Anyone ever "ace" the Florida Block / Experior / Whatever it is now test?

[bbaumer]

I took a Tom Henry (sorry, Mike, didn't know of you then) class in 1992 or 93 to prep for the Florida Block masters test. I heard at that time their claim to fame was that no one had ever scored a 100% on the test. Mr. Henry stated that he took the test himself every month at that time as I recall so he could make his example tests just like the real ones and that he always missed 1 question because they always had a question on it with no correct answer or some other baloney.

I know the test later became the Experior test and I believe it is something else now, under different management. Not sure if it is comparable or not from back then to today.

Did any of you ever ace the Florida Block test? I know I thought it would be a cake walk having just finished engineering school and prepped a lot with the Henry materials and other classes on the code and the test and it was not. I scored fairly high but did not come close to 100%.

 

[HighWirey]

I took a Tom Henry (sorry, Mike, didn't know of you then) class in 1992 or 93 to prep for the Florida Block masters test. I heard at that time their claim to fame was that no one had ever scored a 100% on the test. Mr. Henry stated that he took the test himself every month at that time as I recall so he could make his example tests just like the real ones and that he always missed 1 question because they always had a question on it with no correct answer or some other baloney.

I know the test later became the Experior test and I believe it is something else now, under different management. Not sure if it is comparable or not from back then to today.

Did any of you ever ace the Florida Block test? I know I thought it would be a cake walk having just finished engineering school and prepped a lot with the Henry materials and other classes on the code and the test and it was not. I scored fairly high but did not come close to 100%.

My former boss scored a 98 on the Florida Block, highest back then. Don't know what his study aids were, however he knew his stuff.

Best Wishes Everyone

 

[mdshunk]

Ever test I've ever taken has had one or two poorly worded questions or questions with no correct answer or questions with multiple correct answers. I just sorta guess what they think is most correct. The worst are local tests, such as we have in my state, where the local electrician's examining board will sometimes make their own test rather than use a store-bought one.

 

[SiddMartin]

Ever test I've ever taken has had one or two poorly worded questions or questions with no correct answer or questions with multiple correct answers. I just sorta guess what they think is most correct. The worst are local tests, such as we have in my state, where the local electrician's examining board will sometimes make their own test rather than use a store-bought one.

what do you get for passing local test? I'm in central PA, and as far as I know, the ICC test is the only test you need to take. I guess locals could make you take one as part of their requirement, that would suck

 

[bbaumer]

Ever test I've ever taken has had one or two poorly worded questions or questions with no correct answer or questions with multiple correct answers. I just sorta guess what they think is most correct. The worst are local tests, such as we have in my state, where the local electrician's examining board will sometimes make their own test rather than use a store-bought one.

I know what you mean. I took a local test once with a question about the size of "the equipment grounding electrode conductor". What?????

I argued with the proctor/local inspector about it and he made it clear that I could accept that I had passed the test or I could keep arguing and fail. It wasn't worth it. I needed the license in that town to pull a permit worse than I needed to prove my point.

 

[mdshunk]

what do you get for passing local test? I'm in central PA, and as far as I know, the ICC test is the only test you need to take.

The only test you need to take... for what?? When I was still taking tests, the ICC tests didn't even exist, for the most part. Not ever local jurisdiction uses the ICC test even today, that's for sure.

 

[SiddMartin]

The only test you need to take... for what??

sorry, to get a LIC in HBG or Reading. I never knew some localities have their own test for you to take, reguardless of anything else you have?

 

[bbaumer]

what do you get for passing local test? I'm in central PA, and as far as I know, the ICC test is the only test you need to take. I guess locals could make you take one as part of their requirement, that would suck

In Indiana there is no state test. Some cities and some counties have their own test. You have to pass it in order to get a license. You need a license to pull a permit.

Some areas don't have a license requirement. You pay the $ and get the permit.

Some areas require a local test, license, proof of insurance and a bond with the city or county named as the insured. Some are reciprocal with one another and some are not.

 

[mdshunk]

sorry, to get a LIC in HBG or Reading. I never knew some localities have their own test for you to take, reguardless of anything else you have?

Yeah, Chambersburg, for instance won't reciprocate with anyone. You need to take their test. They will give travelers a "one job only" license if they have a license someplace else and they get a special ga-zillion dollar bond.

