The effects of smoking on test taking were assessed during administration of the International Union of Elevator Constructors' certification instrument to 95 subjects on June 7, 1986, at the Teamster's City in Chicago. The experiment was designed to determine whether smokers were slower in performing the mental activities required for taking the test. It appears that the observed differences between smokers and non-smokers in the time required to complete the examination was a random event. Moreover, there was no relationship in the time required to take the examination and examination score. There was, however, a slight difference between smokers and non-smokers in their performance scores. A review of the literature suggests that smokers who have been taught in an environment that allowed smoking or have smoked while studying for the examination should be allowed to smoke during examinations. Hence, it appears that barring smoking during administration of such examinations may be discriminatory. (TJH)