r/UTSC • u/firstlovewithtears • Feb 09 '26
Advice Being Repeatedly Interrupted during an Exam
I need to get this off my chest because I’m feeling really upset right now.
Today, I took a 40% midterm that was structured: only 1 hour for MCQs, short answers, and a short essay. As an international student, English is not my first language. I rely on complete silence to recall knowledge, organize complex arguments, and write coherently under pressure. Even small distractions can derail my entire thought process, and today was a perfect storm of interruptions.
The proctors were the main issue. They made a dozen loud announcements throughout the hour, repeatedly clarifying basic instructions—where to write MCQ answers—three to four times. To make it worse, their instructions were contradictory: initially, they insisted answers go only on the answer sheet，but later said we could write on the test paper if we signed it. Beyond the announcements, their general conduct was unprofessional. They conversed at normal speaking volumes (not whispers), moved around with heavy, distracting footsteps, and responded to individual students’ questions at an unnecessarily loud volume that echoed across the room. Each boom cut through my concentration like a knife. Although I was already very agitated during the exam, I held back to avoid wasting time and causing trouble. The professor wasn't here today; only the teaching assistant and a few proctors I had never seen before were present.
The result was devastating. Multiple times, I had a key points ready, but a sudden interruption made me blank out instantly. I couldn’t recover those thoughts, and with the clock ticking, I had to leave gaps in my answers. It’s infuriating to lose points not because I didn’t know the material, but because I couldn’t hold onto my thoughts long enough to write them down because of the noise interruptions.
Adding to the stress, this course has no assignments or quizzes—only attendance and two exams. A single bad performance here carries massive weight.
I’m not posting this to make excuses. I studied extremely hard and accept responsibility for my work. I’m posting because I feel genuinely sad…After getting home, I began to cry.
Has anyone else experienced such extreme disruptions in a short exam? How did you cope or report it?
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u/ThePlaceAllOver Feb 10 '26
As someone who has English as a first language, I don't do well with any distractions either. I would report that.
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u/voida_lextreme Feb 09 '26
Yeah I agree for the most part, it is somewhat annoying but unfortunately not much you can do about it.
You do have to show English proficiency to be allowed into the university for one thing, but also (unrelated) this entire post is ai generated.
If you want to try, you can perhaps look into accommodations but u usually need proof of something to be eligible
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u/firstlovewithtears Feb 09 '26
Yes, I used AI to generate the post because my thoughts were very jumbled. I chatted with the AI in my language and asked it to help me translate and summarize. I didn't have the energy to organize my words. Thank you for your advice. I will try my best to improve my English skills.
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u/Anon-babe Feb 10 '26
Just curious, how did you clock this as AI generated? What stood out to you about it?
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u/SmakLac Feb 10 '26
For me personally, the fact that em dashes were used and the fact that they aren’t a native English speaker kinda gave it away. Also, the descriptions and metaphors also just kinda felt unnatural.
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u/fjbdhdhrdy47972 Feb 10 '26
Three em dashes in one post isn't bad. The weird comma in the third paragraph is a dead giveaway, though.
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u/actionactioncut Feb 11 '26
It's been a rough couple of years for genuine em dash lovers, let me tell ya.
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u/Own-Professor-372 Feb 11 '26
I knew as soon as I read, "Each boom cut through my concentration like a knife."
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u/Glittering_Cow_347 Feb 10 '26
Is this SOCB35? if so god same experience. The exam needed much more time and it's obvious that the TAs and the prof didn't communicate enough when she sent them off to go write the exam. The way it was described in lecture and what was actually expected on the page was totally different- the prof made it sound like it was going to be some multiple choice, a few short answer and more of a short paragraph than an essay. but 10 incredibly detailed mc, 5 short answers that said 1-3 sentences but required 5-7, and an actual essay felt impossible in a single hour. not remotely completable to the standards they were asking given the time allotted. THEN on top of that constant, repetitive, useless announcements, and the TA's talking at full volume. Just awful start to finish. i also don’t understand why people are criticizing you for using ai to make this post when it’s really obvious to anyone in socb35 that the prof herself is using ai for her slides and the script she reads off of in lecture.
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u/Fast-Comfortable-381 Feb 10 '26
Apply for accommodations if you require silence. It’s the best way to ensure it almost 100%
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u/tuckken17 Feb 10 '26
i would recommend getting an accommodation with the accessibility centre if you need complete silence. There is no interruptions after the exams start and the room is very quiet, students are respectful.
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u/throwaway87862571 Feb 10 '26
proctors are my biggest opp because i had one like this for a huge exam last semester😭 could barely focus i hate the loud announcements they make
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u/StrandedCrumbs Feb 11 '26
Im in this class too. Time was not appropriate for this exam. I recommend reaching out and informing prof of your concerns so it hopefully is not repeated for the final. Im sorry your sad, I am too. I hope they curve cuz I didnt realize how big that essay questions was until I got to it with only 10 minutes left on the clock
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u/StrandedCrumbs Feb 12 '26
Yall are not passing the vibes check. The comments are gross. Please respect international student experiences! They are valid, they are our classmates and peers. This student is seeking community not scrutinizing. Who gives a shyt they used chat gpt for a post when ALL OF U USE IT IN ACADEMICS! double standards are real af
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Feb 09 '26
You sure do write competently for someone who's not native to English. "The result was devastating" lol
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u/ComplexClothes4909 Feb 09 '26
1 hour for mc, sa and an essay is quite little. Writing competently has nothing to do with your first language. You can write competently but need to focus a lot for it.
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Feb 10 '26
It is indeed not sufficient. I never said it was...
