Do any markers read this forum?

[BedfordBoy]

2-3 pages? No problem - I'll just write big.

[JPM]

2-3 pages? No problem - I'll just write big.

It's a bit like design. If it doesn't fit, just draw it a bit smaller!
On a serious note, some people write faster than others so 2-3 pages isn't a problem for some, it does depend on your writing style, size etc. An hour (or an hour and a half depending on module) is a long time to write. I doubt many people do it on a daily basis, so practise is required. Also if you've chosen the wrong question it will be a struggle, or you may write too much and repeat yourself.

[nicklawford]

I doubt many people do it on a daily basis, so practise is required.

"one side of A4 paper as an answer is unlikely to gain you very many marks".

And all this is the BIGGEST issue I am struggling with.

Not just this module - all.

--
Nick

[MarkN]

My issue is with the quantity. I can write about 400 words in 20 minutes, personally.

This equates to about 1 1/2 sides of A4, Thats it. I CANNOT write anymore in that time allocation.

All of the suggested answers I have seen for the safety paper are well beyond my personal 400 word margin.

Very little research in the educational field has been done to measure average handwriting speed.

I would like the IRSE Exam committe to measure a sample of passing answers for length from the 2010 exam to see the average length of answer that can reasonably be produced.

I would also like to see model answers given that keep within the average answer length.

Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Words_per_minute
www.patoss-dyslexia.org/downloads/HandwritingPredictingyrs12and13.pdf

http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/461/1/WRAP_Wray_le0220034.pdf

[Jerry1237]

Well write that you do not feel you can adequately answer the question due to time limitations on the paper. Also, self-assess your trial answers to see that:
1) They answer the question
2) The points are salient, do not go into debate and are brief
3) They answer the question

It is easy to misintepret what the question is asking - I made that mistake in my exam!

Jerry

[PJW]

Well write that you do not feel you can adequately answer the question due to time limitations on the paper. Also, self-assess your trial answers to see that:
1) They answer the question
2) The points are salient, do not go into debate and are brief
3) They answer the question

It is easy to misintepret what the question is asking - I made that mistake in my exam!

Jerry

We recently did a mock mod 7 in effectively real conditions. I'll be posting some of the attempts in appropriate area shortly- some people only did two sides for some question, but many managed to get onto the third side and some were able to do four. Quantity is absolutely not the only measure, but some people are most certainly write faster than others and that has got to be an advantage, provided that there brain is always ahead of their hand.
I gave people 3 sheets of IRSE style A4 answer paper to start with and noted the time when they first requested more sheets- the fastest was 23 minutes, the next 26 and then a clutch around 35 minutes (which I expect was associated with starting their second question and needing new sheet for it). The longest was 45 minutes.
Not a perfect test and did depend on whether large diagrams or if an A3 sheet used, but does give an indication from a diverse range of 8 individuals.