To be honest, I don't think they know yet!
I think though that it is likely stay as 3 questions from what I have heard.
However I think that the "reading time" for possibly all papers may be reduced to 5 mins, or even eliminated altogether, in order that the module 1 paper can be extended to be 90 mins without making the overall day longer.
Associated with this, it may be that the nominal time for each of the modules will actually be extended slightly but without allocated "reading time", thus leaving each candidate to deploy the total time available as they see fit.
The reading time was originally introduced to give people time to become familiar with the nuances of the questions without feeling the pressure to start writing- a period of calm in which to choose their questions wisely. The perceived problem was that candidates were launching straight into "writing mode" before engagng brain.
It doesn't actually seem to have worked and the feeling from those who invigulate is that most candidates just appear to idle the time away.
Quite what it would do to those exam centres that have in recent years been given 20mins rather than 10mins reading time per paper, is just one of the "open points" within the proposals which seem to be under discussion........
When there is an official announcement, or when I hear more on the grapevine then I'll share on this Forum. Of course when applying for the 2011 exam you could always explicitly ask for confirmation re the length of the paper / number of questions you'll registering for!
I think though that it is likely stay as 3 questions from what I have heard.
However I think that the "reading time" for possibly all papers may be reduced to 5 mins, or even eliminated altogether, in order that the module 1 paper can be extended to be 90 mins without making the overall day longer.
Associated with this, it may be that the nominal time for each of the modules will actually be extended slightly but without allocated "reading time", thus leaving each candidate to deploy the total time available as they see fit.
The reading time was originally introduced to give people time to become familiar with the nuances of the questions without feeling the pressure to start writing- a period of calm in which to choose their questions wisely. The perceived problem was that candidates were launching straight into "writing mode" before engagng brain.
It doesn't actually seem to have worked and the feeling from those who invigulate is that most candidates just appear to idle the time away.
Quite what it would do to those exam centres that have in recent years been given 20mins rather than 10mins reading time per paper, is just one of the "open points" within the proposals which seem to be under discussion........
When there is an official announcement, or when I hear more on the grapevine then I'll share on this Forum. Of course when applying for the 2011 exam you could always explicitly ask for confirmation re the length of the paper / number of questions you'll registering for!
(17-03-2011, 01:47 AM)hiteshp Wrote: PJW,
Thanks for attempting to complete this question under exam conditions. I took this paper and failed. It's reassuring to know that it was difficult to obtain a pass. I will attempt to take it again this year along with mod 2 and 3.
What are your thoughts about the format of the exam this year? Will the IRSE revert back to a 2 questions paper or will they keep the 3 question format and increase the time allocation?
Hitesh
PJW