Using ear-plugs during tests?

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Has anyone ever used ear-plugs while taking a test in college? I ask because I do not have accomodatings and so every time I take a test, it is in the classroom with all the other students. Obviously, this can be very distracting. For instance, I had a math midterm a week ago and thought I did well, even though the girl next to me kept clearing her throat and distracting me. However, when I got the test back yesterday, I actually scored a 76% (which is a D). I have looked over it and am seeing that it is just little stupid things that tripped me up. I am thinking that may have been because I was constantly distracted while taking it. Now, I am wondering if using ear-plugs might work to silence some of the distracting noises that I constantly hear. Have any of you used them? Would you recommend using something else? The only thing is that I have to sit in the room with everyone else and cannot get an empty room or extra time.

I tried using earplugs. Not on a test but simply in my home, to stop hearing the distracting TV downstairs. Unfortunately they don't seem to work.
The TV and most of other sounds around(such as clock ticking) were still hearable - not so loud anymore but the volume isn't the thing that distracts me, the sound itself does, no matter how weak it is.
And I could hear additional sounds - constant sound of blood flowing in head and my bones, skin and hair moving with my every breath. I also couldn't get used to the feeling of something stuck in my ear. So I wouldn't suggest using them.

But I have no idea what could help you on the test either. I'm usually doing fine on tests since there is not many distractions. Classes are much worse. Especially when teacher tells us to read something. Some students ignore him and whisper to each other in the back of class, another student comes to teacher for a explanation, someone laughs, someone explains what to do for a friend... And I sit there, reading one paragraph over and over and not getting anything from it.

I usually cover my ears then but it helps only a bit. I still have trouble focusing since I still hear the talks but at least the feeling of being overloaded gets away. And also people tend to stop talking soon after I do this. I guess the "ears cover" gesture is like yelling "Can you please SHUT UP?".

It won't work like that with the unavoidable, normal sounds you hear during exam because people just can't stop making them. But you might try covering your ears and see if it helps for the sounds. You might uncover only when you need to write something(since you need a free hand for this) and keep them covered when reading. You won't look silly. Many people hold their heads when they think hard.

when I have to make my brain overclock, I need NO distractions, so the ear plugs are a must.

I've never tried it, but it sounds like it could work very well!

Can you try to get accommodations? I think in most colleges you can request them at any time It doesn't necessarily have to be the beginning of the year/term.

Thanks everyone. NicholasName- the thing with accommodations is that at my school, you have to have a learning disability. "Just" having ASD is not enough. So if I were to ask, I would be shot down.

Hello.

Earplugs work pretty well. There are so many possible distractions...from your neighbor chewing gum relatively loudly to tapping his fingers/pens on the desk to coughing/blowing his nose/any kind of illness sounds. If I were you, I would ask the professor a few days before the exam/quiz if it's acceptable to wear the foam earplugs and mention that minimizing the noises will help you concentrate. Be ready to sit in the front row if the professor asks you; it's just a way to make sure you're not cheating etc.

I remember when, during the History final, the teacher in the next room started playing clearly audible music. It didn't stop for 20 minutes. I'm lucky enough to be really good at obliviousness, but I can't imagine what it must've been like for kids with this kind of problem.

ear plugs can go the wrong way; if you can't hear anything your body will compensate and your other senses will increase in strength.

rather then blocking all sound, i recommend using music buds and play some white/grey noise or static on them. that will overrule background noise by something predictable, works a lot better in my case

I used silicone earplugs during tests, which worked well for me. I find I can still focus on the subtleties in white noise, which could disrupt my focus. Also it doesn't seem to block out other noise too well unless I make it very loud, which can damage my hearing. Professors don't like seeing you use earbuds during tests anyway because they think you might be playing a sound recording containing test answers.