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One of the reasons I posted this was to show that WE should make noise about OUR exam as well.
This article shows it has been done before.
This article is about a previous exam that had a 15% passing rate. Our exam currently has a 5% passing rate.
The information of contact person who wrote this article is displayed below the article.
Only 68 of the 456 NYPD lieutenants who took the captain test this year passed, an unprecedented rate of just 15 percent, police sources said.
The staggering number of failures has left NYPD brass scratching their heads as the failed test-takers argue that the exam was so chock-full of silly tricks and outright errors that not even Kojak could pass.
"The questions were disgustingly obscure and were ridiculously long, only to lead to answers that were hideous," one test-taker posted on an online civil-service forum.
A source told The Post that one complicated question, supposedly about procedure, deliberately used "irregardless" in the text so that the test-taker would guess the correct answer as "none of the above", because "irregardless" isn't a word.
The average score on the test was a failing 58 percent. The highest score on the 100-question, multiple-choice exam was 88.
Not totally disagreeing with you or saying it isn't worth a try, but I remember this article coming out. I don't think it really embarrassed the job, especially since they did it again several times since then.
I just wish they would get sane people to write these tests. I'm not saying make every question a ground ball about writing the EEO 49 or what a special category missing is, but make it a balanced approach.
How did this newspaper article help change anything about the Dept's abominable test-writing? No one outside our job cares. No one above our rank cares about our promotion prospects. Sad, but true. It will take a very strong and forward thinking leader to really take stock and implement reform in the way the Dept. goes about promoting people. I believe the only true solution is to farm out test-writing to independent contractors who, after conducting a study on what makes good police leaders, and digesting our study material, then commission a test based on these standards. However, in true arrogant fashion, the NYPD execs continue to insist they can do it better themselves.
It is clear to me that the people chosen to write questions do not have the best interest of the Police Department or the City of New York in mind. They are not chosen because they are good writers. Clearly, they are not. Some parse the Patrol Guide as if they were lawyers poring over some legal document. They are not lawyers. They are not chosen based on their education level. They are not chosen because they have experience working for the companies that issue the SAT's or the LSAT's or the GMAT's or other standardized tests. They are chosen because they are unwanted by their permanent commands. Most likely, their bosses decided that they would not be missed in their assigned positions.
Further, no boss chosen to write these tests have any vested interest in seeing a single person promoted to their rank. In fact, I would wager that some of the newer test-writers are actually more interested in NOT seeing people get promoted - keeping the competetion for the next rank as low as possible and so on and so forth. In a way, it can be argued that this is an inherent conflict of interest. It is a shame the promotion process has evolved into this. It was once better. I passed a fair Lt's test in 2006 but got cut from the list. Although I didn't like getting cut, I felt much better about that scenario having had a chance. My morale was still very much in tact and to tell you the truth, even after recent events, I'm at peace and also close to retirement. However, among friends and colleagues, the last two debacle exams have clearly killed the spirits of very good cops (not close to retirement). That's the true crime.
Well said Mud Duck, it really is sad that an exam like this can be written. Again, not saying it has to be as straight forward and fair as the 2006 test, but come on, there has to be a limit. This test was just full of tricks and weirdness.
We should hope to god no newspaper writer sees this forum .. Our reputation is bad enough to let them know we are immature Edp's as well .. People literally attack other umos's penis size on this forum .. This is somewhat like most of these lt and captain tests , most failed and had a curveball... This one had a screwball that was unhittable... Move on save some dignity , the media doesn't like you and will just make us look like a joke . The job does not care about you or your moral or our tough test .. We are all mere cogs in the wheel .. People with no jobs or dealing with a foreclosure and actual real problems in life don't care that our multiple choose test was a toughy
It is clear to me that the people chosen to write questions do not have the best interest of the Police Department or the City of New York in mind.
In fact, some of the newer test-writers are actually more interested in NOT seeing people get promoted - keeping the competetion for the next rank as low as possible and so on and so forth. In a way, it can be argued that this is an inherent conflict of interest.
The last two debacle exams have clearly killed the spirits of very good cops (not close to retirement). That's the true crime.
MUD DUCK: You have some great points. I am not sure if the mentioned article did in fact help change anything, however, I feel we should also shed light on some of our issues and concerns. Times are different from when this article was published in 2010. Different administration, different Mayor, different Police Commissioner, different Chief of Dept ETC. From my understanding this protest validation board consists of two MOS and a DCAS employee. My buddy informed me, for the 2011 LT's exam, the former Commissioner of Personnel placed a particular MOS on the 2011 LT's exam validation board to help successfully protest questions and make a bigger promotional list.
I am not promising that shedding light on our issues and concerns will guarantee a big promotional list or the way of these obscure exams, but all I suggesting if we express our concerns so our voices be heard.
Two things I tell my younger nephew: a closed mouth does not get fed and if you do not ask you will not receive.
With all that's going on we may feel the world is against us all other law enforcement personnel in the nation, however we still have many supporters whether its family, friends, or friends of friends. We can tap into our resources
In words of the MACHINE a comment posted in the JOB ACTION forum The letter should include not only how we feel, but a possible solution too, ie., curving the test or eliminating the unrealistic/unreasonable inbasket.
70PLEASE: This risingstar forum is rated PG compared to theerant, and I am sure theerant is no secret to several media outlets. The risingstar has had approximately 2,500 people view this site within the past 24 hours.Any online forum, in any profession, consisting of 2,500 people or more, I am sure one would see similar comments of immaturity.
-- Edited by DOS_EQUIS on Thursday 14th of May 2015 12:18:10 PM
