Hi everyone.  I just took a preemployment poly for a federal law enforcement agency.  The test lasted 4 1/2 hours.  The examiner was nice but he was following text book poly procedure.  We did 3 charts and he stated that I was having issues with a few questions.  He then gave me an opportunity to clear my chest and informed me what I might think is major really might be minor and that I should try to get over the mental hurdle I had hit.  He first alluded that I had failed the drug question.  I really have never tried anything in my life so I told him that I could not change my answer because there was no reason to.  He then stated that I had issues with the serious crime question.  He tried to play with me mentally by stating that sometimes we are present whne something bad happens beyond our control etc...  Again I stated that I had never been involved in or witnessed a major crime, which is the truth.  Finally he stated that there was an issue with the application truthfulness question.  Again I stated that I was absolutely truthful and had nothing to change.  He seemed really stuck on this issue and really wanted me to clear my chest and my mind so that I could pass the test.  I took the test a second time again with 3 charts.  He came back in a sterner fashion saying, "look something is bothering you and until we can get beyond that you won't be able to pass the application question, are you sure there is nothing bothering you?"  I again said no and we finished up.  He stated that I would here within a week and that most probably I will either have a second exam or be failed outright?  Could this be a tactic or is this probably true?  What really bothers me is that I already work in law enforcement and my answers were truthful.  What can I do.  He stated that a major issue was my slow deep breathering and that it appeared that I was trying to relax.  I hace a breathing problem with my nose so I explained that this might be an issue but that I was breathing normally.  I am upset that 1) I felt that I was being accused of wrongdoing when in fact I have done nothing wrong and 2) That I have wasted a year applying for a job that I won't get because of this stipid exam.  One weird thing did happen though.  This agency has already began my B/I.  I stated to the examiner that I wished that the B/I would stop if I failed because I did not want to have top explain to my co-workers that I failed the exam and thus did not get hired.  He stated that he would call the Investigator but that they will  continue the Investigation.  Why would they continue a B/I when I have failed the exam? or have I?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Is his questioning a few of my responses normal?  Thanks so much, John

Hey JohnfromCA,

I went through the exact thing.  Same speech about me having problems but no specific pinpoint of the "lie".  I was also told that I might have to take another one or might just fail.  Also that I'd know the results within the week...well, its been more than 2 weeks and I still haven't heard anything.  I was told by a source that the results take 2 weeks assuming HQ is not that busy (especially with 9/11  and security concerns.)

I am hoping that the examiner was trying to mess with our heads to get some type of confession of some sort.  Since u and I had nothing to admit, I don't know what else could've been done to confince the examiner.

I guess we'll just have to wait.  Who knows, maybe we'll be academy classmates (if it was the same agency which I think it is.)   

Goodluck