Post edited 11:23 am – January 16, 2009 by M0TTB

Does anyone know what is available to a candidate who has failed, in terms of getting some official feedback on where they went wrong in an exam?

I have a fellow club member who sadly failed (he actually took an advance exam course with another club and sat the exam with them).

I do believe they can phone up the RSGB and be told how many questions they got wrong…. but that is all they will be told.

I have read somewhere, but it may be out of date, that a course tutor can contact the RSGB and get feedback on what areas of the syllabus a candidate has failed (maybe more likely, what areas of the sylabbus their whole class of candidates have been struggling).

Similarly, and again it may be out of date, I did read that with an administrative fee payable, a candidate who has failed can get feedback on what areas of the sylabbus they failed in.

I do find it a bit unfair that a candidate who has failed is left in the dark in terms of where they may have went wrong…. the FL and IL exams give the candidate some idea.

73

Andy

g0vgs said:

Whilst it could be useful I guess it is also open to abuse.  In my experience the candidates know where they are weak but a mock exam normally shows those areas too.

73 Ian

Could you elaborate on the 'abuse' aspect? I didn't give that any thought, but it's hard to imagine how it could be an issue when an official at RSGB HQ tells a candidate what parts of the syllabus they failed questions on. As mentioned, candidates get the opportunity to view what sections they get questions wrong in with the FL and IL, and these are 'on the spot' .

Yep, you have a good point regarding a 'mock' if a candidate did one. Self studiers should regard the online example paper as one, yet many seem oblivious to it.

Ultimately, I suppose the advanced exam will be dealt with in the same manner as the FL and IL, with a set pass mark…then the feedback form can be sent back with the result paper. Personally, I wouldn't like to see marking left to the clubs for the top exam … but I suspect that is on the cards eventually

73

Andy

g0vgs said:

Well with the Foundation and the Intermediate, the feedback is face to face.  Imagine you ring up the RSGB and ask for feedback.  How do they know who you are?  If you ring them up and ask and they give you the information, who is responsible if the person they speak to is NOT the person they say they are….  You see my point?

73 Ian

Surely the candidate #, which is the key to applying for a new licence online, is secure enough. After all, the RSGB are currently happy enough to take this # (and a few other bits of info) as proof of i.d. to tell an enquiring candidate how many questions they got wrong. It's not much of a leap to tell the person what sections of the syllabus they failed questions in.

73

Andy

HI ALL, ive just failed my first full exam, and with in that candidate result sheet came a nice letter,

dear candidate

i am sorry to have to give you the news about not passing your advanced license exam this time round,

this is due to a number of reasons, for example candidate not feeling well on the day, more study needed in certain areas of the syllabus, insufficient exam technique or plain simpl exam nerves.

whilst we cant help with most of the possible reasons, we now offer feedback as to how you performed in the exam.

this is given over the telephone and will refer to general areas of the syllabus that the candidate could do with brushing up on.

NB, the pass mark is still floating and therefore we cant disclose it but what we can do is advise how many marks away from passing you were.

this will help candidates to consider whether a small amount of brushing up will allow them to sit and pass the next advanced exam or whether considerbly more study is required and therefore a later exam would be more suitable.

those that are interested in the service are encouraged to phone in.

the phone conversation nomally takes about 15 minutes.

well there you go, word for word as in the nice letter i got aswell as my fail sheet, SOMEONE UP THERE IS WATCHING WHAT YOU RIGHT AND TAKING NOTE…

I FAILED ON 7 AWAY MAY BE NEXT TIME… ALL THE BEST 73