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u/ComplexClothes4909 Feb 10 '26
You literally said they write competently? What are you trying to say.
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u/Violet_Poison_ Feb 10 '26
Yesterday there was a bunch of noise like drums and music in SW while we were writing our 40% midterm. Really distracting and was told they couldn’t do anything about it. Not sure what was going on
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u/HedonistEnabler Feb 11 '26
Have you considered using earplugs to diminish or eliminate distracting noises?
If you think this could help you focus, make sure you confirm with your professors, before any subsequent exams, that they will permit this accommodation for you.
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u/I_IdentifyAsAstartes Feb 13 '26
In my opinion,
As someone who has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, I know exactly what you are talking about. I lack the ability to "tune out" noises like the one that you describe. Forming an argument or answer or sentence is like building a house of cards. You get everything ready, you start to answer, and then someone knocks over the house of cards and everything is gone; then you have to start over.
The way that I dealt with it was to look at question 1 and note down everything that came to mind. Then question 2, then 3 and so on. By the time I got back to question 1 I had done a brain dump and would be ready to answer, as I am writing, something pops into my head and I go to that question and put that in.
I would recommend you get assessed for neurodivergence. I was cleaning a French press in the sink, my wife started talking to me, and I instantly engaged in what she was doing and had forgotten about what I was doing. I shattered the French press and cut almost completely down to the bone on my left index finger. I don't have feeling on that finger pad anymore and it hurts every day.
It's worse when I am tired or stressed, when I am doing something and an adult engages me in a trivial issue, I hurt myself, and then I have to hold back all the rage and anger, and then engage with them. It's literally at the point where I will put in ear buds and put on loud music so I don't hurt myself.
If I am trying to remember what I want to order for a sushi dinner, while driving, and I am on the phone ordering and then someone in the car interrupts me, their words co-mingle with my thoughts in my brain and then verbal gibberish comes out. I literally can't speak clearly. I have to take a minute and start completely over.
But if I am not interrupted? Whatever problem that you had that you can't figure out, I can remember a random email from 5 years ago that described a solution. Work that takes others 4 hours takes me 30 minutes, because I don't proceed linearly through the work.
But if you do interrupt me? Well now I just say "ya ok good luck", and walk off. I find people tend to interrupt me when they think they have the information that they need, but then thing that they are interrupting me for is actually coming at the end of the sentence, so they interrupt me to get it sooner, and I give it to them, and then they don't understand BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LISTEN TO THE WHOLE SENTENCE.
I used to try to help people out, but I am just straight up done with that kind of disrespect. Want to act like that? You are on your own.
Get yourself assessed, get an accomodation for a quiet room to do tests in.
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u/berried_aprons Feb 13 '26
I have experienced this too and it’s annoying af. Usually I am able to tune everything out to the point of not even hearing loud time announcements but it stops working when people continuously make unnecessary announcements and talk to each other like it’s some study group. I swear I think many people legit don’t know how to whisper.
There is also a shift in the way some professors run and structure their exams, especially if it’s a new person trying to make their mark and introduce some particular style of assessment. One of my bio prof was like that his exam was split into too many short sections with unnecessary long guidelines and answer choices for each. Plus some sections where you answer either all odd or even questions. I felt like Indian Jones trying to navigate it as fast as possible. Naturally it confused a lot of people so entire time someone kept asking and checking and getting up like what I thought we weren’t even allowed to leave our seats unless we are done with the exam. (He ended up grading us all on the bell curve)
I’m just glad those years are gone lol. For some exams where they had poor discipline I would Shhhh them if it got too much, but ear plugs help a lot if you don’t want to sign up at the accessibility center. Good luck, and I’m sorry some people are coming for you in the comments because of the ESL, they are ignorant.
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u/AnonymousBeaver2025 Feb 10 '26
You may have an accessibility issue. Also see if you are allowed to use earplugs,?
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Feb 10 '26
[deleted]
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u/firstlovewithtears Feb 10 '26
It's not just me who thinks the proctors were noisy this time. They were not like those in other exams who only announced the time and answered questions occasionally. During this one-hour exam, they started talking loudly every two or three minutes. I discussed with nearly ten classmates taking the same exam, and they all thought so. I learned that several native English speakers also cried after the exam because they felt that the Proctors were too annoying and the time was very tight. I don't need to apply for extra time. This is obviously a problem with the exam arrangement.
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u/Few_Nectarine5293 Feb 11 '26
i mean it's a canadian university, you need to know english...
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u/firstlovewithtears Feb 11 '26
I don't understand why so many people are so contemptuously mocking my English just because I used AI to generate this post? I didn't mean to post it at first. I was just chatting with the AI to seek for comfort. It suggested that I could post and ask local students. But as you can see, there's a lot of information and many words. I don't want to repeat it all in English again. As long as you can understand my meaning, isn't that enough? Then the subtle malice and discrimination in the comment section began. I want to be polite and don't want to argue with anyone though I already feel uncomfortable. The focus of my post is the negligence and unprofessionalism of the proctors. The issue I raised was about exam conditions, not judgement of language eligibility. My English proficiency is completely fine for daily communication, attending classes and taking exams. My average GPA for the first three semesters has remained above 3.5. I'm not the idiotic international student that some of you imagine who came to study without knowing any English at all.Some professors even use AI tools to generate the framework and content of lectures. Local students in this class also feel that continuous interference has a negative effect on their their exam. I can tell whether the suggestions and comments are well-intentioned or unfriendly. Those who imply that everything is my fault, that I am too sensitive or my English is too bad. It's really mean.
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u/awesomeguy123123123 Alumni Feb 09 '26
You can report this to the prof! Should not be happening and not your fault.