy to understand information that can help him to determine a good plan.

Psychological Interview Preperation

brevator — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:48:01 -0800

Tomorrow I have to take psychological testing for a firefighter job. If anyone has been through anything similar I'd appreciate any advice. The first part of is a written test. I'm fairly sure it will be the MMPI-2 and I'm not too worried about that. The second part is an interview with a psychologist. I know some of the questions can be pretty simple like "How is your relationship with your mother?" But, I've also heard that they try some sneaky tricks during the interview. For example they might say something like "well you didn't do very well on the IQ portion of the test," to get a reaction from you. Of course there is no IQ portion. Or they might insist that you answered a question one way when in fact you didn't, to see if you'll stand your ground. The craziest thing I heard is that one psychologist excused himself for a moment, snuck up behind the test taker and screamed a racial epithet.
Is there any way to prepare for something like this? Any advice, resources or personal experiences are greatly appreciated.

What other substances might show up in a blood test for valproic acid levels?

Anonymous — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 06:17:02 -0800

What other substances might show up in a blood test for valproic acid levels? Asking for a friend:

Twenty-something female has been epileptic since she was a kid, and taking Depakote to control seizures. Her doctor ordered a fairly routine blood test to check for valproic acid levels, but since her last round of blood tests, she's gotten into the habit of smoking marijuana. She probably gets high once a week, on average, but sometimes more often. The lab order is written for a "Valproic Acid Level Test."

So on to the question: Is there any way to know whether her blood test for valproic acid might reflect her marijuana use? And if it does show up in a blood test, are there any legal repercussions? It seems like a valproic acid levels test shouldn't be looking for any other substances, and my instinct is that even if she tested positive for pot somehow, the doctor would just counsel her on the risks of drug use, but she'd like to know for sure.

Just FYI, she hasn't taken the blood test yet, but needs to schedule it in the next week or so.

Throwaway email at epilepsy.and.pot@gmail.com if there are any follow-up questions.

SAT guide IP question

diode — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:27:53 -0800

I need help with intellectual property issues regarding the SAT test prep guide and a digital study guide I am building. My friend is a professional SAT test prep guru. We're working on a study guide, a digital version of what he does with his clients one on one and in groups. The SAT people have a guide they sell which is essential to effective study for the SAT. We think we can resell the guide as part of the course, but wondering if we can refer to the guide questions as part of our digital course, meaning referring to the copyrighted guide's questions and working through them. How can we figure out what's legally permissible? We know we can talk to an IP lawyer. I'm hoping to get some insight from the hive mind on this.

Would the h1n1 test show positive after being sick?

flyingcowofdoom — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:38:22 -0800

Would an h1n1 test show a positive result on a person that had the flu weeks ago but is not currently sick? I am curious how the test works. I am pretty sure that viruses stay in our bodies forever, even after we get better. Would the test show the virus even though you're no longer sick or contagious?

--FCOD

How do I generate meaningful results from split tests?

gi_wrighty — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:13:34 -0800

Having run split tests on the e-commerce website at work, how do I extract meaningful conclusions from the raw data? At work we occasionally run split tests on our website to try out new functionality, content and layouts. Visitors to the site see one of the available options and when orders are placed we record which option they saw.

This means we have order totals for each option but how do we work out if one is statistically better than the other? From past experience different tests take different amounts of time to settle in the general trend (i.e. conversions increase by x%).

Is there anyway of knowing if a trend we're seeing at the moment is just a side effect of randomly assigning people to the different options or it's actually a genuine improvement?

Or is there a way of calculating the minimum number of results before having confidence that the trend is actually trend and not just noise?

whats the best way to measure plastic

edtut — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:00:20 -0800

in my work, there is a requirement to test two plastics and compare the properties for an automotive application. the testing is done by an external agency, with whom i have no background, and they just give a table of results. what tests are they doing, how do they do them, why do they do them, and what tricks should i be on the lookout for? plastics at a basic level can seem to be spec'd quite similar, for instance two sources for thailand and china will say they give the same product. however additives, regrind, tolerance and production method lead to significant differences in the finished product.
there are a range of tests that are done on produced material to get a fuller understanding of what they are - crystalisation, true density, consistency, etc. I want to know what the full spectrum of these tests are for background knowledge.

