The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

This is where all of the games are discussed.

Moderators: alietr, trainman, econgator, dhkendall

User avatar
triviawayne
Hoping I don’t drown in this contestant pool
Posts: 2677
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:50 pm

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by triviawayne »

Robert K S wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 3:04 pm It only costs contestant coordinators a couple minutes of time not to dismiss the few non-passers from live events, whereas dismissing them could give rise to embarrassment, confrontation, all manner of awkwardness. Letting a few extra people play the mock game and then dismissing them from contention afterward, if necessary, only makes sense.
I don't think it costs them any minutes as they would have the block of time for those test takers coming with the expectation that almost all would pass. Plus this keeps the group at 21 so 3 at a time for the mock games.
Total game show career losings = $171,522
talkingaway
Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
Posts: 970
Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2019 11:59 am

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by talkingaway »

mrparadise wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 1:57 pm So I just took the anytime test (for the first time and I let it submit). Much to my surprise, the information that followed included the fact that a passing score was 35 or better. I though we were pretty much agreed that 35 was most likely the number but no one knew for sure and J! had never confirmed this and was unlikely to do so. Or am I missing something? The information also said that if you were invited to an audition you'd be given another 50 question test and if you passed that you'd be invited to participate in a mock game and interview. I've been to two auditions and and at both they either said "everyone passed" the written test or they didn't mention it and everyone did a mock game and interview. I'm pretty sure this has always been the case. I'm thinking someone just made a mistake about needing to pass the written test to stay for the other stuff. Or maybe this was once the case? As for confirming that the passing score is 35, maybe someone mistakenly let the cat out of the bag?
Interesting - I don't think it really "spoils" too much to anyone who's done a bit of research before taking the online test to know that 35 is passing. It still doesn't say exactly what they do next. They could trash all 34 and under tests, and then restrict invites to 40+ unless they need more spots to fill up a specific audition city. That would also eliminate MOST instances of a written test being under 35 - if you score 42 or 43 online, then you'd have to have a bad test to score 34 or 33. If you score 35 online, you could have had a good day on that particular test, and your written score could legitimately be 32, meaning you'd be nixed from further consideration.

Maybe the audition process is going through a change? I know producers and contestant coordinators are changing at the end of this year, right? If there's ever been a time to tweak the audition process (ie by creating a multi-thousand anytime test database), now would be the time.

That said, if they invite you to audition, they may as well put you behind a lectern, even if you don't have a chance of being called due to a poor written performance. I'd like to believe that MOST people who don't pass the written test do so from an honest random variation between online/written, and not due to cheating. And, if I were one of those people who passed online but flunked written, and I had already taken the time to drive to a J! audition site, and took the 20 minutes to take a written test...I'd like to play anyway. It can't save THAT much time, considering they can't just bring in new people to replace flunked written tests, and they don't want to "overbook" an audition site, anticipating that a certain percentage of people will fail the written test. Just let me play, practice having producers yell "energy" and "louder" at me, and play with a real signaling device...maybe next time, I'll pass, and I'll have one J! audition under my belt to get the jitters out of the way.
goongas
Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
Posts: 377
Joined: Tue May 20, 2014 10:34 pm

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by goongas »

In the old days before the online test, they gave you a test in person, and those who did not pass where asked to leave (tell people you missed it by one, they would tell you). The room had a lot more people than today's auditions. In my audition that I got invited to after taking the online test, everybody played, regardless of how you scored on the in person test.
User avatar
trainman
Moderator Extraordinaire
Posts: 1599
Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2011 10:27 pm

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by trainman »

mrparadise wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 1:57 pm I'm thinking someone just made a mistake about needing to pass the written test to stay for the other stuff.
I suspect they're merely giving themselves some leeway, just in case of something happening at the in-person audition. (Someone blatantly copying answers from another person's test, perhaps.)
davey
Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
Posts: 6030
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:55 pm

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by davey »

goongas wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:57 pm In the old days before the online test, they gave you a test in person, and those who did not pass where asked to leave (tell people you missed it by one, they would tell you). The room had a lot more people than today's auditions. In my audition that I got invited to after taking the online test, everybody played, regardless of how you scored on the in person test.
Yes, and it should be noted that it was something like 90% of the room that left...because nobody had done anything other than fill out a postcard before they'd entered the room.
User avatar
StevenH
Not J! Contestant Material
Posts: 2524
Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2011 6:24 pm
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by StevenH »

davey wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:19 am
goongas wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:57 pm In the old days before the online test, they gave you a test in person, and those who did not pass where asked to leave (tell people you missed it by one, they would tell you). The room had a lot more people than today's auditions. In my audition that I got invited to after taking the online test, everybody played, regardless of how you scored on the in person test.
Yes, and it should be noted that it was something like 90% of the room that left...because nobody had done anything other than fill out a postcard before they'd entered the room.
This was exactly my experience when I auditioned for the college tournament back in 2005. I passed the test, but man that would have been disappointing to travel all that way and not at least make it into the pool.
User avatar
triviawayne
Hoping I don’t drown in this contestant pool
Posts: 2677
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:50 pm

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by triviawayne »

StevenH wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:26 am
davey wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:19 am
goongas wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:57 pm In the old days before the online test, they gave you a test in person, and those who did not pass where asked to leave (tell people you missed it by one, they would tell you). The room had a lot more people than today's auditions. In my audition that I got invited to after taking the online test, everybody played, regardless of how you scored on the in person test.
Yes, and it should be noted that it was something like 90% of the room that left...because nobody had done anything other than fill out a postcard before they'd entered the room.
This was exactly my experience when I auditioned for the college tournament back in 2005. I passed the test, but man that would have been disappointing to travel all that way and not at least make it into the pool.
that's why you find something fun to do if you have to travel.

