Why can't BSAC write unambiguous questions

[Beardy]

You'd think that with all the time they've had to develop the course material that they'd be able to write unambiguous multi-choice questions wouldn't you.

I've just done the SD exam and even the DO didn't agree with one of the questions outwrite and agreed that two others were a bit suspect. He wouldn't agree with the 4th one I thought was suspect though

I got one wrong because I couldn't read my calculator (D'oh), and another wrong because I decided that there was 20% Nitrogen in the air (Double D'oh) I got one wrone because I said a dive needed X amount of air when they wanted the needed mount to be 1.5X to allow for the rule of thirds (silly mistake) I got two fo the dubious ones wrong, and finaly the last question when I argued (Unsuccessfully) that an AAS does not need to be on a 'longer' hose to be effective, I mean is a BC inflator DV on a 'longer' hose

Still it's a pass, so just three more Open Water Dives to do (hopefully this Friday at Stoney) then some experience and I might make SD this summer

[onthetrain]

Originally Posted by Beardy

You'd think that with all the time they've had to develop the course material that they'd be able to write unambiguous multi-choice questions wouldn't you.

I've just done the SD exam and even the DO didn't agree with one of the questions outwrite and agreed that two others were a bit suspect. He wouldn't agree with the 4th one I thought was suspect though

I got one wrong because I couldn't read my calculator (D'oh), and another wrong because I decided that there was 20% Nitrogen in the air (Double D'oh) I got one wrone because I said a dive needed X amount of air when they wanted the needed mount to be 1.5X to allow for the rule of thirds (silly mistake) I got two fo the dubious ones wrong, and finaly the last question when I argued (Unsuccessfully) that an AAS does not need to be on a 'longer' hose to be effective, I mean is a BC inflator DV on a 'longer' hose

Still it's a pass, so just three more Open Water Dives to do (hopefully this Friday at Stoney) then some experience and I might make SD this summer

So where is the ambiguity. By your own reckoning you got the questionswrong cause you made silly mistakes. How do youexpect BSAC to legislate for that?

[MattS]

Why can't BSAC write unambiguous questions

Perhaps they can but are trying to teach divers to think for themselves

[Beardy]

Originally Posted by onthetrain

So where is the ambiguity. By your own reckoning you got the questionswrong cause you made silly mistakes. How do youexpect BSAC to legislate for that?

No, there were two ambigous questions, a third just plain wrong, and I made three silly mistakes on another three questions (they weren't ambigous, I'm stupid!). But the pass mark is 24, and that's what I got, so all's well.

[onthetrain]

Originally Posted by Beardy

No, there were two ambigous questions, a third just plain wrong, and I made three silly mistakes on another three questions (they weren't ambigous, I'm stupid!). But the pass mark is 24, and that's what I got, so all's well.

There is an art to BSAC questions. Peopletend to read too much into them. Well done for passing

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Beardy

You'd think that with all the time they've had to develop the course material that they'd be able to write unambiguous multi-choice questions wouldn't you.

Otherwise it would be too easy.

Read the question, Re-read the question and read it again.

[Scuby]

For the ambiguous questions your instructor has the discretion to mark them correct if your answer was correct for the interpretation you made. As long as you understand the subject of the question, its not important if you get it wrong because you interpreted it incorrectly.

David

[Mark Powell]

Having tried to write exam questions in the past it's not as easy as it sounds. Trying to write a question that is unambigous, and yet doesn't make the answer easy, is quite an art.

[Reikimaster]

Originally Posted by Mark Powell

Having tried to write exam questions in the past it's not as easy as it sounds. Trying to write a question that is unambigous and yet doesn't make the answer easy is quite an art.

Will this be, or is there room for this to be, interpreted as an unambigous question? type thing

[Mark Powell]

Originally Posted by Reikimaster

Will this be, or is there room for this to be, interpreted as an unambigous question? type thing

a - yes
b - no
c - maybe
d - all of the above