The College of Rhode Island (URI) homes a devoted facility offering examination and evaluation providers to college students and the broader group. This useful resource gives standardized exams, placement exams, and lodging for college kids with disabilities, guaranteeing equitable entry to instructional alternatives. A typical instance could be a pupil registering for the Faculty-Degree Examination Program (CLEP) examination at this location.
This service is crucial for upholding tutorial integrity and facilitating pupil success. Its advantages embrace offering safe testing environments, administering standardized assessments for program admission and placement, and providing specialised lodging to assist numerous learners. The middle’s historic context displays the rising want for standardized testing and the growing emphasis on accessibility in increased schooling. Its presence permits the college to effectively handle high-stakes examinations and guarantee honest analysis of pupil information and expertise.
The next sections will delve additional into the particular providers supplied, the procedures for take a look at registration and administration, and the assets accessible to college students making ready for examinations.
1. Standardized Testing
The URI Educational Testing Middle serves as the first administrator for quite a few standardized exams important for tutorial development {and professional} certification. These exams, typically required for admission to graduate packages (e.g., GRE, GMAT), skilled licensure (e.g., NCLEX), or placement in college programs, are delivered underneath strictly managed circumstances to make sure validity and equity. The middle’s function is to supply a safe and standardized surroundings, adhering to the protocols set forth by the take a look at builders. For instance, the middle proctors the Faculty-Degree Examination Program (CLEP), permitting college students to earn faculty credit score for prior studying by demonstrating proficiency in particular topics. The middle’s adherence to stringent safety protocols is paramount to take care of the integrity of those high-stakes assessments.
Past administration, the middle additionally features as a useful resource for test-takers by offering info on registration procedures, take a look at codecs, and accessible lodging. This proactive method aids in decreasing take a look at nervousness and promotes a extra conducive testing expertise. The affect extends past particular person test-takers, because the aggregated outcomes from standardized exams administered on the middle contribute to institutional evaluation and program analysis. College departments make the most of these information factors to gauge the effectiveness of their curricula and establish areas for enchancment. This steady suggestions loop ensures that the college stays aligned with nationwide requirements and finest practices in schooling.
In abstract, the connection between standardized testing and the URI Educational Testing Middle is symbiotic. The middle offers the logistical infrastructure and administrative oversight mandatory for the safe and legitimate administration of standardized exams, whereas the standardized exams themselves function essential benchmarks for particular person pupil achievement and institutional program effectiveness. Challenges associated to check safety, accessibility, and the continuing debate concerning the validity of standardized exams require fixed analysis and adaptation of the middle’s insurance policies and practices to make sure equitable and significant evaluation alternatives.
2. Placement Assessments
Placement assessments on the URI Educational Testing Middle are instrumental in guiding college students towards acceptable tutorial coursework. These evaluations decide a pupil’s present ability stage in topics like arithmetic and English, immediately influencing course choice and tutorial trajectory.
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Correct Course Placement
Placement assessments facilitate correct course placement by evaluating a pupil’s preparedness for particular topics. For example, a pupil’s efficiency on a arithmetic placement examination determines their eligibility for calculus versus a lower-level math course. This ensures college students are neither overwhelmed by excessively difficult materials nor held again by overly remedial content material.
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Lowered Remedial Coursework
Efficient placement assessments reduce the necessity for remedial coursework. By precisely figuring out ability gaps, these evaluations enable college students to start their faculty curriculum at a stage that aligns with their capabilities. This could translate to diminished tuition prices and a extra environment friendly path to commencement.
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Personalised Studying Paths
The outcomes of placement assessments inform the event of personalised studying paths. Advisors use evaluation information to suggest acceptable course sequences and assist providers, comparable to tutoring or workshops, to reinforce pupil success. This individualized method maximizes the potential for tutorial achievement.
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Analysis of Academic Preparation
Placement evaluation outcomes function a invaluable metric for evaluating the effectiveness of prior instructional experiences. The college analyzes combination evaluation information to establish potential gaps in highschool curricula and to tell outreach packages aimed toward bettering pupil preparedness for college-level work.