I didn't really have a lot of time/money for Columbus last year, but made sure to get out to a trivia night.
Total game show career losings = $171,522
talkingaway
Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
Posts: 970
Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2019 11:59 am

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by talkingaway »

StevenH wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:26 am
davey wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:19 am
goongas wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:57 pm In the old days before the online test, they gave you a test in person, and those who did not pass where asked to leave (tell people you missed it by one, they would tell you). The room had a lot more people than today's auditions. In my audition that I got invited to after taking the online test, everybody played, regardless of how you scored on the in person test.
Yes, and it should be noted that it was something like 90% of the room that left...because nobody had done anything other than fill out a postcard before they'd entered the room.
This was exactly my experience when I auditioned for the college tournament back in 2005. I passed the test, but man that would have been disappointing to travel all that way and not at least make it into the pool.
I think it has to do with expectations - in late 2000 or early 2001, Millionaire briefly had a phone number where you could just phone in and they'd randomly pick people - no questions. Normally, they had a 3 or 4 question "fastest finger" screening test, followed by a second phone test, I think. I made it past the second round a few times, but never got an in-person call. I remember carrying around my phone on those days - because I rarely carried it around if I wasn't on "Millionaire duty". But, somehow, I did make it through the completely random selection process they had that one time and got to go to an in-person audition.

My site was at a hotel in St. Louis, and I was living there at the time, so it was literally a 10 minute drive. The expectations were set appropriately low - I was pretty sure the procedure was outlined via email - a screening test would be given, and a select few would continue on with the audition process with Millionaire staff. A second test was given - 30 fastest-finger Scantron questions in 15 minutes, or something similar to that - VERY fast. Literally no time to "check your work" like I was used to on an SAT. I bombed it, and wasn't disappointed at all. Well, I was disappointed that I hadn't done well enough - but that was aimed at me, and not at Millionaire.

But with J! wanting a geographically diverse pool, they're probably right to let everyone complete the audition. They've been doing the online for quite awhile now, and they know that of the people they select form the 35+ scores, most of them are probably able to "pass" the written test.
User avatar
econgator
Let's Go Mets!
Posts: 10673
Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2011 10:32 am

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by econgator »

StevenH wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:26 am
davey wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:19 am
goongas wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:57 pm In the old days before the online test, they gave you a test in person, and those who did not pass where asked to leave (tell people you missed it by one, they would tell you). The room had a lot more people than today's auditions. In my audition that I got invited to after taking the online test, everybody played, regardless of how you scored on the in person test.
Yes, and it should be noted that it was something like 90% of the room that left...because nobody had done anything other than fill out a postcard before they'd entered the room.
This was exactly my experience when I auditioned for the college tournament back in 2005. I passed the test, but man that would have been disappointing to travel all that way and not at least make it into the pool.
My one and only in-person failure was at my first try in '95. I drove from Lakeland, FL to Memphis and ended up missing the cut by a question or two, but I did get to visit Graceland, so the trip wasn't a total bust.
User avatar
StevenH
Not J! Contestant Material
Posts: 2524
Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2011 6:24 pm
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by StevenH »

econgator wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 11:44 am
StevenH wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:26 am
davey wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:19 am
goongas wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:57 pm In the old days before the online test, they gave you a test in person, and those who did not pass where asked to leave (tell people you missed it by one, they would tell you). The room had a lot more people than today's auditions. In my audition that I got invited to after taking the online test, everybody played, regardless of how you scored on the in person test.
Yes, and it should be noted that it was something like 90% of the room that left...because nobody had done anything other than fill out a postcard before they'd entered the room.
This was exactly my experience when I auditioned for the college tournament back in 2005. I passed the test, but man that would have been disappointing to travel all that way and not at least make it into the pool.
My one and only in-person failure was at my first try in '95. I drove from Lakeland, FL to Memphis and ended up missing the cut by a question or two, but I did get to visit Graceland, so the trip wasn't a total bust.
My audition for the college tournament was also in Memphis. I was attending FSU at the time and was taking summer classes, so I could only get away for the weekend. My luck being what it is, a hurricane or tropical storm hit Florida that weekend and my flight got canceled. Luckily I was able to get on a flight the next day, but I missed class that Monday when I had a paper due (back then we still had to print them out and hand in paper copies). My professor still took points off, but I was just thankful that he accepted late work at all.

