Yes. I asked the lady at the test center over the phone and she said they had updated the testing rules. The lady that actually administered my test told me she thought I could, so she let me start then went and checked, she came right back and took it away. So definitely a no-no.
You can bring your own earplugs. I knew I wouldn't want to wear the big ear protectors that they had there, I'm taking a test not mowing my lawn.
I ordered a nice pair of earplugs and got used to wearing them, I would suggest doing that. The lady just put them in a tissue and hit them with a hammer
. This of course foiled me because I had a com link in my earplugs to my FBI-style van outside which has a direct satellite uplink to the NORAD Cheyenne Mountain command base, where I had gathered the brilliant minds of the 21st century. Luckily I wasn't forced to take the cyanide pill that I had placed inside one of my teeth. And also luckily I don't think anybody noticed the 2 F18's circling above.
The test center was pretty quiet and I took them in and out as I went through the test.
Rant:
Regardless, I think the procedures at the center are idiotic. They wouldn't even let me take my coat off if I wore it when I started taking the test. The proctor told me I would have to raise my hand and come out of the room.
wtf