The mixing of placement assessments inside the URI Educational Testing Middle offers a structured framework for evaluating pupil readiness and selling tutorial success. These assessments, when successfully applied and interpreted, contribute considerably to the college’s dedication to pupil achievement and environment friendly useful resource allocation.
3. Incapacity Lodging
The URI Educational Testing Middle is answerable for offering and coordinating incapacity lodging to make sure equal entry to testing for all college students. These lodging are mandated by legislation and are designed to mitigate the affect of documented disabilities on a pupil’s capability to reveal their information.
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Prolonged Testing Time
Prolonged testing time is a typical lodging granted to college students with studying disabilities, ADHD, or different circumstances that affect processing pace or consideration. This enables college students to finish the examination with out the added strain of time constraints, offering a extra correct reflection of their information. For instance, a pupil with dyslexia may require extra time to decode and comprehend written questions. The URI Educational Testing Middle ensures that college students authorized for prolonged time obtain it throughout their exams.
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Lowered Distraction Setting
A diminished distraction surroundings minimizes auditory and visible stimuli that might intrude with a pupil’s focus. This may increasingly contain offering a separate testing room or utilizing noise-canceling headphones. College students with sensory processing issues or nervousness issues typically profit from this lodging. The middle gives quiet testing areas designed to attenuate exterior distractions, adhering to documented lodging necessities.
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Different Testing Codecs
Different testing codecs cater to college students with visible impairments, bodily limitations, or studying disabilities. Examples embrace offering exams in Braille, giant print, or digital codecs that may be learn by display readers. College students with motor impairments may require using a pc or scribe to document their solutions. The URI Educational Testing Middle works with the Incapacity Companies for College students workplace to supply these different codecs, guaranteeing take a look at accessibility.
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Assistive Know-how
Assistive expertise encompasses a variety of instruments and gadgets designed to assist college students with disabilities throughout testing. This could embrace display magnification software program, text-to-speech software program, or ergonomic keyboards. College students with visible impairments, studying disabilities, or motor impairments could require these instruments to totally entry and reveal their information. The URI Educational Testing Middle ensures that authorized assistive applied sciences can be found and correctly configured for college kids utilizing them throughout exams.
The availability of incapacity lodging by the URI Educational Testing Middle is essential for creating a good and equitable testing surroundings. By adhering to authorized mandates and dealing in collaboration with Incapacity Companies for College students, the middle ensures that college students with disabilities have the chance to reveal their information and talents with out being unfairly deprived by their situation. The effectiveness of those lodging is usually evaluated to make sure that they proceed to fulfill the evolving wants of the scholar inhabitants.
4. Safe Setting
The integrity of the URI Educational Testing Middle hinges critically on the availability of a safe surroundings. This safety will not be merely a procedural formality, however a basic requirement for guaranteeing the validity and reliability of all assessments administered inside its partitions. A compromised testing surroundings undermines the equity of the analysis course of, doubtlessly invalidating take a look at scores and jeopardizing the credibility of the establishment. The connection between the bodily and procedural safety measures applied by the middle and the integrity of the testing course of is subsequently direct and unavoidable. For instance, with out stringent protocols for verifying examinee identification, impersonation turns into doable, rendering the take a look at outcomes meaningless.
The measures applied to create a safe testing surroundings embody a variety of bodily and procedural safeguards. These embrace managed entry to testing rooms, surveillance through video monitoring, restriction of private gadgets comparable to cell telephones and unauthorized notes, and rigorous proctoring throughout exams. The presence of skilled proctors is essential in stopping dishonest and guaranteeing adherence to testing rules. Moreover, the middle implements measures to guard the safety of take a look at supplies themselves, together with safe storage and dealing with procedures. The sensible utility of those safety measures is quickly obvious within the standardized testing course of, the place adherence to strict protocols is remitted by the testing organizations. Deviations from these protocols can lead to take a look at invalidation and potential sanctions for each the examinee and the testing middle.
