California Surveyors Forums

"weakness" I is a surveyor

And possibly for a nominal non-refundable fee challenge certain "correct" answers. There were a few which both my brain and references just didn't agree with do to the limited information either provided or contained in the answer itself. That's multiple choice though.

It would be nice to be able to explain reasoning behind answers...

I know this isn't something that people want to post but has anyone received a letter stating that they did not pass. I am one who took the exam and have no number but have also not received any type of notification. I only ask cause I want to know if the letter shows your weak areas.

Chris got his fail letter and it's basically useless. No hint of what his score was so no idea how he did.
Lists 5 categories like the test plan and states deficient or marginal or proficient.


I guess it took so long because they didn't mail it until Wednesday and it came from Prometric in Minnesota not Ca board.

I received mine today. I know people who are able to have influence on the exam review this board so I will post the following:

Project management - proficient
Research, pre and post field analysis - deficient
field work - deficient
Mapping and document preparation - marginal

That being said in reality I am most deficient in the area's this test placed me as being proficient and the deficient areas are where I excel. I'm not going to dispute the marginal score.

BEPLS&G review your exam it's BS, hopefully next year there is some substance to the answer's we are opted to choose from, at the very least provide a way in which examinee's can challenge and provide reasoning being the choice made.

I am going to frame the letter, the guy's at my office are going be dying of laughter.

And what does "marginal" mean?

Is that a pass or fail?

Beats the hell out of me. I simply don't like not having the ability to explain the reasoning behind my solution. For some reason I thought that is what the difference between a professional and a tech was.

With respect to the board, they were very responsive in inquiries I made about the letter.

I agree, The notification is 'deficient'! There were obvious errors in some of the questions too. There are huge problems with this exam. I will probably sit out next year unless I hear of changes being made. Prometric strikes me as the typical low bid subcontractor.

Agree. By no means sit out next year. We were the trial run, and even though this exam had deficiencies we have to hope that it was a learning experience. I wish you luck.

Two years ago I took the 50-question, NCEES-administered, multiple choice, state specific exam to get my Washington license. (I passed, by the way.) What astounded me was the errors in the test itself. There were about 3 questions that struck me as being so contrary to what I had been studying that it was as if they were prepared by some test-making person, and not by a surveyor.

Even worse was the duplication of one question. That's right! They unknowingly duplicated a question. Word for word. I flipped back and forth several times to confirm it.

On the walk to the parking lot I asked a guy walking next to me if he had noticed it. He said he did and was as shocked as I was.

That level of incompetence is inexcusable. People's careers are at stake.

I will add my hardy agreement with the comments above. I sent an email to the board so I will not detail everything here but it almost seemed like a "trick" test to see how well you were at taking tests. And yes, the long anticipated result letter arrived Sat. and was USELESS!

Does anyone have an idea as to what the cutscore was?

Prometric was dropping the ball at every step of the process; sending incorrect or incomplete information, website constantly down, not sending notifications in a timely manner. They never inspired confidence at any point in the process including the hour plus of standing around their office and waiting to test. Note to next years examiners; don't bother showing up a half hour early.

Found this on Wikipededia:
In 2009, the company (Prometric) was involved in a controversy due to widespread technical problems on one of India's MBA entrance exams, the Common Admission Test.[5] While Prometric claims that the problems were due to common viruses,[6] this claim was disputed since these tests were not internet-based and were rather offered on local area networks within India, where the virus was pre-existent.[7] Due to this controversy Prometric allowed 8000 students to reappear for the examination.[8]

I wonder if there is any correlation between where the tests were taken and the pass/fail, or if evenly distributed.

The bad part is if the individual computer messed up the input, there is no way of checking that. No paper backup.

I don't know guys, I had no problems with the exam or with Prometric. I showed up a half hour before, like we were told to, and was sitting at the computer starting my exam a little before 8. And I sure don't remember any errors in the questions.

We all knew we were the guinea pigs with the change to the new format.
We all knew it was going to be multiple choice, pick the "Best Answer". I remember a few questions where I said, "Well, that's not exactly what I would do, but that's the best answer."

I understand the frustration of not passing, and I think knowing a score would go a long way to relieving that frustration.

'Best answer' works for the LSIT, maybe even the national. I agree that is how a lot this recent exam came off. The State Specific used to seem more like a test of your actions as a professional practicing in the State of California. I would hope a surveyor would be ready to support his/her decisions with a better argument than,"Your Honor, It's not what I would have done, but it was the best of the multiple choice options." At least the old format allowed an opportunity to support your actions, if one should have had the unique experience of participating, in the appeals process.

And the old format brought in subjectivity, even with the appeals process, which I went through and lost last year. If a grader didn't like your answer, you got it wrong. This new format took that out. There was one correct answer per question. That's it. Though one may argue that the answers weren't the best, or that they didn't match one's experience or training.

I've taken both formats and sat through an appeal last year. I think that this year's format covered enough material and was a fair test.

Best of luck to you all as you look towards next year's exams, and here's to you passing.