27-02-2018, 09:26 AM
steak, I wish to add a little something. The following is my understanding of the exam.
The exam is a vocational one but does require a little academic skill in learning how to write what someone knows down onto paper. Therefore, the longer a candidate is in an appropriate role, the more chance they will be able to get a decent result with some (read a lot) of practice. For me, model answers can also be a negative thing; at too many events, people have attended expecting to get spoon fed answers verbatim whereas the examiners are looking for a candidate to explain the principles behind their answer; the nuance of a question may change with time but a model answer may not! There is plenty of support to help candidates such as the study days, study groups, this website, peers, training, experience, mentors... if only more people took advantage.
Those with hands on roles need to practice answering questions just as much as office bound people need to get out and experience real World issues. The biggest mistake many make is either taking the exam too early in their career or not preparing suitably for the exam (or both). It is hard, it is supposed to be as it is one of the things that can help support a membership application for the Institution.
Could the IRSE do more - yes they could - but as usual it relies on small numbers of people doing lots of additional work in their free time and, controversially, it could also have negative effects on the exam itself. There is no clear answer but you are doing the right things to help you help yourself in the exam.
The exam is a vocational one but does require a little academic skill in learning how to write what someone knows down onto paper. Therefore, the longer a candidate is in an appropriate role, the more chance they will be able to get a decent result with some (read a lot) of practice. For me, model answers can also be a negative thing; at too many events, people have attended expecting to get spoon fed answers verbatim whereas the examiners are looking for a candidate to explain the principles behind their answer; the nuance of a question may change with time but a model answer may not! There is plenty of support to help candidates such as the study days, study groups, this website, peers, training, experience, mentors... if only more people took advantage.
Those with hands on roles need to practice answering questions just as much as office bound people need to get out and experience real World issues. The biggest mistake many make is either taking the exam too early in their career or not preparing suitably for the exam (or both). It is hard, it is supposed to be as it is one of the things that can help support a membership application for the Institution.
Could the IRSE do more - yes they could - but as usual it relies on small numbers of people doing lots of additional work in their free time and, controversially, it could also have negative effects on the exam itself. There is no clear answer but you are doing the right things to help you help yourself in the exam.
Le coureur