In conclusion, a safe surroundings will not be merely a fascinating characteristic of the URI Educational Testing Middle; it’s a core operational necessity. The absence of sturdy safety measures immediately threatens the validity of assessments and undermines the middle’s mission to supply honest and correct evaluations. Challenges to sustaining a safe surroundings, such because the growing sophistication of dishonest strategies and the necessity to stability safety with a snug testing expertise, necessitate ongoing analysis and adaptation of safety protocols. The significance of this safe setting resonates with the broader theme of educational integrity and the college’s dedication to offering a good and equitable studying surroundings for all college students.
5. Examination Proctoring
Examination proctoring is an indispensable perform of the College of Rhode Island (URI) Educational Testing Middle. The middle’s capability to supply a safe and standardized surroundings for assessments hinges immediately on the effectiveness of its proctoring practices. Correct examination proctoring ensures take a look at integrity by stopping tutorial dishonesty, confirming examinee identification, and strictly imposing take a look at guidelines and rules. A typical instance is the proctoring of a high-stakes standardized take a look at such because the GRE, the place proctors meticulously monitor examinees to forestall dishonest and guarantee adherence to the take a look at’s particular pointers. With out rigorous examination proctoring, the validity of take a look at outcomes could be questionable, thereby diminishing the credibility of the establishment’s evaluation procedures.
The URI Educational Testing Middle employs skilled proctors who’re answerable for upholding the integrity of the testing surroundings. These proctors are tasked with verifying examinee identification, monitoring examinee habits in the course of the examination, and addressing any questions or considerations that will come up. They be sure that all examinees adhere to the prescribed testing protocols, together with restrictions on digital gadgets, unauthorized supplies, and communication with different examinees. The sensible utility of those measures will be noticed within the proctor’s fixed vigilance throughout exams, their immediate intervention to handle any suspicious habits, and their meticulous adherence to standardized proctoring pointers. The effectiveness of those proctoring efforts is regularly audited to make sure consistency and compliance with finest practices in take a look at administration.
In abstract, examination proctoring constitutes a basic factor of the URI Educational Testing Middle’s operations. It serves as a crucial safeguard in opposition to tutorial dishonesty and ensures the equity and validity of assessments. The challenges inherent in sustaining efficient proctoring practices, comparable to adapting to evolving dishonest strategies and balancing safety with a snug testing surroundings, necessitate ongoing coaching and refinement of proctoring procedures. The URI Educational Testing Middle’s dedication to strong examination proctoring underscores its dedication to tutorial integrity and the availability of a reliable evaluation surroundings.
6. Registration Procedures
Registration procedures are integral to the operation of the URI Educational Testing Middle. They govern entry to testing providers and make sure the orderly administration of assessments. The complexity and adherence to those procedures immediately affect the effectivity and safety of the testing surroundings.
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Check Scheduling and Appointment Reserving
Registration procedures dictate how examinees schedule exams and e book appointments on the facility. This course of sometimes entails on-line registration by a chosen platform, number of a take a look at date and time, and fee of any related charges. Inefficient scheduling methods can result in overcrowding, scheduling conflicts, and delays, impacting the testing expertise and doubtlessly compromising take a look at safety. For instance, a poorly designed system may enable an examinee to register for a number of exams concurrently, creating a chance for fraud or misuse of assets.
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Identification Verification and Eligibility Affirmation
An important element of registration entails verifying the identification and eligibility of test-takers. This often requires presentation of legitimate government-issued identification and affirmation of assembly any conditions for the particular take a look at. Stringent identification verification processes are important for stopping impersonation and guaranteeing that solely approved people are permitted to take the take a look at. For instance, a proctor will confirm that the title and {photograph} on an examinee’s driver’s license match the registration info earlier than permitting them to enter the testing room. Failure to correctly confirm identification can compromise the integrity of the take a look at outcomes.
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Lodging Requests and Documentation Submission
Registration procedures should accommodate college students with disabilities who require testing lodging. This typically entails a separate course of for submitting documentation from a professional skilled outlining the particular lodging wanted. The registration system should facilitate the safe and confidential transmission of this delicate info to the suitable personnel on the testing middle. For instance, a pupil with a documented studying incapacity may request prolonged testing time, requiring the submission of a proper lodging request and supporting documentation in the course of the registration course of. Insufficient procedures for dealing with lodging requests can lead to delayed lodging or non-compliance with authorized necessities.
