I know this is off-topic as far as homebrewing goes, but I was told this group might be best able to help me with this conundrum I've been wanting to take the entrance exam, but I realized that trying to find a tasting exam spot in a semi-nearby location within the year may be close to impossible, even here in the NYC Metro area. I'm hoping people can share their experiences with grabbing an exam seat. How long did it take? Any tips? Do more locations tend to open up, or are the locations on the website pretty much all there is? Thanks in advance!
The list on the BJCP site is all there is. If you sign up a few months ahead of time, you should get a seat. If you're considering a particular exam, definitely contact them ASAP. I think the dearth of exams (and the test revamp) is due to problems getting written exams graded in a reasonable amount of time. When I took it a few years ago, it took almost 8 months to get my grade back. The only 'tip' I have is to judge/steward in a few competitions before you take the tasting exam to get the mechanics down and compare your palate to other judges.
Thanks. Gosh, "dearth" is right! I'm going to have to book a plane ticket to take this thing when I get my schedule together. I guess I should clarify that the tips I'm looking for are not so much on how to score well on the exam, but how to get a seat. In another forum, I was told that a particular exam is giving seating priority to people having taken a class in that area.
Contact the organizer for the exam. Ask to be on a wait list. There are very often people who drop off at the last minute due to various reasons, one of which can be cold feet. The organizer might rather have those seats filled.
I think the July 14th may be a little too soon for me. My guess was that it was full anyway, but at this point, I think I'll contact the organizer. I've been contacting organizers of exams that are taking place sometime this year and aren't super far away, but have yet to hear anything back. And yes, it is so bizarre that exams in NYC are so few and far between! What gives? Exams in my hometown of Sacramento, CA seem to happen much more often so maybe I'll end up having another excuse to fly down there...
I'm a BJCP Exam Director, and I agree with what's been said above. We've reduced the turnaround time significantly with the new format, and hope to be able to add more exams and/or seats per exam in the (hopefully) near future. We've also recruited more graders (the real bottleneck). Get on a list or wait list and stay prepared. Sometimes spots open only a few days before a scheduled exam.
Thanks! I just emailed the NYC exam director. Unless by some miracle there's a seat open on July 14th, I'm asking to be put on the list for May 15, 2015. So far away! But I'm willing to wait! I'd try and find something earlier, but I'm planning on having my second child sometime in 2014.
The other thing to do.. help out. Steward, make it known that you'll help with the competitions. Every person running an exam is also probably running a competition and wants to know that the butts in seats on exam day will be potential butts in seats on competition day too!
take the online exam asap, pass, and email every exam proctor as far as your willing to travel! I drove 3 hours to sit
For the exam I sat in, the wait list was 20+ when I inquired several months before the scheduled date. Numerous cancellations resulted in me being offered a seat two days prior to the exam. Suggest getting on the list and staying prepared in case a seat becomes available.
Thanks! I heard back from a few of the organizers and asked to be put on the list, even though they made it quite clear that it would probably take a miracle to get me in. You are giving me hope, however!
UPDATE: Just wanted to thank the folks on this thread for their support and advice regarding grabbing a BJCP tasting exam seat. I passed my entrance exam and managed to score a seat in Montgomeryville, PA in October. That's two hours away from my location in North Jersey, and I consider myself EXTREMELY lucky to have been able to find something that close. I didn't take the entrance exam until after I heard about the tasting exam because I didn't think I was going to be able to find a seat within the year. Feeling very fortunate, and thinking I'm going to be putting on some pounds from drinking a lot of beer these next few months! Some of which won't be so good--I have a lot of off-flavor doctoring to do.