Preparing for a doctor appointment

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:36:23 -0800

When, if ever, is it reasonable to ask for a preemptive test? Given a family history of congestive heart failure I'm wondering how reasonable it is to reguest a MUGA or echocardiogram just to allay (or confirm) my own worries. I'm definitely already going to see a doctor, so I'm not asking for medical advice. I guess I am asking for perspective to help me frame my request with my physician. I'm 53 and have an upcoming appt with my internist regarding a different matter. Since I made that appointment my slightly older brother died a few weeks ago of sudden cardiac arrest at age 56. Apparently he had been seeing a doctor for congestive heart failure for a while. My other brother (age 59) received a stent some years ago while being diagnosed with diabetes and some degree of congestive heart failure. My mother died at age 66 of -- you guessed it -- congestive heart failure. Until my younger-older brother died, I was aware that my family history was not great, but his death has catapulted the issue of CHF to top-of-mind, to say the least. Yet...

I have what I assume to be the usual litany of complaints about getting older, but I tend to think of them as not really rising to the level of needing to be addressed. I received a good bill of health at my physical last year, along with the usual lifestyle warnings. (Salt, alcohol, maybe I should do some strength work in addition to walking, etc.) I just don't feel I have any acute physical complaints that would justify tests that are probably kind of expensive.

For anyone with perspective from the US health care community, am I one of those "walking worried" patients driving up costs for everyone, or would it be reasonable to push hard for a test to rule early CHF in or out?

GRE Literature as Subject Test HELP!

miss-lapin — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:06:54 -0800

I'm trying to find a prep course for the Literature Subject Test of the GRE (which is not the same as the general GRE) in NYC. While I did well with the verbal section of the GRE, I scored lower than I hoped on the Lit. as Sub. practice tests I took in the fall. I also have test taking anxiety so a course specifically for this test would help with my confidence. It doesn't appear that Kaplan or Princeton Review offer a specialized prep course for this test. Any hints where I might look? Also, while I have several books I am using to help review, other advice on ow to prep is welcome.

Help me pass my road test mefi!

QueenHawkeye — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:45:22 -0800

Help me pass my road test on Wednesday this time around. The last time I took my road test was sometime last summer. I failed because I drove straight into the first set of cones when trying to parallel park. I had a panic attack right before the test because the person taking me to my road test, had gotten lost on the way there and would not ask anybody for directions how to get there, and it was in the middle of nowhere! Note, I parked perfectly the three times I tried parallel parking the day before. I've never driven straight into a pair of cones before the test, EVER.

This time around, I'm trying to not have an anxiety attack but I keep thinking about how I failed the first time around, so that's not helping me right now.

I'm trying to get some practice time in, but I get criticized by the method [the way my instructor that I did my required 6 hours in NJ taught me how to parallel park.] I'm trying to parallel park by the person who's taking me out to practice. I don't even get practice driving on the roads, just parallel parking [and even that's not happening!]. I like to think that I am a decent driver, I follow signs, the speed limit, and practice in pro-active driving whenever I actually DRIVE on the road.

So I'm looking up to you mefi users; help me pass my road test this time around, tips to how to parallel park [or on/about the road test in general!] without having someone chastise me the way I'm parking with, will be loved and put into good use [hopefully].

Bonus points for tips to get rid of my anxiety/fear of failing the test this time around!

How can a risk calculation have a false positive?

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:48:53 -0800

How can an estimate of a health risk (eg 1 in 500) have a false positive? Yesterday we were told we have a very high risk of Down Syndrome based on the Nuchal translucency test. We are currently doing sume reading and biding our time, waiting till we can have the maternal blood test done for a better estimate of risk. (I'm including our current situation here to clarify the question, but am not looking for discussion on the various other tests that are available, just the weird stats question below)

Wikipedia (and other information we've come across) says "Nuchal scanning alone detects 62% of all Down Syndrome with a false positive rate of 5.0%"

But if your risk is provided post-scan/screening test as 1:50 or 1:30,000 (or whatever) - how can you have a false positive?. Or are "false positives" only generated when the risk is very very high - eg when the measurement is such that doctors say a pregnant woman has a 50:50 chance, or nearly 100% chance of Down Syndrome? For that matter, how does it claim to detect 62% of cases - again, when they only identify a risk? (If you say someone has a 1:50,000 chance, does that mean you have identified that case if it turns out to be true?)

I'm sure this must be some statistical rule but it doesn't make any sense to us!