Internally Yours: Your AIBC Intern Architect Rep to Council Blog

Dear NCARB

Hi,

I am the Intern Architect Representative, Architectural Institute of British Columbia, Canada.

I have two general questions pertaining to finding out ARE exam results.

If all exams are graded by computer,

1) why cannot a test taker find out preliminary exam results immediately after taking an exam, such as in the GRE Graduate Record Exam?

2) why cannot a test taker find out what the correct answers were to the exam, immediately after taking an exam, such as in the GRE?

Please let me know!

Best regards

Lisa Kwan

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18 January 2007 13:39:31

Thank you for your e-mail Ms. Kwan, however, the test is graded by
computer but it takes time for that process for example: the Mulitple
Choice takes 2 to 4 weeks to be scored and the Graphics takes 4 to 6
weeks. It is not as easy as a computer scoring the exam right way. Then
mailed to you directly from your state board (NY).

Second, the exam is a licensure test unlike for instance, a test you
would have taken in college which is a teaching tool hence you find out
exactly what you did wrong. The ARE is not a method of teaching, it is
a high stakes test of competence and when passed will lead you toward
licensure to practice architecture.

ncarb exam services dept.

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19 January 2007

Thanks for your prompt response!

I am sure you must be asked these particular questions frequently.

I have a few further questions:

1a Why does the computer scoring/grading process take the amount of time you mention?

1b Are the tests graded by computer manually by a person, or automatically by a computer program?

1c Is there only one right answer to each of the questions on a multiple choice test?

2a. The GRE Graduate Record Exam, General Test, is also not a teaching tool but a test of, as they report, skills gradually acquired in verbal and quantative reasoning, and analytical writing. It too is a high-stakes exam, as a good score leads toward entry into graduate school. Despite that it is not a teaching tool, and it is a high-stakes exam, test takers can find out immediately after taking the exam their results. I cannot understand the reasoning behind your response as yet. Could you please further clarify the connection between the ARE being a high stakes test of competance, and not being able to find out a preliminary exam result immediately after the exam?

b. If not already answered in a), would it be possible for test taker find out what went wrong on a test immediately after being taken, without compromising it being a test of competancy leading to licensure? Wouldn't it be useful to know what went right and wrong, given that it would perhaps improve the our competency, and given that we are being prepared for life-long learning in this profession?

Please let me know!

Thanks,

Lisa Kwan

posted by Lisa @ 1:13 PM