randomize order of answers for each question
(I believe this was discussed somewhere previously). Currently the selection of questions are randomize but the specific questions' answers are always in the same order as the published NCVEC pool. Randomizing the order of those answers would further improve the randomness of the exam and ensure that people are answering the questions rather than memorizing the pool question ID and correct answer letter.
Comments: 9
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07 May, '20
Richard Bateman AdminThis is planned, though I will probably allow the VE team (and/or perhaps the VEC) to decide if it should be enabled or not.
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16 May, '20
Jeremy HallSince some questions have answers like "All of the Above" and "Both B and C are correct" this would be difficult to handle properly unless those specific questions were excluded from the randomization.
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17 May, '20
Richard Bateman AdminActually Jeremy those questions are carefully worded for this -- they all say "None of these answers are correct" or "all of these answers are correct" -- none of the ham pools mention letters in the question.
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25 May, '20
Herb Weiner, AA7HWI'm not sure why any VE or VEC would want to disable this option.
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25 May, '20
Richard Bateman AdminThere are multiple ways to look at it, but the simplest answer to your question is: because there is no rule that says you need to randomize the answer order, so why make it harder than it has to be? Obviously not everyone will agree with that line of thinking, but it is 100% valid and is just a question of preference.
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25 May, '20
n2ygkFor inspiration, consider some of the features of http://www.arrl.org/ve-exam-maker-software
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21 Jul, '20
N6ATF MergedSee also https://features.examtools.org/suggestions/92721/randomize-order-of-answers-for-each-question
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21 Jul, '20
Richard Bateman Admin"Randomize order of answers to questions" (suggested by Falcon Darkstar Momot on 2020-07-21), including upvotes (1) and comments (1), was merged into this suggestion.
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24 Jan
Kent Petty, Chairman, Anchorage ARC VECWe would indeed like to see the order of the answers randomized in questions. A number of years ago the QPC changed their technique relative to selecting an "All of the above are correct" style to "All of these answers are correct". The intent was to indeed accomodate randomizing the order of the answers.
No, Part 97 doesn't require it. But Part 97 also doesn't require a lot of things we do as VECs and VEs that are just prudent. For example...Part 97 says we have to "observe" the candidate during the exam. It doesn't say word one about the room they are in having any materials posted, use of calculators, etc. VECs make these choices. The VECs have the agreements with the FCC and they certainly have the right and duty to run their sessions in a way they believe not only complies with the letter of Part 97, but also to the spirit of it as well.
Regards