Annual "Rules Test" Scores

[JRutledge]

Well if it makes anyone feel better, we take a state-issued test in Illinois and in Indiana we take the NF test. The Illinois test is like 25 questions out of anywhere from 60-70 tests.

I have gotten 100 a few times on the Illinois test. The last two years that I have taken the NF/Indiana test, I always miss one or two questions. Either way I only care about getting the most points allowed. I take no satisfaction in getting 100 or 96% if the result is the same.

Peace

[Nevadaref]

I have over twenty years as a HS basketball official.
I have probably scored 100% on the NFHS Part 1 exam 7 or 8 times.
Most of the time my score comes out around 98% due to the test-writing errors mentioned by the OP. The only way to deal with this is experience. Over the years one learns what the test-writer is aiming for with certain questions. Also, if your area issues an answer key afterward (they are also posted online by several groups), you can read through those and learn the intent of many of the strange test questions. Going forward, you will notice that several of the questions repeat and if you have a decent memory you can easily get them correct.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I have over twenty years as a HS basketball official.
I have probably scored 100% on the NFHS Part 1 exam 7 or 8 times.
Most of the time my score comes out around 98% due to the test-writing errors mentioned by the OP. The only way to deal with this is experience. Over the years one learns what the test-writer is aiming for with certain questions. Also, if your area issues an answer key afterward (they are also posted online by several groups), you can read through those and learn the intent of many of the strange test questions. Going forward, you will notice that several of the questions repeat and if you have a decent memory you can easily get them correct.

I don't recall how many times I've scored 100% but I have. We need 90% of higher to qualify for post-season assignments. I typically get 97-98%.

Since improving my score 2-3% is of no benefit, I don't spend much time on the test and take the test quickly, in no more than 15-20 minutes. I read a question quickly and chose an answer, rarely reading the question a 2nd time. If the question just doesn't seem to make sense, I read it again with the mindset of trying to figure out what it was they could have been asking. I pick an answer and move on.

Of the ones I miss, it is, more often than not, because I read it wrong, not because you couldn't figure out the right answer. If I read it slower and double checked, I could probably get 100% more often, but it is of no value to me.

[BillyMac]

I've been taking the IAABO Refresher Exam (open book) for almost forty years, and I've never got 100% correct. Some problems are due to clerical or typographical errors in the creation of the test questions, or answer sheet, but most of my errors are not due to a lack of rules knowledge, but in my test taking skills, or lack of, i.e., not noticing a key word in the question that leads me down the wrong road so that afterward I say to myself, "Stupid BillyMac".

My goal every year is to get 100% correct. I'm not sure that I'll ever achieve it, in some cases due to poorly worded questions or wrong answer sheets, but in other cases due to my lack of attention to details.

[Rich]

I actually was able to look up exam records back to the 2008-09 season. So 11 seasons. We use Part I and Part II here.

NOTE: We take the tests "open book" here and I will look things up (usually in the electronic version of the book) as I go along.

I've only had 3 years where I didn't have at least one 100 score from the 2 exams. My lowest score was a 95. We're required to score a 90 to keep our certification (Master) level.

The NF test isn't always written well, but I can't be bothered to care if I score 100....or even 95....as long as I hit the 90 I need.

[BillyMac]

My local IAABO board is going to start to use something called RefSec, an online system that will allow us to make online payments of dues, fees, deposits, and fines.

It will also allow us to take the IAABO Refresher Exam and our local board Mechanics Exam online. Members will be required to take both the Refresher and Mechanics exams online, with the maximum of two attempts to reach a passing score of 84%. Those members who do not meet the 84% passing score in two attempts will need to attend a mandatory Refresher Exam meeting to be eligible to receive games for the upcoming season.

Big change for us because in the past these exams have never had anywhere near this amount of impact on our assignments, although attending an extra meeting with the rest of the "dummies" isn't too much of a penalty.

[SC Official]

I guess I could chalk up some of my 100s to "guessing" correctly on poorly-worded questions.

Then again, I've taken it enough times to know what the NFHS is asking for even when the wording leaves something to be desired.

I also pride myself on having excellent rules knowledge.