Tabbed and hi-lighted code books

[Freebiez]

Do they allow these books to be used when you are taking your electrical exam? what are the limits to this? Im sure it matters where you are taking the test and who administers it but im speaking generally here. what are the common rules and regs when it comes to the usage of these books?

Of course legit nec code books are being allowed but then i hear of these "highlighted and tabbed" books which have added keyword indexes, formulas, test specific highlighting and tabbing, etc also being allowed.

I know one of the rules is you are not supposed to have additional papers stuck in your code book that may have things like formulas and ur probably not allowed to have actual test answers written on a piece of paper to help you pass the test (which would be considered cheating) , but what im trying to understand is how does buying a looseleaf nec book with all these things "added" to it make the book any more legit.

moderators please let me know if this question is boderline cuz i honestly do not know. please keep in mind this is a question rooted in the fundamentals of FAIR test taking and im not trying to find a way to cheat. thx

 

[charlie b]

moderators please let me know if this question is boderline cuz i honestly do not know.

It's a fair question. But let me advise you to revise your profile to remove the poor attempt at humor (occupation: wet chicken; relation to industry: homeboys). We only allow members of the electrical industry to post ?how-to? types of questions, and we rely on the profile page as a means of verifying a person really is a member of this industry. If you don?t describe yourself as, for example, an electrician, it is possible that you will not be permitted to participate in this forum.

 

[Freebiez]

Duly noted. Just for future reference though anyone can fake those "credentials"

This is why i didnt think anyone looked at that stuff nor took it seriously. update to thought process made.

Oh and btw for those who dont go look, i am an electrician with over 13 years in the trade.

 

[jdsmith]

Duly noted. Just for future reference though anyone can fake those "credentials"

They do get faked every so often, but the moderators here are good and will sometimes lock a post and conduct a private conversation with the poster if anything sounds fishy - at least I think I remember that happening.

 

[charlie b]

The answer to your question will, I believe, depend greatly on the local rules. I do not know the rules in your area (which I take, from your profile's zip code, to be in the neighborhood of Little Rock, Arkansas). Is there anyone from that area who can answer the question?

 

[hockeyoligist2]

It is OK in SC. I failed the test, got a highlighted and tabbed, then passed. I am industrial and most of the questions were residential.

Edit for spelling

 

[Freebiez]

Well ive talked to a few of the guys testing here lately where i live and they said its fine.

I guess one of the main things im looking at here is i was under the impression that a lot of these books are being marketed and sold as "exam preperation" books. But does this mean that in reality, these books are being used "against the system" to simply pass the exam?

I , for one, passed the test what i like to call "legitimately" and i frown on such a thing being allowed or accepted if this is indeed what is happening here. I mean sure its nice for those taking the test but as a trade is this the best way to gain credentials? what if doctors were allowed to gain their credentials by taking a test from books with the answers highlighted & ready to go?

Once again , i already am a licensed electrician but it just kindof bothers me that some of us are forced to know what we are doing and be able to pass the testing thus proving our knowledge and ability to use the code book + formulas, yet others can take test strategy courses and get books with the answers already highlighted in the color you need for your test taking level. So to me they have upped the requirements for being an electrician yet lessened the requirements to become one by allowing these "books", imo.

 

[lpelectric]

..... So to me they have upped the requirements for being an electrician yet lessened the requirements to become one by allowing these "books", imo.

I don't see the problem with using your favorite code book in an exam. By that, I mean the one you've used a lot on the job and you've scribbled notes in, or highlighted, underlined, etc.
The purpose of an open-book test is to demonstrate to the examiner the ability to find answers. I don't think anyone actually thinks for one minute that a test taker could answer questions on something as broad as the NEC without opening a book to look for answers.
As long as there are no hidden sheets or any cheating....what the heck...:smile:

 

[Freebiez]

Ha , yea of course.

No what i was referring to was books that have the answers to the test questions in a "key word index" and highlighted for your convenience of finding them during the exam.

tabbing frequently used sections is one thing but buying books with actual answers highlighted is another.

 

[cschmid]

when I took the test in MN your were only allowed to bring a calculator they provided everything including the scrap paper..oh and the calculator could not be programable..just a plain calculator, no cool ones like they have now..that was along time ago..

