28 Jan 2010 Review of 2009 Exam

[PJW]

[quote='PJW' pid='1158' dateline='1264978401']

Anyway find attached my take on the Exam Review meeting.

I am not struck not so much by the results, but by the very very low take up of Module 4 ... is there really that little interest ? Maybe this is chickens and eggs ... no study group -> no interest -> etc [see later].

Partly I think that there are relatively few communications engineers within the IRSE, some peope get exemption from mod 4 and mod 6 due to their university degrees. Yes VERY few sit these module and thus the results swing wildly from 0% to 100% pass, perhaps via 50%, 33%, 67% but no other values!

Can I ask what might seem a silly question ? Apart from it being a higher level of pass, does a ''credit'' mean you get credited with something that can be used to offset something else ? Or does it just indicate a pass worthy of credit ?

It is only a grade of Pass and does not help you off-set anything else. It does get published and you get the satisfaction hat you comfortably passed; unless you are aiming for Thorrowgood, it is of no actual value. Similarly Distinction, but it is of course a good feeling o get one, particularly if few ohers are awarded.

Model answers
When registering for the exam students now receive a Study DVD which does include certain such answers
For some reason I am under the impression that there is no DVD for modules 4 and 6 ?? Is this right ?? (see later)

You are right, there is precious little I think for mod 4 or mod 6 on the Stufy DVD- just some Past papers I think. I also think that a few people are slowly beavering away to try to improve the situation.

Module 1
Some discussion took place whether extending module 1 to be 90 minutes with the candidate being instructed to attempt 3 questions would make for a better module a

90 min instead of 60 min WRITING ?

Won't this accentuate the writing problem and impact negatively on the whole day if taking into account the earlier comment about exam strain and writing ?

Absolutely; that is why the solution is not obvious; is the cure worse than the disease? My personal view would be that more would be gained than lost but I can see the opposite argument. If I were making the rules myself I think that I'd significantly change the compulsory paper; I'd make it more of a knowledge test and make candidates answer lots of short answers, the idea being to prove familiar over wide range. Although in general I don't think much of them, I even think that there may be a role for "multiple choice" type questions, certainly very short answers such as lists of items. The problem would be setting the questions to be fair to candidates from all environments- specific questions are ok for a particular railway, but how do you make them work for everybody?

As I was not there I do not know what else might have been said about study groups for Modules 4 and 6.

Nothing I am afraid; it is a shame that you couldn't make the evening. I feel that many mainstream signal engineers ought to know more about comms and therefore availability of study material and hopefully also some specific vents would be very beneficial. If a group does emerge for 2011 I'd be interested as useful CPD for myself