Exam results - should I appeal?

[Notle]

Hi,

I just got my 2365 exam results and certificates in the post. I passed, with distinctions for 202, 203 and 501, and 80-90% for everything else except the practical assessment, for which I got a Pass.

Perhaps I didn't deserve anything more than a straight pass, but some things are bothering me.

We were given the schematics a few days before the practical assessment, so I took them home to study, and plan a course of action. The plan was simple: 2.5 days in the workshop, so day 1 for the first fix, day 2 for the second fix, leaving half a day for fault finding and general tidying up.

The plan worked out well. I didn't quite finish the first fix on the first day, but I soon made up time on the second day, and completed the installation that day. I spent the final half day checking everything, correcting the odd mistake, and trimming the tails so all the fittings were neat.

The assessor came and tested and checked it. When he finished he said "Well done - you passed", and he said "I marked you down because you took so long". Then he said "I must admit, I didn't think you'd finish in time".

I suppose I should be pleased. But I remain baffled as to why he thinks I should have been quicker, when I knew how long I had to do the job in. No one ever mentioned the possibility of getting marked down for taking the allotted time to do the job.

I don't know why he thought I wouldn't finish in time either. He knows nothing about me, and doesn't know I spent a whole career planning and meeting deadlines in a completely different industry. But deadlines are deadlines and planning is planning, in whatever industry.

The installation was ripped off the wall as soon as the assessment was over, but I took photographs, that show what a neat and tidy job I made of it.

Should I appeal? I think I deserved a Merit at least.

p.s. I just had a thought - I'm not even certain that Distinctions and Merits are awarded for the (204) practical. My apologises if that is so.

 

[Rpa07]

Congratulations Notle, you passed. Be proud to know that you did a good job to a standard that you expect for the rest of your career. Move on to the next challenge to excel in. Be happy and don't appeal because they wouldn't understand. Well done again. Rob


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[Darkwood]

Its a hard call to make, and depends exactly how the everything is worded, if there is no indication that suggests you could gain extra for finishing quicker then you could appeal explaining that you knew the time limit and utilised it all to ensure a neat job and as you saw it, possible extra marks. Had you known this could result in a mark down you would have picked up the pace, in reality it will mean little difference now as most employers see the Pass and that's all they need, I feel your frustration but its really down to whether you want to appeal just to make a point and/or possibly get marked back up.


PS - Congrats!!!!

 

[Chris E]

How long did you take overall to complete everything? I had my practical exam last week. We were told we had a max of 15 hours, anything over 10 hours can only be marked as a pass. Maybe this is why you received a pass mark.

Don't go appealing anyway, you passed. Be happy with that and move on to level 3.

 

[Notle]

How long did you take overall to complete everything? I had my practical exam last week. We were told we had a max of 15 hours, anything over 10 hours can only be marked as a pass. Maybe this is why you received a pass mark.

Don't go appealing anyway, you passed. Be happy with that and move on to level 3.

Hi Chris, we weren't told that, and I can't find anything anywhere to support it. I used all the time available to me (about 20 hrs) , and I wasn't the only one. If we'd been told finishing sooner would have meant more marks, then we'd probably all have finished sooner!

Anyway, as you and others have suggested, I think I'll probably forget about it. It maybe isn't worth the risk of souring things before I go back to do level 3.

 

[telectrix]

look on the bright side. if you had been informed that quicker was better, you might have rushed a bit and lost marks for an imperfect job. as previous posts, a pass is a pass, so upwards and onwards.

 

[hightower]

20 hours? I've just done my 204 assessment and the worksheet (official task from C&G) said the time available to us (working from memory, worksheet at home) was 10 hours, or possibly even 9.

Took me about 5 hours all in, including all the testing etc. I believe I've got a high standard of work too, so it wasn't just thrown in. Others in the class got done around the same time too, so not like I'm super speedy.

 

[Birdieapple]

Note, I did my 204 on 29th April and got a Distinction so I don't think it was a pass/fail exam. We also were only allowed 10 hours. Started at 8:30 am and was finished (including all testing and paperwork) by 2:30pm. Maybe there is different specifications of the wiring types etc required depending on the college? Would seem strange for C&G to do this though!

Cheers,
Sam

 

[Paul.M]

The "Bay in a day" exam used to be 2 hours for design and then 10 hours to install? If anyone can answer this, please post up.

If you go beyond 10 hours, it becomes a pass. I would not bother complaining, a pass is a pass and it is the Level 2 certificate that means the most. Move on and concentrate on the Level 3.

 

[Simonslimline]

Well done for obviously taking pride in your work for starts. When you get your JIB card it will just have your quals on it, so I would not worry mate.

 

[Chris E]

The "Bay in a day" exam used to be 2 hours for design and then 10 hours to install? If anyone can answer this, please post up.

Exactly what we were told, mate.

We were informed about the additional 5 hours on the day as people were worried they wouldn't finish in time.

 

[rolyberkin]

I only got a pass for mine and it was the dogs danglies (even if I say so myself) no errors and completed and tested within 10 hours. I have given up trying to work out what you units you get a pass and distinction for as there is simply no rhyme or reason to it. Some unit you will simply get a pass even if you get 100%, for example in environmental technology I got 100% certificate says pass!?