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Cost Processing and Affirmation
Registration procedures sometimes contain fee processing for take a look at charges. The system should present safe and dependable fee choices and generate a affirmation of profitable registration. This affirmation serves as proof of registration and could also be required for admission to the testing middle. For instance, upon finishing on-line registration and paying the required price, an examinee receives an e-mail affirmation containing their take a look at date, time, location, and a novel registration quantity. Errors in fee processing or lack of affirmation can result in confusion and delays, impacting the examinee’s capability to take the take a look at as scheduled.
These registration procedures are important for guaranteeing honest, safe, and environment friendly take a look at administration on the URI Educational Testing Middle. Their effectiveness immediately impacts the general high quality of the testing expertise and the validity of the evaluation outcomes. Repeatedly evaluating and refining these procedures is essential for sustaining the integrity and credibility of the testing middle’s operations.
7. Rating Reporting
Rating reporting represents a crucial output perform of the URI Educational Testing Middle. The middle acts as an middleman between testing companies and examinees, facilitating the safe and well timed transmission of evaluation outcomes. The accuracy and effectivity of this course of immediately affect college students’ tutorial {and professional} prospects. For instance, potential graduate college students depend on the middle to precisely and promptly submit their GRE scores to universities. Any delay or error on this course of can jeopardize their purposes. Subsequently, rating reporting will not be merely an administrative process however a significant element of the middle’s dedication to pupil success.
The sensible significance of rating reporting extends past particular person examinees. Combination rating information, whereas sustaining examinee anonymity, offers invaluable insights into pupil efficiency and program effectiveness. College departments can make the most of this info to guage the efficacy of their curricula and establish areas for enchancment. For example, constant underperformance on a specific part of a standardized take a look at could point out a weak point within the corresponding course content material, prompting curricular revisions. This data-driven method to program analysis enhances the general high quality of schooling supplied by the college. The middle additionally adheres to strict privateness rules, guaranteeing the confidentiality of particular person scores, whereas additionally working with the college for institutional assessments.
In conclusion, rating reporting is an indispensable service supplied by the URI Educational Testing Middle, affecting particular person pupil outcomes and broader institutional analysis. Challenges associated to information safety, environment friendly transmission of outcomes, and compliance with privateness rules require ongoing consideration and funding in strong reporting methods. This perform’s efficient execution reinforces the middle’s function as a significant useful resource for college kids and a key contributor to the college’s tutorial mission.
8. Check Preparation
Check preparation assets, whether or not self-directed or structured, are intrinsically linked to the URI Educational Testing Middle. The middle administers a wide range of standardized and placement exams, and ample preparation considerably enhances an examinee’s likelihood of success. The provision and utilization of efficient take a look at preparation methods are subsequently central to the middle’s broader mission of facilitating pupil achievement.
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Useful resource Availability and Consciousness
The URI Educational Testing Middle typically serves as a central level for disseminating details about take a look at preparation assets. This consists of offering particulars on beneficial examine supplies, apply exams, and accessible workshops or tutoring providers. An instance consists of the middle offering hyperlinks to official ETS (Academic Testing Service) assets for GRE test-takers. Rising consciousness of those assets is essential for guaranteeing equitable entry to check preparation assist, significantly for college kids from deprived backgrounds.
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Apply Check Administration and Suggestions
Many standardized exams supply apply variations, and the URI Educational Testing Middle could facilitate the administration of those apply exams underneath simulated testing circumstances. This offers examinees with invaluable expertise navigating the take a look at format, pacing themselves successfully, and figuring out areas for enchancment. The middle may additionally supply suggestions classes to assist college students analyze their efficiency on apply exams and develop focused examine plans.