But it was cool that I got to stay at the Peabody, where the audition was held. Even though I didn't get picked for the show and had to stay an extra day it was still an experience that I am very grateful for!
User avatar
econgator
Let's Go Mets!
Posts: 10673
Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2011 10:32 am

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by econgator »

StevenH wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 12:31 pm But it was cool that I got to stay at the Peabody, where the audition was held. Even though I didn't get picked for the show and had to stay an extra day it was still an experience that I am very grateful for!
Ours was at the local TV station in some back room. Alex did show up and answer questions while they graded the test.
User avatar
alietr
Site Admin
Posts: 8980
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2011 1:20 pm
Location: Bethesda, MD

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by alietr »

StevenH wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 12:31 pm But it was cool that I got to stay at the Peabody, where the audition was held.
That's just ducky!
Jeffreygallup
Loyal Jeopardista
Posts: 140
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 11:20 pm

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by Jeffreygallup »

I finally took the anytime test yesterday and think I got one of my best scores, 46 or 47. (I noted any questions I was uncertain about and looked them up later.)

Re 35 is passing, I rather obnoxiously and persistently asked Corina at a 2018 audition about the passing score (think Jim Acosta or any annoying TV interviewer). She gently told me "it is none of your damn business." That sounds harsh, but it was actually not - quite funny in context. I read the info sheet that comes up after you've taken the anytime test as meaning that at the in-person audition the passing score is 35, not necessarily that the online passing score is 35, though I'm not sure the distinction is meaningful.

When they have a cattle-call like event, they do dismiss the non-passers. My 2007 audition was such an event; if you showed up at the Fort McDowell Yavapai Casino, you got to try. Alex greeted people and addressed the multitudes. One or two thousand people showed up; each was given a 10 question written screening test. The roughly 300 who survived that took the 50-question written version. Only 8 passed and got to play the practice game, so the percentage of ultimate passers from among those who showed up was between 0.4 % and 0.8%
Bamaman
Also Receiving Votes
Posts: 12897
Joined: Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:39 pm

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by Bamaman »

I took a test at a Brain Bus event in Birmingham once. It was ten questions and they asked me to come back the next day. At that time I took the fifty question test. They graded them and read off the names of the people they wanted to stay. I wasn’t one of them.

In 2015 I took the online test and got called for an audition in Atlanta. I took the fifty question test and played the mock game. But that was as far as I got.
User avatar
DysonSphere
Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
Posts: 271
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2014 8:43 am

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by DysonSphere »

Advertisements said the Anytime Test could be taken through April 30. But when I went to take it today, the website says the test is "unavailable." The FAQs only promise "late April." Anybody know if the test is closed, or if it is just temporarily down?
talkingaway
Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
Posts: 970
Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2019 11:59 am

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by talkingaway »

DysonSphere wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2020 7:56 am Advertisements said the Anytime Test could be taken through April 30. But when I went to take it today, the website says the test is "unavailable." The FAQs only promise "late April." Anybody know if the test is closed, or if it is just temporarily down?
Have you taken the test since February? Or have you attempted to take it multiple times, but bailed on locking in a score? Either of those could cause a "Sorry, you can't take the test at this time" message.

It wouldn't surprise me if it were over already, since this Friday is May 1. I don't know when they change the bumpers that they put in the shows that advertise the test, but keeping the bumpers the same for an entire week makes sense, which would mean they might have shown their last bumper for the anytime test last Friday. Or maybe it's still available, and they're just doing maintenance - making it an "almost anytime" test.
User avatar
nserven
At the Clam Shack
Posts: 1149
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2011 12:05 pm
Location: Greenfield, MA

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by nserven »

Even though the "unavailable" message was shown on the home page, I was just able to take the test.
John Boy
Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
Posts: 2981
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:11 am

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by John Boy »

Is this test now no longer being administered? Meaning they will now proceed to another Anytime Test with different clues?

If so does that mean we are free to discuss these clues and the correct responses? And if so I hope someone has the information logged and ready to post, with my deep thanks in advance. It would still be lovely to check my responses to see if I scored what I think I scored.
User avatar
MinnesotaMyron
JBOARDIE OF THE MONTH!
Posts: 3428
Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2011 12:53 pm

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by MinnesotaMyron »

John Boy wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2020 5:06 pm Is this test now no longer being administered? Meaning they will now proceed to another Anytime Test with different clues?

If so does that mean we are free to discuss these clues and the correct responses? And if so I hope someone has the information logged and ready to post, with my deep thanks in advance. It would still be lovely to check my responses to see if I scored what I think I scored.
It was a different test for everyone, pulled from a database of questions. I still think discussing them publicly is a bad idea, even once the thing is done.
Last edited by MinnesotaMyron on Sun Apr 26, 2020 6:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
DysonSphere
Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
Posts: 271
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2014 8:43 am

Re: The Jeopardy! Anytime Test

Post by DysonSphere »

DysonSphere wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2020 7:56 am Advertisements said the Anytime Test could be taken through April 30. But when I went to take it today, the website says the test is "unavailable." The FAQs only promise "late April." Anybody know if the test is closed, or if it is just temporarily down?
UPDATE: Test says "unavailable" on the homepage for some reason, but it still allows you to register and take it at this time. I took it today (4/26) successfully.
Post Reply