 

[SiddMartin]

i am more educated now

 

[brantmacga]

Georgia uses the AMP test; Out of 140 questions, i think it was, there were probably 5 that didn't have a correct answer. However, they have a sheet where you can write the question number and why you think its a bad question or doesn't have a correct answer, and if the person grading agrees (that one sheet is read by a human) you can get credit towards your score. They grade all of the tests on a curve based on how hard they think it is. So you could answer 120 questions correctly, and the guy sitting next to you could answer the same, but your grades won't be the same.

 

[HighWirey]

I took a Tom Henry (sorry, Mike, didn't know of you then) class in 1992 or 93 to prep for the Florida Block masters test. I heard at that time their claim to fame was that no one had ever scored a 100% on the test. Mr. Henry stated that he took the test himself every month at that time as I recall so he could make his example tests just like the real ones and that he always missed 1 question because they always had a question on it with no correct answer or some other baloney.

I know the test later became the Experior test and I believe it is something else now, under different management. Not sure if it is comparable or not from back then to today.

Did any of you ever ace the Florida Block test? I know I thought it would be a cake walk having just finished engineering school and prepped a lot with the Henry materials and other classes on the code and the test and it was not. I scored fairly high but did not come close to 100%.

Don't know what the 'ICC' test is.

Googled 'ICC test' and returned 337,000 hits. International Cricket Council, do not think that is the ICC to which you refered.

Best Wshes Everyone

 

[roger]

ICC, International Code Confusion.

Roger

 

[480sparky]

Back in the ole days when it was the Block test, I heard of not only on person who got 100%, but two. And they happened to take the test at the same location on the same day.

Naturally, Block & Associates was not very happy, claiming that they had somehow cheated. What I heard was they two guys didn't know each other, worked for different companys, were from different parts of the state, and of course, didn't sit next to each other (back then, you NEVER sat next to another electrician. You sat next to people taking tests for other trades, such as HVAC, firefighting, plumbing, etc.).

After much hulabaloo, Block finally had to back down because they couldn't prove any cahootinizing ever occured.

But I'm in mdshunks camp..... the tests can be so poorly written that in order to actually score 100%, it's pure luck when it comes to some questions.

I actually challenged NINE questions on my test. One was a simple, first-year Ohms Law question. It asked for the amp flow across one of three resistors. The question provided the supplied voltage, and the R values for the three loads. I immedeately knew that I would be the same no matter where in the circuit it was, because the 3 resisitors were in series. But my answer, after I figured it 3 times, just wasn't there. On a lark, I calculated the amp flow across the resistor if they were parallel, and guess what? THAT answer was there.

Another question asked for a specific article number. The correct number didn't exist in the NEC year the test was based on. But it did exist in the previous edition (the article got moved!).

Another question referred to 4 wiring diagrams, and asked which one was the 'switch-finder' wiring. Huh?

At his point, I began to suspect there were going to be a lot more 'problems' and 'errors' in the test, many of which I wasn't going to be able to find. But I passed anyway.

Don't know what the 'ICC' test is.

Googled 'ICC test' and returned 337,000 hits. International Cricket Council, do not think that is the ICC to which you refered.

Best Wshes Everyone

Acronym Finder.

 

[bphgravity]

To be honest, I passed the Florida J-Man, Block and Associates exam by the skin of my teeth back when I took it many years ago. I had completed my apprenticeship schooling in only two years (doubled-up the classes) and thought I knew everything. I was quite embarrassed and humbled but got the license and was only 20 yrs.

I did much better on the master exam once it became Experior, somewhere in the low 90's. By the time I got around to taken the inspector certification exams, I aced them. (at least I think I did - ICC doesn't give you the score)

I have come full circle. Now I write exam questions for various Florida course providers and approved testing agencies.

 

[bbaumer]

Although I haven't taken any of these tests since about 1994, as I recall the Block journeyman's and masters tests weren't all that much different judging by the sample exams.

I took it in Indianapolis and all they offered was the masters test. It was proctored by Block.

I know some locations were not proctored and passing the test at those locations meant it wasn't reciprocal in many areas. I knew some guys that took the test at those locations and they got to use notes and other reference materials.

Our proctors looked through our code books and if there were any marks in the book at all (such as pencil or pen notes in the margins) we either had to tear those pages out or take the test without a code book. No other reference materials allowed.

Yes, it was a tough test. At least tougher than I expected.

Is it still the same today? I fear it may be watered down like so many other examinations. Just like high schoolers taking the SAT today. It is not at all the same test it was 20+ years ago.