Today I’ll highlight another potential pain point with at-home testing.
Before taking the at-home TOEFL and GRE tests, test-takers must pass a system check which examines their software and hardware. Most parts of the check are very easy to pass.
However, test-takers with one particular set-up seem to encounter a specific problem. Based on several years of reports, it seems that it can be challenging for test-takers using a Macintosh computer with an M-series CPU and 8 GB or less of RAM to pass the required memory usage check, which requires RAM utilization of less than 95%.
This problem seems to arise due to the unique way that modern Macs handle RAM.
Basically, the boffins at Apple have replaced the old desire for completely unused memory with a concept called “memory pressure.” On modern Macs (unlike on Windows systems) it is okay for memory to be utilized, as long as it isn’t under “pressure.” Accordingly, it is normal for utilization to be greater than 95%, especially on systems without a whole lot of RAM in the first place. Not only that, but it can be quite difficult to get utilization below that level, if that is what you desire. Especially if you are running a couple of required programs.
You can imagine how that might create problems for test-takers who are required to utilize less than 95% of their memory before they can begin a test. Try googling something like “gre memory usage reddit” to see what I mean.
So what?
Well, according to reports, some proctors simply ignore this part of the system check.
Others do not.
Reports further indicate that some proctors know how to address this problem (SUDO PURGE, in case you are wondering).
Others do not.
Some test-takers have reported test cancellations stemming from this problem.
My point?
This is bad test-taker experience.
Reports of this problem go back years. Someone probably should have done something about it a long time ago.
When we talk about so-called legacy test-makers being unable to respond to issues in a timely manner this is what we are talking about. When we talk about test-takers seeking out alternative testing options because they feel a sense of dread regarding the so-called gold standard tests, this is what we’re talking about.
Anyway. Test-takers are predominantly young people with limited financial resources. They are owed a good testing experience.
Test makers are predominantly large organizations with unimaginable wealth and assets under their management. They should fix this stuff.
Fun fact: LSAT test-takers reported the same problem before the LSAC switched from ProctorU to Prometric.