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Check-Taking Methods and Expertise Growth
Efficient take a look at preparation goes past content material overview and encompasses the event of test-taking methods and expertise. The URI Educational Testing Middle could supply workshops or seminars centered on subjects comparable to time administration, question-answering methods, and stress discount. These classes intention to equip examinees with the instruments they should method the take a look at with confidence and optimize their efficiency.
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Alignment with Examination Content material and Format
Profitable take a look at preparation requires a transparent understanding of the examination’s content material and format. The URI Educational Testing Middle can play a task in offering details about the take a look at’s construction, query sorts, and scoring strategies. This information permits examinees to focus their examine efforts on probably the most related materials and to develop methods which can be tailor-made to the particular calls for of the examination. For instance, the middle may present pattern questions or detailed take a look at specs to information examinees of their preparation.
The connection between take a look at preparation and the URI Educational Testing Middle is basically synergistic. By offering entry to assets, facilitating apply testing, and selling efficient test-taking methods, the middle contributes to a extra stage enjoying area for all examinees. This, in flip, enhances the validity and meaningfulness of the assessments administered on the facility, supporting the general tutorial mission of the college.
9. Evaluation Sources
Evaluation assets are intrinsically linked to the useful efficacy of the URI Educational Testing Middle. These assets, encompassing examine guides, apply examinations, and tutorial providers, immediately affect examinee preparedness and subsequent efficiency on administered assessments. The provision of complete and accessible evaluation assets serves as a crucial element in guaranteeing equitable testing outcomes. For example, if the middle offers a readily accessible financial institution of apply questions mirroring the format and content material of the particular placement exams, college students are higher positioned to familiarize themselves with the testing type, decreasing nervousness and bettering their capability to precisely reveal their information. A scarcity of such assets might disproportionately drawback college students with restricted entry to exterior preparation supplies, thereby skewing take a look at outcomes and doubtlessly resulting in inaccurate placement selections.
The strategic integration of evaluation assets inside the URI Educational Testing Middle’s framework additionally extends to the interpretation and utility of evaluation information. The middle, in collaboration with tutorial departments, could make the most of evaluation outcomes to establish areas of curricular energy and weak point. This suggestions loop informs pedagogical changes aimed toward enhancing pupil studying outcomes. As an instance, if a standardized examination persistently reveals deficiencies in a particular space of data, school could revise course content material or tutorial strategies to handle the recognized hole. This proactive use of evaluation information transforms the middle from a mere testing facility right into a hub for steady enchancment and innovation in instructing and studying. Additional, accessible documentation describing take a look at construction, scoring, and reporting practices are important assets that bolster transparency and help the college in assembly federal pointers.
In abstract, the URI Educational Testing Middle’s effectiveness is considerably enhanced by the availability and strategic utility of evaluation assets. Challenges associated to useful resource accessibility, fairness, and alignment with evaluation targets require ongoing consideration and funding. A dedication to offering complete evaluation assets underscores the middle’s dedication to pupil success and the broader college mission of selling tutorial excellence. The provision of those assets permits it to transition into a spot for tutorial growth.
Often Requested Questions Concerning the URI Educational Testing Middle
The next questions and solutions present concise info concerning the operations and providers of the Educational Testing Middle on the College of Rhode Island.
Query 1: What varieties of exams are administered on the facility?
The URI Educational Testing Middle administers a wide range of assessments, together with standardized exams (e.g., GRE, TOEFL), placement exams for URI programs, and proctored exams for on-line programs or distance studying packages. A complete listing is offered on the college’s web site.
Query 2: How does one register for a take a look at?
Registration procedures fluctuate relying on the particular take a look at. Usually, people register on-line by both the testing middle’s web site or the web site of the testing company. Particular directions for every take a look at are offered on the URI Educational Testing Middle’s web site.
Query 3: What types of identification are required for testing?
A legitimate, government-issued picture identification is required for all exams. The title on the identification should match the title used throughout registration. Acceptable types of identification embrace driver’s licenses, passports, and army IDs. Particular necessities are detailed on the testing middle’s web site.
Query 4: What lodging can be found for college kids with disabilities?
