Exam Overkill

[Minnesota_Fats]

I think it's great that the CAS is releasing these actual exams and trying to be more transparent in the grading process. The one problem I see is that these only serve as a couple data points and can be a little misleading.

The exam 9 passing paper is a great example of someone who annihilated the test, passing with almost 13 points to spare. If someone is trying to find out how to dominate the test than this is a good example, but it might be overkill for the rest of us. I passed exam 9 on my first try and I can say that my responses were not nearly as neat and complete as this candidates. My paper probably looked more like the failing paper.

The best solution is to release more exams and have more data points but I can understand how much work it took just to get this far.

[Theo Walcott's Hatrick]

I thought the idea was to give people an idea of how exams were graded. I haven't heard much bashing of how these papers were graded. It is a much more transparant process than most other bodies.

[MGN]

Originally Posted by Minnesota_Fats

I think it's great that the CAS is releasing these actual exams and trying to be more transparent in the grading process. The one problem I see is that these only serve as a couple data points and can be a little misleading.

The exam 9 passing paper is a great example of someone who annihilated the test, passing with almost 13 points to spare. If someone is trying to find out how to dominate the test than this is a good example, but it might be overkill for the rest of us. I passed exam 9 on my first try and I can say that my responses were not nearly as neat and complete as this candidates. My paper probably looked more like the failing paper.

The best solution is to release more exams and have more data points but I can understand how much work it took just to get this far.

This forum is capable of going 20+ pages in a single thread discussing a) MattTheSkywalker's escapades, b) any political or financial topic thinkable, and c) various ways in which the exam process is unfair or penalizes people with arthritis, or what have you. And yet a monumental step to expose the exam grading process for others to see is met with all of 10-15 posts combined discussing the actual contents.

Between both of these exams, there are any number of those in which one or both takers did not get full credit. Enough of them so that the mindset of the graders is somewhat clear and any question you have in the form of "would xyz answer get full credit?" should be answerable on your own. Not that it's perfect, but it's pretty good and definitely a major improvement. You can even see what kind of chicken scratches get credit and what kind don't (and from what I've seen, they all do, so sadly that one's out the window).

So I have trouble believing at this point that extra data points in the form of additional sample exams is really going to make much difference.

[Didon]

Originally Posted by MGN

This forum is capable of going 20+ pages in a single thread discussing a) MattTheSkywalker's escapades, b) any political or financial topic thinkable, and c) various ways in which the exam process is unfair or penalizes people with arthritis, or what have you. And yet a monumental step to expose the exam grading process for others to see is met with all of 10-15 posts combined discussing the actual contents.

I think this is because of the timing. If the exam committee were to do this same exercise for 5, 7, and 8 within the next couple weeks*, I bet you'd see a lot of discussion. But folks took these exams 8 months ago. No one remembers anything about them. The people who passed don't care. The people who failed just want to move on. The people who haven't yet taken 6 or 9 may still have comments, but not until their studying ramps up in September or so.

Since I'm taking 9 this fall, I'm really glad this information is here and I'm sure I will use it, but I'm not surprised to see so few posts about it right now.

*I am not suggesting this is possible

[PhildeAssociate]

Originally Posted by MGN

So I have trouble believing at this point that extra data points in the form of additional sample exams is really going to make much difference.

For those who do not understand the passmark dilemma where someone will always be above it and someone below it, please go back to middle school.

[Minnesota_Fats]

Originally Posted by MGN

Between both of these exams, there are any number of those in which one or both takers did not get full credit. Enough of them so that the mindset of the graders is somewhat clear and any question you have in the form of "would xyz answer get full credit?" should be answerable on your own. Not that it's perfect, but it's pretty good and definitely a major improvement. You can even see what kind of chicken scratches get credit and what kind don't (and from what I've seen, they all do, so sadly that one's out the window).

So I have trouble believing at this point that extra data points in the form of additional sample exams is really going to make much difference.

Good points. I have to admit I haven't looked at individual questions to determine the graders' intent (nor do I intend to because I never have to take these exams again!). I was just trying to look at these exams from the perspective of someone who has never passed an upper level exam and wondering what a passing paper "looks" like. From this perspective I think the exam 9 passing paper sets too high of a standard. The extra data points would reassure candidates that a slightly more sloppy or rushed looking exam could also be a passing exam.

Again, I think it's great the CAS has done this and I think the candidates will get a ton of use picking these exams apart this fall.

[Colymbosathon ecplecticos]

Originally Posted by Minnesota_Fats

From this perspective I think the exam 9 passing paper sets too high of a standard. The extra data points would reassure candidates that a slightly more sloppy or rushed looking exam could also be a passing exam.

Aiming to be the minimally qualified candidate almost guarantees failing.

[Moderator1]

Some off-topic posts from this thread have been moved to a new thread here