IRSE Exam Forum

I'm sitting Mod 3 in the UK this year and a month to go I have not heard anything about venue, time and other arrangements. Can anyone tell me if they have heard yet or should I me making waves?

I am not sure if anyone else has heard by now, but seeing as there is only just over a month to go then yes I think people certainly have a right to know by now, since many will need to arrange train tickets (and don't want to pay over the odds) and possibly accommodation as well, depending on start time of their first paper.

We also should remember that we have it easy in the UK; I believe there are only 2 exam centres for the whole of India; it is a large country. Someone I know from China has to do a train trip for a day and then get a plane to get the the exam, so for these people sufficient notice is even more essential to make arrangements.

Therefore I suggest it is time to ask IRSE.

(01-09-2013, 02:16 PM)dorothy.pipet Wrote: [ -> ]I'm sitting Mod 3 in the UK this year and a month to go I have not heard anything about venue, time and other arrangements. Can anyone tell me if they have heard yet or should I me making waves?

I phoned - "going out this week" apparently.
Like you say, a bit more notice would be helpful, but at least it is in hand..

(02-09-2013, 01:53 PM)dorothy.pipet Wrote: [ -> ]I phoned - "going out this week" apparently.
Like you say, a bit more notice would be helpful, but at least it is in hand..

For anyone else who has asked for the west country area, there is certainly a centre running in Bristol because Andy Scarisbrick and I are running it this year at the Amey office. I only realised today that people had not been told when one of my team who is sitting two papers told me that he did not know. When we were asked to run the centre (which must have been over six weeks ago), there was a clear number of people who they had earmarked for that location, so I am not sure why it has taken so long to let you know.

Peter

Whereas it seems that people in the UK now know, I do wonder whether the information has yet receached further from London. Someone in India has just contacted me to say that they have had no details yet; it would be helpful to know whether this is general or whether others there have received information- so 2013 candidates please let me know YES or NO and if Yes then how long ago you were notified

Many thanks

(02-09-2013, 09:35 PM)Peter Wrote: [ -> ]

(02-09-2013, 01:53 PM)dorothy.pipet Wrote: [ -> ]I phoned - "going out this week" apparently.
Like you say, a bit more notice would be helpful, but at least it is in hand..

For anyone else who has asked for the west country area, there is certainly a centre running in Bristol because Andy Scarisbrick and I are running it this year at the Amey office. I only realised today that people had not been told when one of my team who is sitting two papers told me that he did not know. When we were asked to run the centre (which must have been over six weeks ago), there was a clear number of people who they had earmarked for that location, so I am not sure why it has taken so long to let you know.

Peter

Mine arrived between 8th and 14th September (was away) - UK/Leicestershire.

I had not seen the latter of these posts before I had a chat with Dave Weedon and Colin Porter on this very matter earlier today. It does not help this year, but they are both now well aware of this as an issue for some.

I would encourage candidates to give feedback on the process direct to the office and not wait to the exam review - the latter is run by the exam committee who have the job of setting the papers rather than running the exam day.

Peter

Similarly to last year I'm feeling it's getting close to the exam and I haven't heard where I'm going. So I've phoned the IRSE and they say the information is going out this week, or maybe next! While I've made a note of where I'm going, I don't know what time my paper will be it seems that we won't know until 2-3 weeks before the exam.

I think this is not particularly acceptable - it prevents me from using cheaper advance fares - and it's even more important for some candidates who have much more complex travel arrangements than I do. What does anyone else think? 6-8 weeks notice desirable?

Wouldn't it be possible to arrange {most of} the exam centres within (say) 4 weeks from the registration deadline in June and notify everyone in early august (esp. when you consider that they no longer have to send out study packs).

From my perspective as an exam centre organiser, as I have said to others before, I am more than happy to commit early to run a centre. I would not be disappointed if it then turns out no one wants to come to that centre and I would also happily run a centre for one candidate taking one paper.

Without putting you off discussing it here, you are largely preaching to the converted - get on the case of the exam office and let them know what you require from YOUR institution!

I did give my thoughts to the lady on the phone - an administrator I think - and asked her to pass them on to the appropriate powers-that-be.