Calgary Learning Institute Ltd. - Calgary, Alberta

Alin

Terrible. Worst education program I’ve ever dealt with. They barely answer your calls when you call them, and when you go in person to take the test it’s completely different from the practice exam they make you do at home. I did my social studies course online, I felt really confident, getting straight 90% on it every time, but when I went in person to take the test it was completely different. It was a topic they barely informed you on the course! And the tests aren’t cheap either, 85$ per test and if you fail you have to pay again. It seems like they teach you one thing and at the testing place they give you something else harder so they can make money. I do not recommend this place at all.

Michael R.

I had a great experience here. After reading other reviews, I decided it best not to take a test on a Friday. You can't control the neighbors, but you can minimize their impact by coming on a day where they aren't loud :). For me that was a Saturday.

The staff were extraordinarily kind, sweet, professional, and thorough in making sure I understood my roles and responsibilities while test taking and in their demeaner before and after my test. I'm a bigger guy and was worried that the chairs, space, or headphones were going to be too small. The chair and space was perfect. The proctors even make sure to sit people so that they aren't side by side. This made it so much easier to focus on why I was there. The headphones were really tight, but I'm sure not everyone is going to have an XXL head. Even then, I used them, and they helped tremendously.

Parking is a bit tight and limited, so be sure to ask the front desk staff if you parked in a spot that won't get you towed.

My only issue was with the exam I took itself and definitely not with the center. The results should display at the end of the 'test' but they actually display at the end of the post-test survey.

Thank you for doing what you do, I am sure you get to witness an emotional rollercoaster there.

MacKenna C.

I just wrote a big exam and am beyond impressed with the compassion, care, and respect from the front desk staff. I came in a week prior to my exam to ask some questions and Marilyn was more than helpful in providing answers to my questions and letting me know that other tenants begin to make sound around 1/2pm. She was very accommodating, respectful, enforced the rules of the testing centre yet was also empathetic towards the people who were taking the test. I encourage anyone taking a test here to come a week earlier to ask questions and about the sound level on your specific testing day. Other tenants' sounds are out of the control of the centre, but they do their best to inform applicants and find reasonable accommodation. The lunch area with all the plants was a major stress reducer during my longer break and provided fresh air and a small step away from the exam room. Again, I highly recommend calling and asking about sound levels and any other questions you have before you register for the exam and go in a week before to scope out the area. The most impactful part that lead to a positive testing experience was Marilyn. Marilyn is an absolute gem and I am so glad to have talked to her.

Mona B.

Never ever sit exams in this place if it's on a Friday. Today was the most terrible experience of my life! I spent months studying for MCAT exam, spending all my money, time, energy, and basically my life for this goal, only to go to this hellish place which is located next to a super noisy faith organization. There was an event in the next door building (Bab ul Hawaij) recurring every Friday. And people in Learning Institute, knowing about this issue, still hold important exams such as MCAT on Fridays!!! It was so loud today that even wearing ear muffs wouldn't help. Due to loud continues noise, I lost my entire concentration and couldn't do well in the exam. I couldn't even think or collect my thoughts due this super loud noise.
My question for the Learning Institute manager is why did you not relocate to an appropriate and quiet location?!!! Why do you hold exams on Fridays? Why are people's futures so unimportant for you?! Why?!!

Ray M.

Their GED/CAEC prep program is a scam. It's a waste of money and time. I could have learned all that for free and saved so much of my time. Would not recommend! There are no many issues from spelling and grammar to just a lack of learning materials. Save yourself the time and money and buy a GED book that's all this is.

Dan B.

The people running the front desk were extremely cold and unfriendly, making the already stressful experience of writing exams even more uncomfortable. Despite the abundance of signs reminding everyone to keep quiet during exams, the room was noisy and disruptive, with loud talking and laughing coming from both sides of the exam room for the entire duration of the test. When I brought this to the attention of the front desk lady, she said she would look into it but failed to take any action to address the issue.
In addition to the unfriendliness of the front desk staff, the lack of information provided after completing the exam was also frustrating. There was no indication of whether I passed or failed, and deciphering the scoring code was left entirely up to me. The absence of any congratulatory message or words of encouragement made the whole experience feel impersonal and uncaring.
To make matters worse, when I left the front desk after receiving my marks, not a single person bothered to say thanks or bid me farewell, further contributing to the unprofessionalism and unfriendliness that marred the entire experience.

mica D.

This was my first experience at Calgary Learning and the extensive security procedures required for my exam.

I was really impressed by the care and attention that was given to my check-in and getting me setup. I appreciated that a lot of people come through there on any given day/week, some of who stressed and perhaps not that pleasant to deal with so it would be easy to fall into a "let's just get the people through" mode. They made me feel at ease and not rushed, which made the exam experience that little bit less stressful.

I definitely recommend this facility for any of your proctored exams.

Lauryn U.

I would not recommend testing here. Starting at about 1 or 2pm there was a fairly constant loud noise and people’s voices carried. Also there was no clock in the lunch room.