Test taking and how it reflects employee 2

[el124]

Hello,
I started working for a company almost for 2 years now.

In that time, I studied for a test to the next progression in that field. When I took the test when the job was available, the study material(a sample test) online that was given did not fully coincide with the actual test.
After I took the test and received my terrible score, I wrote down what I remembered about the test and studied that material. In that time, I brought to their attention the outdated material online which does not match up with the exam. They posted no revised material available.

Through the months, I studied and studied all of the material online which was given and only seven questions relate in anyway to the actual exam. Recently, I took the test again, this time I scored almost enough to pass the exam for the job, 7 points away.

Since my score was close to passing I am able to ask for a review. According to HR policies, If any of the material is ambiguous in anyway, that credit can be given to me and I could possibly get the points to pass the exam. The mock test that is given online does not mention anything about relays which are on the end of the real exam. The mock test also does not mention anything about resourceful books on relays to look over and study to prepare for the exam.

Should I let them know again that the material does not match up? Im all about and willing to learn any new material presented to me. Is it a poor reflection on me to say something about the relay problems that are not in the study material? Should I ask for points on the relay questions? Is this a company's way of saying how much you want this job? Any advice greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[MikeHalloran]

It might be helpful for us to know the job title you are studying for; a job description from HR might be even more helpful. All we know so far is that it might involve devices called relays. Did you know that in addition to electromechanical relays, there are also pneumatic devices called relays?

Okay, that may not help much. Lots of tutorials, e.g. for software like Solidworks, get out of phase with the material in the actual product. Chances are that whatever sample tests and such are provided will never be brought into perfect alignment with what's on the actual test. I wouldn't bother trying to get the test results adjusted, and I wouldn't wait for them to fix the material provided. So, what else can you do?

You can use Google to find material, like catalogs and application notes, related to the job, and study that. Just search for terms on the test, and read whatever you find.

If the job is fairly well defined, like a civil service job, or has an equivalent military specialty, you can find official and third party outlines and tutorials at a bookstore or online.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[IRstuff]

Sorry, but it sounds like you're confused and expect the sample questions to cover the same topics as on the test, since that's what a lot of teachers do for test prep.

Frankly, that's just completely bogus. That's like your boss telling you that a certain piece of equipment is going to fall in 2 weeks, and you should study up so that you can fix it when it fails. Seriously? That's just not the way life or a job is.

Teachers that give you that type of test prep are bogus teachers. I don't necessarily blame you, since I've experienced MSEE candidates that thought they ought to get test questions that closely matched the lectures. BZZZZZ! Not! A lecture is supposed to teach you about principles, not specific problems. Your job, as a student, is to learn those principles and apply them to the problems presented.

TTFN
faq731-376

 

[jmw]

If this were an external exam with the scope and study material published online then you might expect that the exam should cover subjects within the defined scope.
Might.

That's maybe the idea but when I sat my Grad. Inst. P. exam we found the Nuclear Physics papers covered topics not set out in the syllabus.
It did no good to complain. In part this was because it was possible to have achieved a pass based on the material which was within the scope.

I guess you weren't the only one taking this test?
Other candidates managed to pass?
Someone else got the job?
How did they manage?
What did they study?

In the real world we live in, life isn't fair. It never will be.
Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men etc etc.

It is no good at a crossroads where the lights are in your favour blindly entering the junction with a semi coming through against the lights. You may be in the right and he in the wrong but he is still going to flatten you. The smart thing to do is always look around and act to protect yourself.

In other words, worrying about what is right or wrong, fair and unfair isn't the way to go.
What you need is a winning strategy. You either have to figure this out or learn from someone else.
Go ask someone who took and passed the test what they did.
Asking questions and seeking advise is the way of life you have chosen.
And as you progress you will run out of reference books and study material and you will have to start finding solutions for yourself.
This is how you start pushing out the boundaries.




JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[IRstuff]

"Im all about and willing to learn any new material presented to me"

For me, this is a problem. WHY does it have to "presented to you?"

TTFN
faq731-376

 

[ash9144]

If I were hiring or promoting a professional position and used a test to determine that I wouldn't give any prep material. That's called training after the position is awarded. I would want to see how well suited the candidate was for the position by the testing.

And if someone were as whiny as you about not being "given" all of the matching material I would never hire or promote them.

 

[MintJulep]

Teachers that give you that type of test prep are bogus teachers. I don't necessarily blame you, since I've experienced MSEE candidates that thought they ought to get test questions that closely matched the lectures. BZZZZZ! Not! A lecture is supposed to teach you about principles, not specific problems. Your job, as a student, is to learn those principles and apply them to the problems presented.

I'll go out on a limb and guess that the method condemned here is what you you did to "get through" school. Now you can see how that method is flawed in real life.

What is an engineer in the position you are seeking required to know? Do you know it?

 

[PhilBW]

The purpose of a sample test is to give you a brief review, not teach you the material from scratch. If all you know about the subject is what is on the sample test, then you probably are not qualified for the job.

 

[SteveMartin]

Why not ask your boss (or a co-worker already in that job) what areas a succesful candidate for the desired job should be skilled in? Alternatively there might be a job description already written that would go into these things. If you study only the things that were on this version of the test and they change the test again before you can take it again there may be more/different things you will be caught on next time.

Study guides and sample exams are only guides. The job likely requires more skills than can be tested on any single exam.

 

[IRstuff]

"here is what you you did to "get through" school."

nope, don't know where you got that idea.

TTFN
faq731-376

 

[MintJulep]

Not you.

 

[bigTomHanks]

Here is the real deal. Companies are tired of being sued for "unfair" hiring practices. In order to make the hiring process "fair" they have an objective test to back them up when Joe whiny doesn't think it's "fair" that Joe manager selected someone else. If Joe manager really likes you then he may give you a couple of "hints" on what you need to know. There are very real situation however where companies need to test to ensure that the person can back up the claims on their resume. A lot of people can get promoted from the craft ranks into engineering jobs but may not have the skill set needed for a "similar" job at a different company. Trust me they have been burned on this a lot in the past and that is why they do the test.

 

[SomptingGuy]

If you can't field a curve ball, think about being an accountant. Qually is simple and it pays better.

- Steve

 

[KENAT]

Pah, this is the first time you're encountering this?

My worst was 2nd year math, they had a whole bunch on complex numbers that bore no relation to anything I could find in our notes etc. Failed that one, scraped a pass on the retake.

Now the health and safety online course I took here before Christmas was a joke. The training material was incredibly brief and then the test asked about a bunch of not remotely useful legalese stuff etc. that wasn't mentioned anywhere.

When practicing for A level math we took all the previous years papers for the last decade + (both the main exam and the winter retakes) it covered most of what we were likely to get asked. However, there was always the assumption they might throw something else in which is why we also did questions out of several different text books etc.

Past/Practice exams have their place but aren't the be all and end all.

If this is some kind of canned training then yes it's probably worth bringing up your issues. However, if it's more general training based on what you should know from your degree etc. then you may want to think twice.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[MacGyverS2000]

A math exam should test understanding of concepts... that health/safety exam was testing rote memorization (of legalese). And I hate both types ;-)

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[jmw]

Probable also that the health and safety exam was more about the company trying to put themselves in a sound legal position against the time when health and safety issues arise when they can show they did their bit, ergo employee fault.

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[SomptingGuy]

I had another mandatory training session last week. Export control stuff. Basically about not selling things to current enemies (of the USA, I think). Distasteful in the extreme.

- Steve