Up to date new, information and thoughts about ITSM. http://www.nhmn.com/blogs/itilwise.aspx http://backend.userland.com/rss <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">By Ron Hovland</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">My colleague and I were given an opportunity to be a part of a beta-exam program for a few of the ITIL v3 Practitioner Level competencies (remember, there are nine competencies broken down into Lifecycle Modules and Capability Modules-see below).  It will take four to six weeks to moderate the exams, so I won't know my official results till then.  Nonetheless, I can say that they are quite interesting-and different from the past.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">The governing body of ITIL seems to have dropped writing requirements and opted for multiple-choice for all the exams.  The practitioner exams are case-based, sort of.  There are only eight questions, each tied to a short business scenario from which the question is then drawn.  What makes them unique is the way the answer list is configured.  Four choices are given, three of which are reasonable.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">In other words, three answers are correct, but each is rated.  A candidate will score points for any of the three answers (one of the four answers, called the "detractor," is just wrong and worth nothing).  The point values are set at 1, 3, and 5.  Find the best answer (according to APMG, obviously), and you garner 5 points; next best gets you 3; least, 1.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">So eight questions worth up to five points equals a maximum of forty.  What's passing?  They originally declared that 65% would be a passing score, but after one beta run, they moved it to 70%, or twenty-eight points.  Maybe they'll go back to 65%, but don't count on it.  A candidate that happens to choose the second best answer on all questions will fail (only 24 points that way).  The candidate must select at least two of the most correct (2* 5 + 6 * 3 = 28, pass).</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">Obviously, if you select a one-pointer, you'd need to counter it with another five-pointer.   <br /> Get the "detractor"..well, there are a myriad of ways to overcome it, but all require additional five-point valued answers being chosen.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">By crafting the exam as they did, it becomes important to be able to understand the subtleties within the scenario.  Three of the four answers would be correct in a given situation.  So, how you interpret the situation will determine your success (or .).</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">I felt the exams were fair and not rushed.  They allocate ninety minutes.  In order to take the exam, the candidate will be required to take a class first.  It's never easy, huh?</p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'"><br style="page-break-before: always" clear="all" /> </span> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center" align="center">Certification Scheme</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center" align="center"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center" align="center">&nbsp;</p> http://www.nhmn.com/blogs/itsmblog/08-09-18/ITIL_v3_New_Exam_Styles_for_Practitioner_Competencies.aspx Ron Hovland http://www.nhmn.com/blogs/itsmblog/08-09-18/ITIL_v3_New_Exam_Styles_for_Practitioner_Competencies.aspx d5f1c884-589a-4067-90aa-e7ca19b44b7b Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:51:41 GMT