The thing to ask yourself is do you intend to put City and Guilds (Distinction) on your van, if not move on and up!

 

[Notle]

Thanks to everyone for the useful feedback.

It seems my "pass" was reasonable under the circumstances, and my grievance should be that we weren't told the rules! I'd have finished sooner if I'd any idea it would make a difference.

So I think I'm going to leave it at that. I've got three Distinctions I can brag about in any case!

Here's the work in question - a fine job though I say it myself :coolgleamA:

 

[hightower]

Since you've been brave enough to post your install up, here's a photo of mine. White covers on metal conduit because apparently even though our college fees are going to be ~£4k in September, they can't afford a box of metal covers (among other things we had to bodge or find an alternative method).

 

[hightower]

4K?? I better up my prices then . Lol more like the Managers and Principals are getting a pay rise or the college is suffering with Debt. Even the largest most expensive "Private" training provider in the UK is a £1 cheaper than that.

It was £1500 for Level 2, I think (could be wrong) it was £3100 a couple of years ago for the Level 3, at the start of this year the tutor said it was likely to be about £3500 when we came to Level 3. However, I enrolled last month and when I asked the admin guy he said "we're still waiting to set the price, but it'll be no more than £4k" - so I'm taking £4k as the worst case scenario, however, it's possible it will be closer to £3500.

 

[Notle]

Since you've been brave enough to post your install up, here's a photo of mine. White covers on metal conduit because apparently even though our college fees are going to be ~£4k in September, they can't afford a box of metal covers (among other things we had to bodge or find an alternative method).

View attachment 32467

Looks great! It seems to be the same circuit as mine, just slightly different layout. I guess that's up to the college. I recall we were supposed to fit a couple of double sockets, but they ran out!

 

[happysteve]

It was £1500 for Level 2, I think (could be wrong) it was £3100 a couple of years ago for the Level 3, at the start of this year the tutor said it was likely to be about £3500 when we came to Level 3. However, I enrolled last month and when I asked the admin guy he said "we're still waiting to set the price, but it'll be no more than £4k" - so I'm taking £4k as the worst case scenario, however, it's possible it will be closer to £3500.

Wow. Golly. £2400 round our way (about £1900 a couple of years ago). Eek!

 

[happysteve]

Looks great! It seems to be the same circuit as mine, just slightly different layout. I guess that's up to the college. I recall we were supposed to fit a couple of double sockets, but they ran out!

They're all generally the same, but there's a bit of flexibility in what they can ask you to do. We had to do a bubble set on the steel conduit - a useful skill.

 

[Richard Burns]

They're all generally the same, but there's a bit of flexibility in what they can ask you to do. We had to do a bubble set on the steel conduit - a useful skill.

Whilst looking at the others I was just thinking, don't you have to do sets any more!

 

[happysteve]

Whilst looking at the others I was just thinking, don't you have to do sets any more!

Still do round our way, that's for sure!

 

[hightower]

We covered them and did a few as part of the ongoing coursework, but nope, not for the final assessment (although the coursework pieces still need signing off as well)

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[hightower]

Our trunking bends were self formed too

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[hightower]

Yeah I suppose. I got a bit sick of people on my course complaining that once they did a task it got binned, like, you do realise you're on the course to learn right? I didn't mind making my own, or having a go at things that weren't on the curriculum - it's in my best interests as far as I can see

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[Leo_chaos]

This was mine, was mid April, feels a lot longer, probably because I had the 202 since then lol
We got 10 hours, 2 for fabrication 8 for everything else
Had weird issues on the day, the 90 degree bottom right had been moved by someone so at least 20 mins was wasted whilst it was discussed whether or not it was in the right place, it wasn't and had got moved
The tutors couldn't decide if the trunking should be drilled at the back and screwed to the wall, or in the sides and bolted together, both of these issues were at the same time for me, so i was just waiting for what felt like hours haha

 

[Birdieapple]

Hightower, similar in my college! usually pretty quick at the work in our 'bays' so ended up getting a verbal task from the tutor to complete in the time the rest took there stuff down!

Thing I was most proud of was one of the teachers required a 'demo' board with a 2 way CU on and 4 double socket in conduit on a board 3ft wide by 2ft tall. 2 x `1 gang intermediate switches on the back with L+N from the ring passing through. 1st one was L+E crossover, 2nd was L+N reverse. 3rd was a standard variable resistor up to 250,000 ohms. switched off circuit was normal, switched on it gave you a variable fault on one of the conductors depending on what cable was selected, L,N or E.

Did my exam late April so felt like ages ago when I read this!

Started at 8:30 am and was having a beer in the garden by 3!

pre-made the trunking, conduit and tray in the weeks leading up but had to bolt it together on the day, assemble the pieces of tray conduit and trunking etc. Tutor tried to throw me a wobbler, as we had key switch fused spur's with neon's. he left it on whilst I was IR testing. C&G external examiner was breathing down my neck also as I got a reading of 0.31M ohms until I spotted a glowing red thing!

Cheers,
Sam

 

[happysteve]

Tell you what, it's weird seeing the board design flipped like that!