WB094: A Mr. Bean Moment

In the first act of Mr. Bean's pilot episode The Exam, Mr. Bean - played by Rowan Atkinson - sits for a mathematics test.

He has come well-prepared and is seemingly confident about his chances of success. That is, until he opens the test paper and realises he has studied for the wrong test.

Panicking, Mr. Bean desperately tries (and fails) throughout the test to copy the answers of the test taker seated next to him.

It is only at the end of test, where Mr. Bean realises there were two sets of question papers, one of which was the test he was meant to sit for.

Every time I watch or think of that specific scene, the comical look of horror and pure desperation on Mr. Bean's face makes me laugh out loud.

Against my better judgement, I watched this particular Mr. Bean act the day before I sat for my Japanese Language Proficiency Test ("JLPT") on July 5th. I was quite confident that watching Mr. Bean would not in any way jinx my chances of passing a test I had spent countless hours preparing for.

Luck runs on batteries

Before leaving for the JLPT venue, I made sure all my stationary and documents were in order. Mr. Bean was just as prepared.

The JLPT rules are strict about digital and smart watches, which is just as well since my lucky watch is an analog quartz watch. Unfortunately, the battery on this watch had run out a few days earlier.

Well, surely the luck in my watch can't be impacted by its lack of power right? And what are the odds the exam venue does not have a clock?

As it turns out, the exam venue had no clocks. And the invigilators made it clear they would not be giving a five-minute warning before the end of the test. I am not sure why this is the case, but it just is.

For a moment I panicked, but reassured myself that I was adequately prepared having practised many mock tests with a timer.

This, unfortunately, was not to be as time flew by so quickly that the test ended all of a sudden and I left seven questions blank for the reading section, which is one of three sections you need to achieve a minimum 19/60 score in.

It is common sense that in multiple-choice exams, it is better to fill in an answer than leave it blank. But I had no time to do this as the invigilator announced "Time is up, pencils down".

I could not help but recount that episode of Mr. Bean.

If you ask me, this was a self-inflicted fumble. Sometimes, the best laid plans or preparations are tripped up by the small, seemingly insignificant details. A lesson well-learned.

Going down memory lane

This harrowing experience has been hanging over my head for the past month or so while I waited for the JLPT results to be announced on August 24th.

Memories of the anxieties and stress I felt after school and university exams that did not go as planned came flooding back. I would then try to comfort myself with the knowledge that I always got through in the end.

And thankfully this time, I passed the JLPT by the skin of my teeth. As expected, the Reading section was the worst of the three sections.

I reflect on this experience as one of the many uncomfortable moments we have to go through and endure in life. I recognise that this reflection is also made with the safe knowledge that I passed this level of the JLPT.

It is always tempting to try and prevent bad or unpleasant feelings from arising by avoiding the road less travelled or not doing anything at all.

But sometimes, experiences like this are the necessary ingredients that shape us into who we are today. They are also a periodic reminder not to take the little things for granted, and to also reflect on what can be done to prevent amateur Mr. Bean moments.

For me at least, I will always remember that my lucky watch does not work without a battery.

--Ends