Once again the data base will disappear from public access:
https://www.uscg.mil/nmc/announcements/pdfs/merchant_mariner_credential_examainations.pdf
[QUOTE=Robert;187970]Once again the data base will disappear from public access:
https://www.uscg.mil/nmc/announcements/pdfs/merchant_mariner_credential_examainations.pdf[/QUOTE]
About time. I welcome the return to real exams that test learned material, rather than memorization of answers. Of course they did not say when they will replace all of the question bank. I suspect that the cat is already out of the bag for some time to come.
hopefully, this will slow down the next wave of too easy licenses when the job market picks up.
So my question is how long will the current question data base be relavent? Honest question.
[QUOTE=Menizzi;188013]So my question is how long will the current question data base be relavent? Honest question.[/QUOTE]
It’s not like many of them are relevant anyway. Honest answer.
I meant relevant to the test. I know the questions are stupid and you forget them 2 weeks after the test. Are they going to put out any study guides or is it just blind?
[QUOTE=Menizzi;188092]Are they going to put out any study guides or is it just blind?[/QUOTE]
The posted PDF states that in its place there will be an outline of examination topics and sample examinations. Though, I’m curious as to how the sample examinations will take place. Will it be an online PDF, or will you have to take it in person? If the former, how is it different from just posting a bank of questions?
It would be nice if they would actually post the reference material. If you buy the murphys books and look at all of the sources they pull from its all over the map. I’m glad I’m done upgrading. Trying to study without some kind of a guide/syllabus/outline sucks. I bought most of the main books that murphys cited but there was no way I was gonna buy them all. I have a small library as it is…
[QUOTE=PineappleOranges;188098]The posted PDF states that in its place there will be an outline of examination topics and sample examinations. [/QUOTE]
If they publish sample exams, that may be far better than having a bucket full of test questions.
Unfortunately, government tests require knowing how to take government tests more than subject matter knowledge. The people who write the questions don’t necessarily have much real life experience and think making trick questions is cute. It’s a real shame too as testing can be a good way of teaching or learning.
Study guides? The question itself provides a pretty good pointer toward the area of study required to learn the subject. If you have photographic memory I guess memorizing questions is OK to pass the test but it isn’t going to make anyone a competent mariner. Being able to relate the question to the subject then research the connection and understand the relationship is what matters.
I went and had a look at some of the recently published diesel diagrams. They look nicer than the:
Letter G indicates:
A: Piston
B: Piston Ring
C: Cylinder Liner
D: Scavenging air port
If you read the actual legislation this all stems from, it states that they will supposedly be building a board of exam writers (1 engine and deck professor from each maritime school etc) to meet every two years to build a new exam question bank. Seeing how the legislation was passed in February of this year, the questions that were posted on the NMC in August 2015 (New bank) will probably be valid until at least the beginning months of 2018. I can tell you though, I tested for unlimited third engineer with steam, motors, and gas turbines and all of the tests other than motors I exam were the exact questions I studied from those (new bank) questions on the NMC.
[QUOTE=LimJahey;189108]If you read the actual legislation this all stems from, it states that they will supposedly be building a board of exam writers (1 engine and deck professor from each maritime school etc) to meet every two years to build a new exam question bank.[/QUOTE]
Go read it again. They are not going to “build a new exam question bank” every two years. They are going to review the questions in the pool.
[QUOTE=LimJahey;189108]If you read the actual legislation this all stems from, it states that they will supposedly be building a board of exam writers (1 engine and deck professor from each maritime school etc) to meet every two years to build a new exam question bank. Seeing how the legislation was passed in February of this year, the questions that were posted on the NMC in August 2015 (New bank) will probably be valid until at least the beginning months of 2018. I can tell you though, I tested for unlimited third engineer with steam, motors, and gas turbines and all of the tests other than motors I exam were the exact questions I studied from those (new bank) questions on the NMC.[/QUOTE]
Why does this sound like a new version of ‘teach the test’ since the Academy professors will be writing them, except that the test questions will be more relevant. I don’t have a solution, I’m just sayin’.
[QUOTE=LimJahey;189108]If you read the actual legislation this all stems from, it states that they will supposedly be building a board of exam writers (1 engine and deck professor from each maritime school etc) to meet every two years to build a new exam question bank.[/QUOTE]
How does this change the ‘teach the test’ mentality, considering the Academy professors will be writing them. The only difference being that the questions will be more relevant. I don’t know how this can be avoided unless it is handled the way the FAA does it, with practical in-flight tests following the written exams.