 

[lpelectric]

Ha , yea of course.

No what i was referring to was books that have the answers to the test questions in a "key word index" and highlighted for your convenience of finding them during the exam.

tabbing frequently used sections is one thing but buying books with actual answers highlighted is another.

Oh, I see. I don't think anyone I've ever run in to would allow the type of books you're referring to. :smile:

 

[480sparky]

In my area, tabs & highlights are OK, but any other material, such as the 'key word index' is verboten. I don't know why, since they don't contain any answers, and the purpose of an open book is to see if you know how to find the answer. Tom Henry's "Shortcuts" I can understand, since it contains formulas & such.

Another thing they don't allow is scientific, or programmable, calculators. You are allowed ones with +, -, x, /, and sqr. root. Anything else is off limits. This includes your own Ohms Law chart.... they will supply you with one on the test.

Uglys, ElectriciCalcs, Handbooks, cell phones & pagers are also taboo.

 

[hockeyoligist2]

"Uglys, ElectriciCalcs, Handbooks, cell phones & pagers are also taboo."

And water here! Unless you go outside the room to the fountain!

 

[lpelectric]

"Uglys, ElectriciCalcs, Handbooks, cell phones & pagers are also taboo."

And water here! Unless you go outside the room to the fountain!

Maybe you could tape the Ohm's Law chart and the Ugly's to the water fountain and ask to be excused for a drink whenever you need to look up an answer...? :grin:

 

[forman400b]

In Westchester, your NEC with tabs and highlights are OK; but nothing written in it.

In NYC, pencil, paper and a 4 function calculater. That's it. (I could keep my water on the floor).

In Jersey, they hand you an NEC on the way in, and you give it back on the way out.

It all depends on your area.

 

[480sparky]

Most common plan around here is.... take it all.

If they don't allow it, be prepared to take the test without it.

If they don't catch it, well, use it! :grin:

 

[quogueelectric]

For the conn test

For the conn test

In my area, tabs & highlights are OK, but any other material, such as the 'key word index' is verboten. I don't know why, since they don't contain any answers, and the purpose of an open book is to see if you know how to find the answer. Tom Henry's "Shortcuts" I can understand, since it contains formulas & such.

Another thing they don't allow is scientific, or programmable, calculators. You are allowed ones with +, -, x, /, and sqr. root. Anything else is off limits. This includes your own Ohms Law chart.... they will supply you with one on the test.

Uglys, ElectriciCalcs, Handbooks, cell phones & pagers are also taboo.

you are allowed tabed code book, osha 1926book, nfpa 72book, and uglys reference for the E-1 exam

 

[480sparky]

you are allowed tabed code book, osha 1926book, nfpa 72book, and uglys reference for the E-1 exam

Mebbe in your state, but not here.

NEC, American Electrician's Handbook, and calculator. No sharing. No talking.

Oh, I forgot... bring your own #2 pencils (at least when I took it, I heard it's all computer-based now)!

 

[hockeyoligist2]

Maybe you could tape the Ohm's Law chart and the Ugly's to the water fountain and ask to be excused for a drink whenever you need to look up an answer...? :grin:

That would be good if they gave you enough time to finish the test! The first thing the woman in charge say's "If you are taking the J-M electrical test, be aware, you will need the full 3 hours to finish the test! If you take bathroom and smoke breaks you will not have time to finish!" You get 4 hours for the Master, it was much easier!

 

[Freebiez]

Well lets talk more about the books in question here. Does anyone know the real details of how these books are laid out?

The way it was explained to me is that the things that are highlighted , are actual correct test answers. one color is for journeymans test answers, and another color is for master test answers and yet another color for answers that can be on both the master or journeymans test. i dont know about what you guys think but logic dictates that this has to be true because why else would there be specific colors for masters vs journeyman since in the workplace we all do similar worl in the real world.

the other thing is the keyword index. ive been told that the only things you will find in the keyword index are things that are asked about on the test.

To me it seems like these are not practical things for the real world and are both designed to make taking the test easy. would this not go against the principle of the test?