Producing Blank Control Table in Exam

[probert1]

Hi

Prior to the 2008 exam I was told by previous students that the time allocated to reading time for module 3 could be spent drawing up the control tables. On Saturday, this was not so, and the tables had to be drawn once the exam time commenced.

Could anyone please tell me what the ruling is on this, and did any of the exam centres around the country allow control table's to be generated during the allocated reading time?

Many Thanks

Paul

[alexgoei]

The ten minutes is strictly for reading. Drawing of tables is not allowed.

Certainly in the centre which I took the exam which was outside the UK did not allow the drawing of tables.

[Peter]

Reading only. No writing allowed in the ten minutes. I have not got my notes to the invigilators with me to quote the wording, but that has always been the case at the Bristol centre.

Peter

[PJW]

Prior to the exam I was told by previous students that the time allocated to reading time for module 3 could be spent drawing up the control tables. On Saturday, this was not so, and the tables had to be drawn once the exam time commenced.

Paul

Obviously don't know what someone has been allowed to get away with somewhere, somewhen, but I have never heard of this. Certainly all the information I have ever had and indeed all the discussion on this Forum etc has been quite clear that READING is reading- no touching of pencils for as much as scribbled notes, let alone actually doing something that would be used in the exam. I think you were misled and a bit naive if that is what you expected.

regards,
PJW

[probert1]

Hi Peter

I'm not going to get into a protracted forum debate on this, but I can tell you personally that I was told this by some reasonably senior people.

In terms of naivety, I expected to draw the tables within the prescribed time, however, I felt that it was a fair question to ask to forum to check that those who sat the exam at my examination centre were not disadvangted in some way. It would appear from the responses that the reading time given was exactly that. That's good. Enough said!

[venugopal]

Hi,

Does 20 min reading time is partly to go through Part B questions or will this time be allowed to have a glance of Mod 3 layout.

Also 20 min reading time for Mod 2 applies for layout.(Main line or Rapid transit)

We were told that the layout will be given only after the commencement of exam time (i.e. after reading time).

Could any one clarify me ASAP.

Regards

[Peter]

Hi,

Does 20 min reading time is partly to go through Part B questions or will this time be allowed to have a glance of Mod 3 layout.

Also 20 min reading time for Mod 2 applies for layout.(Main line or Rapid transit)

We were told that the layout will be given only after the commencement of exam time (i.e. after reading time).

Could any one clarify me ASAP.

Regards

At the start of the reading time you should be given access to all of the paperwork relevant for the paper you are sitting. For mod 3 this would be the exam paper (parts A and B) and the layout. For mod 2 this would similarly include the layout. In all cases, it is READING time only. No notes, no calculations (unless you can do them purely in your head!), no doodles, no drawing of tables. If you are at an exam centre that differs from this, I would strongly advise you to take this up officially with the IRSE, but as past invigilators (and in my case current), PJW and I have spoken with exam committee members about this matter and my text above reflects the response.

Just one point that I do need to check on for this year as I have assumed it to be the same as before, as far as I know it is ten minutes reading time (that was extended from five a few years ago), but I will confirm that later.

Peter

[PJW]

Hi,

Does 20 min reading time is partly to go through Part B questions or will this time be allowed to have a glance of Mod 3 layout.

Also 20 min reading time for Mod 2 applies for layout.(Main line or Rapid transit)

We were told that the layout will be given only after the commencement of exam time (i.e. after reading time).

Could any one clarify me ASAP.

Regards

Just one point that I do need to check on for this year as I have assumed it to be the same as before, as far as I know it is ten minutes reading time (that was extended from five a few years ago), but I will confirm that later.

Peter

I am not sure about this but it does seem that candidates at "foreign" exam centres may be being allowed longer reading time this year- if so I am not sure precisely what rules apply. I could understand that it would be reasonable to allow greater reading time for long bits of English prose as the module 3 written questions but NOT the actual layout for the Control Tables since language is much less of an issue.

I must emphasise that I do not know even that there is greater reading time permitted though this is something that I have previously been arguing for for those whose first language (in whatever country they sit the exam) is not English- this is pire conjecture but I do see that there could be rationale for what has been reported though I'd have assumed that the layout would be given after the end of the EXTRA reading time.

[alexgoei]

Hello,

From memory from the Module 2 & 3 exams which I took in Singapore in the past, the reading time is strictly reading time and is 10 minutes not 20 minutes. The layouts whether for Module 2 or 3 will be given out together with the question papers.

The drawing of the Control tables can only commence when the examiner tells you that you may begin. Not during the 10 minutes reading time

All the best for the exams

Alex

[alexgoei]

Hello,

My apologies please to anyone who read my earlier posting today concerning the reading time allocated for the exams.

I am told by an invigilator for this year's exams that for candidates from non-native English speaking countries that 20 minutes (not 10 minutes) has been allocated for this year's exams.

However I also understand that the 20 minutes is strictly for reading only ie. no writing or drawing of control tables for example will be permitted.

Sorry for any inconvenience I may have caused.

Regards