Well, let me start from the time I arrived the ADB headquarters in Ortigas. I was met with a large magnificent infrastructure. It was built with somewhat European touch with its mostly white-painted walls. As I went inside, I noticed their strong security system. They have baggage x-rays and metal detectors installed for both entrance and exit. Their reception area is like that of a hotel with its high ceiling and marmol tiles. They have a reception counter supplied with several computers and a number of leather sofas arranged on the right side for waiting guests. I gave my passport as an ID to the receptionist then I was told to wait for a few minutes for picture-taking. Afterwards, I was issued a printed Visitor's Pass with my photo on it, as you can see on the picture on the right. Then I was instructed to go to the main lobby which means you have to go out of the reception room past the beautiful fountain in the middle.
Inside the main lobby were the baggage screening machines just like in the main entrance. Again, you will probably also feel like you have entered a hotel with its spaceously elegant interior, employees from different nationalities (it's easy to identify them because they were wearing their ADB ID's), and a garden spread at the back which you can see from the tempered glass walls. I went to sit on one of the sofas to wait for the representative from Human Resource and to guide us to the testing room. After some 10 minutes of waiting, my feelings have changed to the place. I felt like I was in a huge university library and that the employees are like nerds who are busy doing their researches. By nerds, I meant geniuses.
After a while, we, along with the other candidates, were brought to the testing room which was located on the second floor, past the round staircase. We entered the HR department and we passed by several cubicles until we reached the testing room which looked like a computer room. There were long tables by the walls with computer sets. We were told to take our seats, with one seat apart. On our tables were the instructions for the computer-based test and answer sheets for pen-and-paper test and a couple of sharpened pencils.
The exam is more of a speed test. In general, it is not very difficult as you may expected but because it is time pressured, there is the challenge. Before we started, we were asked to bring out the supplemental forms that we needed to submit on the day of the exam. However, for some reason, blame it to my bad judgment, I didn't paste the 2x2 picture on the form. I waited for the test proctor to be a dear and lend me a glue or something but instead she rebuked me with her high and mighty self. She said that she doesn't need my photo anymore since I didn't follow the instruction stated in the email sent to me and that I will just be requested to submit it during the interview process should I pass the exam. Well, from the judging looks of her, she might have flunked me right then and there. Some people are just so narrow-minded. In my opinion, good riddance to her kind of employee, she's just a liability for ADB.
The proctor mentioned something about us receiving a call within a week for the result of the exam or getting a mail. I couldn't fully catch what she was saying because I got distracted by her photo-pasting lecture. So anyway, after that she suggested we use the restroom before the test since we can't leave the room until we are finished. It was an advice I didn't take and later regretted so learn from me. Then, she distributed the test booklets. Before we began answering each section, she would read the instructions first. That exam I took was composed of proofreading/eye for details test where we tell whether the two items are same or different. Next are sort of IQ tests where we determine patterns, series, and spatial/mental rotation, then test of English vocabulary skills and math test. Most of the sections had 100 items each to be answered in 4 minutes, while math section had fewer items to be completed in 6 or 7 minutes.
Then for computer-based test, we had a speed typing test and Microsoft Office skills test, where the total passing rate was 60%. For example in MS Word skills, you must show the computer how to insert the date on the document or alphabetize five different words by clicking the appropriate icon. I consider myself a MS Word expert but to master the icons on the MS Word interface is beyond me. I'd rather type fast than memorize the functions of those icons. So I believe that most of such computer tests were a waste of time and money.
If you are taking the employment exam in ADB, better prepare and do practice tests on the ones I have mentioned. For me, I would feel more confident if I was able to prepare and had the knowledge or idea of what will consist the exam. I don't know but you could just be one of the high-IQ individuals who don't need the practice anymore. In any case, good luck taking the exam!
***By the way, sorry about my rants against our proctor, I just can't help it because I felt maligned by her.
