@ willadvise
Thanks for your "professional" opinion. Forking out 300 bucks to attend a test day is already expensive enough (for me, at present). Add a hotel to it and it becomes unaffordable. And I have several other reasons why I'm forced to choose this option. So "utter madness" is not helpful, nor constructive. Without you knowing me or my circumstances, this qualification is offensive. You've left my questions unanswered. So maybe you could consider changing your screen name?
Is there anybody else around here who has some answers for me please?