Radiosrfun wrote:
"KH6HZ" wrote in message
...
"Scott Dorsey" wrote:

When I took the First Class, there were a huge number of people who had
basically word-associated the question pool, and who were passing the
test
with basically no technical knowledge at all.
This happens on a daily basis in the ARS too, unfortunately.


I do not think a pure multiple-choice test is ever all that effective, in
part because it's possible to pass it that way.
Multiple choice exams are not a bad thing.

Imagine what your GPA would have been in college if all your professors
gave multiple-choice examinations AND gave you the question pool from
which the exams would be derived, at the beginning of the semester.

73
kh6hz


Multiple choice tests are ok, but I understand the point being made. Yes it
is possible to do word association - I've done it on exams I was taking with
NO WAY to study for. It does help tremendously though - to have a clue about
the content. I studied for every test other than that one. I like to give
myself the best possible chance to pass. I for one - don't like handing my
cash over on a whim. IF I have to pay to take a damned test, I want to make
sure I get my monies worth. As a VE team leader for both Amateur Radio and
Commercial exams (almost useless) - I've seen lots of people come and go.
You can usually tell who knows their stuff or at least are trying.

I had a professor, the late great Dave Simons, who would make EE tests that
were multiple choice, and had partial credit.

He had taught for so long, that he knew virtually all of the mistakes that
the kids would make, and would put the answers that would result from the
different wrong paths as the different choices.

-Chuck