2010 Q3 Track Circuit SCWO

[PJW]

At Reading Study Group we discussed a couple of Mod 1 questions, of this this was one.
As a one off experiment, I thought I'd see how much I could actually get down on paper in the time now permitted. I gave myself a strict 18 mins to do all that you see attached (i.e. including heading info) just to see how it went when against the clock.

Of course I had all the decided advantage of having discussed the question in class a few days earlier; I certainly doubt whether I could done so well if I had been completely cold into the exam with only 10 minutes to select the questions and think of an outline. I felt that I would only have permited myself 10% of the 20 minutes to plan before commencing writing, so hence the 18min allowance I set. I suppose that I am not as "young and fit" as those who sit the exam but don't feel that I am too much into my dotage yet, although noticeably slowing down.

I have got to say that I think it is too tough; very difficult to have done 3 questions within the hour to any reasonable level.

Note that I knew I was fighting time so it is a bit of a scawl and generally terse; also gaps left in case I had time to go back and flesh out- which I of course didn't end up having the luxury to do.

Having to move straight on to the next one to do in the same fashon and then another one- umm.

Personal conclusion: asking candidates to attempt 3 questions within the hour was probably a mistake. I accept all were in the same boat and it was certainly possible to pass (hats off to those who succeeded), but I can see why the scores were all low across the range.
"I think we'd better think it out again".

[hiteshp]

PJW,

Thanks for attempting to complete this question under exam conditions. I took this paper and failed. It's reassuring to know that it was difficult to obtain a pass. I will attempt to take it again this year along with mod 2 and 3.

What are your thoughts about the format of the exam this year? Will the IRSE revert back to a 2 questions paper or will they keep the 3 question format and increase the time allocation?

Hitesh

[PJW]

To be honest, I don't think they know yet!

I think though that it is likely stay as 3 questions from what I have heard.

However I think that the "reading time" for possibly all papers may be reduced to 5 mins, or even eliminated altogether, in order that the module 1 paper can be extended to be 90 mins without making the overall day longer.
Associated with this, it may be that the nominal time for each of the modules will actually be extended slightly but without allocated "reading time", thus leaving each candidate to deploy the total time available as they see fit.

The reading time was originally introduced to give people time to become familiar with the nuances of the questions without feeling the pressure to start writing- a period of calm in which to choose their questions wisely. The perceived problem was that candidates were launching straight into "writing mode" before engagng brain.
It doesn't actually seem to have worked and the feeling from those who invigulate is that most candidates just appear to idle the time away.

Quite what it would do to those exam centres that have in recent years been given 20mins rather than 10mins reading time per paper, is just one of the "open points" within the proposals which seem to be under discussion........

When there is an official announcement, or when I hear more on the grapevine then I'll share on this Forum. Of course when applying for the 2011 exam you could always explicitly ask for confirmation re the length of the paper / number of questions you'll registering for!

(17-03-2011 01:47 AM)hiteshp Wrote:  PJW,

Thanks for attempting to complete this question under exam conditions. I took this paper and failed. It's reassuring to know that it was difficult to obtain a pass. I will attempt to take it again this year along with mod 2 and 3.

What are your thoughts about the format of the exam this year? Will the IRSE revert back to a 2 questions paper or will they keep the 3 question format and increase the time allocation?

Hitesh

[PJW]

Further to previous, this evening I was speaking to someone who did pass mod1 although he believed that he hadn't. He felt that the time pressure made it the hardest exam he had done in his life!

He put his success down to having practiced very many questions (albeit 30mins rather than 20mins). Tended to use a question answer posted on this forum as the trigger for attempting, and then compare answers and any comments given. Admitted that he probably should have shared his own attempt and I agreed that he indeed should, but it does show that even those who prefer to work privately can get a measure of how their output compares with what the examiners will expect.

(17-03-2011 01:47 AM)hiteshp Wrote:  PJW,

Thanks for attempting to complete this question under exam conditions. I took this paper and failed. It's reassuring to know that it was difficult to obtain a pass

Hitesh