I was wondering your opinion on testing and if there were any alternate methods to testing for those of us who "test badly" I realize that it would be detrimental for anyone else on here to publicly post that they test poorly, but I know you are out there and my PM box knows it, (the PM box isn't talking)
Years ago I took some CF courses in which you had to physically demonstrate (for the class test not a cert) that you knew how to do several things.
I can go through a computer and get what you want or need and know what I'm doing, however put a test up and it becomes incredibly difficult. Lately, I've noticed that people I've talked to have felt the same way. They demonstrate above average ability in acceptance of the knowledge, but can't put paper to pen on a test. So maybe you're thinking oh what about reports or testimony, that's not an issue, just testing.
Take for instance CCE or similar tests, there are several practicals, no problem with those, but the multiple choice, other questions, are an issue.
Any advice or are there certs that you know of where the board of directors will make exceptions for life experience and or offer more hands on practicals. I mean lets get down to it, there are people who are great test takers, but can't execute what they learned.
Please give me your thoughts.
D I'll openly admit, I'm horrible with tests.
Similarily back in college, I would understand the theories, the concepts, and I'm able to explain a lot of things to my classmates but then when it comes to the test I just don't do as well… I never understood why that is and the only solution really is to answer as many practice exams as possible. I'm currently studying for CCE and I know for a fact that I'm not going to do well on the multiple choice section and I know that I'll probably have to retake the written exam again.
So basically, it's a weakness that you need to overcome somehow and I think in our case it's really about practicing harder than anyone else on written exams. I'm not sure if there are any practice exams for the CCE certification though…
Oh come on over 200 views and 1 public response (thanks to those of you who have replied privately.
There is no shame in saying you test poorly. Maybe you used to test poorly and you found a new way to study and can help others.
Greetings,
I'd say that I test poorly, but it'd be a lie. If you hand me a well designed standardized test written in Russian, a language I am completely unfamiliar with, I'd probably pass it.
-David
I for one take tests fairly well and have tended to pass on one go through. I think people have problems because they don't write tests or exams that often but I pretty much wrote tests on an annual basis taking various courses and for job competitions in the government. Multiple choice tests are the worst for most people because they tend to only be as effective as the way they question is worded, which can be ambiguous at times and lead to problems with selecting the suggested answer. I much prefer essay type tests or oral exams where ambiguity can be effectively dealt with as opposed to the "black or white do or die, but the question is ambiguous!" multiple choice tests.
Oh come on over 200 views and 1 public response (thanks to those of you who have replied privately.
Perhaps they felt they had nothing to add?
I'm good at tests, and where computer forensic exams are concerned almost always get higher scores than those I consider more technically competent than myself. But maybe you didn't want to hear that. I don't know why I usually get better scores than my peers; good short-term memory perhaps?
I must admit I do not generally do well performing written tests. However on the practicle tests i'm a great deal better. I have conducted sucessfully a number of investigations and I believe I have a good grasp of the technical and practicle aspects too.
I'm very much a visual learner and have been in the computer industry for over 35 years and have confidence within most IT related situations. But once i'm presented with an exam test paper I I find it difficult to concentrate my efforts and have no confidence that I could answer the questions.
My wife is a special needs worker and her explanation is that no one had taught me how to examine the test papers and the key points necessary to pass the test.
So in summary I have sympathy with the theme of this topic
Interesting topic as I study for a certification test. I would much rather take a practical exam than the typical multiple choice test. What ever happened to essay and other test question methods. I guess it would not be cost effective for the testing body to actually review the answers.
Unfortunately, very few certifications provide a practical portion for evaluation. I must say the worst test I ever took was a timed
open book one in college. After that a regular test is just fine with me.
Chris Currier
I like practical hands on tests as opposed to questions where 3 answers may be right and one is for sure not right.
If you can do the work, write the report, and articulate the methods to someone else (boss, judge, jury, etc.) then being able to do a multiple choice test seems useless.
You hear far more often a guy has a ton of certs from taking book tests and then gets an actual case and botches it or has no idea what to do than you hear someone takes practicals and has no idea what to do.
I like practical hands on tests as opposed to questions where 3 answers may be right and one is for sure not right.
If you can do the work, write the report, and articulate the methods to someone else (boss, judge, jury, etc.) then being able to do a multiple choice test seems useless.
You hear far more often a guy has a ton of certs from taking book tests and then gets an actual case and botches it or has no idea what to do than you hear someone takes practicals and has no idea what to do.
But there's also the antithesis - where people can do investigations using the automated tools but wouldn't have a clue what to do if they were forced to do it all by hand. This is why I fully support both written AND practical tests for certification because it gives an indication that the examiner knows the theory behind the automation. Too many people are happy just to press buttons without giving a second thought to what the tool is doing, or whether it is even doing is accurately.