The URI Educational Testing Middle offers testing lodging for college kids with documented disabilities. College students should register with Incapacity Companies for College students (DSS) and supply documentation outlining their particular wants. Permitted lodging could embrace prolonged testing time, a diminished distraction surroundings, or different testing codecs.
Query 5: What are the insurance policies concerning digital gadgets and private belongings throughout testing?
Digital gadgets, together with cell telephones, smartwatches, and tablets, are strictly prohibited within the testing room. Private belongings, comparable to baggage, books, and notes, are sometimes not allowed. The testing middle offers safe storage for this stuff. Particular insurance policies are enforced by the proctors.
Query 6: How are take a look at scores reported?
Rating reporting procedures fluctuate relying on the take a look at. In some instances, scores are robotically reported to the examinee and designated establishments. In different instances, examinees should request rating experiences from the testing company. Particulars concerning rating reporting can be found on the URI Educational Testing Middle’s web site or the testing company’s web site.
The URI Educational Testing Middle is dedicated to offering a safe and equitable testing surroundings. Please seek the advice of the middle’s web site or contact the workers immediately for additional clarification concerning particular insurance policies or procedures.
The next part will handle assets accessible to college students for making ready for assessments.
Navigating Assessments
To maximise efficiency on the College of Rhode Island (URI) Educational Testing Middle, proactive preparation and adherence to established pointers are important. The following tips present steering for optimizing the testing expertise.
Tip 1: Perceive Check Necessities Previous to registering for any examination, completely overview the particular necessities outlined by the testing company. This consists of eligibility standards, accepted types of identification, and any prerequisite coursework. Failure to fulfill these necessities could end in take a look at denial.
Tip 2: Register Early Safe a most well-liked testing date and time by registering effectively upfront of the deadline. That is significantly vital for high-demand exams or throughout peak testing durations. Late registration could end in restricted availability or extra charges.
Tip 3: Familiarize Your self with Testing Insurance policies Evaluate the URI Educational Testing Middle’s insurance policies concerning digital gadgets, private belongings, and prohibited gadgets. Strict adherence to those insurance policies is crucial to keep away from any disruptions in the course of the examination.
Tip 4: Plan the Route and Arrive Early Plan the path to the testing middle and permit ample time for journey, parking, and check-in procedures. Arriving early reduces stress and ensures a relaxed and centered begin to the examination.
Tip 5: Put together Totally Make the most of accessible take a look at preparation assets, comparable to apply exams, examine guides, and tutorial providers, to reinforce material information and test-taking expertise. Constant and centered preparation considerably will increase the likelihood of success.
Tip 6: Request Lodging in Advance College students with documented disabilities ought to register with Incapacity Companies for College students (DSS) and request testing lodging effectively upfront of the scheduled take a look at date. This enables ample time to rearrange the mandatory lodging.
Tip 7: Preserve Educational Integrity Adhere strictly to all testing guidelines and rules. Any type of tutorial dishonesty, together with dishonest or plagiarism, will end in severe penalties, doubtlessly together with take a look at invalidation and disciplinary motion.
By diligently adhering to those suggestions, examinees can optimize their efficiency and reduce potential disruptions on the URI Educational Testing Middle. Efficient preparation and strict compliance with testing insurance policies are key to reaching a profitable testing expertise.
This concludes the overview of ideas for using the ability. The next part summarizes the advantages of the URI Educational Testing Middle.
Conclusion
This dialogue has explored the multifaceted function of the URI Educational Testing Middle. It features as an important useful resource for standardized testing, placement assessments, and incapacity lodging, guaranteeing honest and equitable entry to tutorial alternatives. Safe testing environments and rigorous proctoring protocols are upheld to take care of the integrity of examinations. Efficient registration and rating reporting procedures streamline the testing course of, whereas take a look at preparation assets and help assist pupil achievement.
The URI Educational Testing Middle performs a significant function in sustaining tutorial requirements and facilitating pupil success on the College of Rhode Island. Continued assist for this important facility is crucial to upholding the college’s dedication to excellence in schooling and equitable entry to testing alternatives.
