2018 RETA Breeze Jan-Feb.indd

RETA Testing Corner No. 5 RETA’s Testing and ANSI Guru

Figure 1

Dr. Ron Rodgers, RETA’s Psychometrician (testing expert) and ANSI Accreditation Manager, has guided development of RETA

CARO Content Areas Scores Fundamentals............................................................................................. 80% correct

Refrigeration Cycle..................................................................................... 44% correct

Refrigerants & Tables................................................................................. 60% correct

Types of Compressors................................................................................ 28% correct

Compressor Operation & Maintenance.................................................... 86% correct

credentialing exams since 2002. RETA Testing Corner provides information and answers questions from RETA members, candidates and others to help them earn and benefit from RETA credentials. RETA delivers a comprehensive score report after every CARO and CIRO test, but some candidates are uncertain how to use the information in these reports. Two examples are provided to show how to interpret these results. The first report ( see figure 1 ) is for a candidate whose scores in 5 of 10 CARO content areas were below 70% correct. These five areas are highlighted. A total score of 70 or higher is required to pass. This candidate’s total score of 69 means that 31 of the 100 scored questions were answered incorrectly. This candidate did very well in the five content areas with scores above 70% correct — and poorly in five content areas with scores between 28% and 62% correct. The candidate also used just over half of the 180 minutes allowed for the test. That suggests that one problem may have been taking too little time to read each answer to every question before selecting the BEST answer. Each question includes three wrong answers

Lubrication.................................................................................................. 80% correct

Evaporators & Cooling Units..................................................................... 77% correct

Condensers & Receivers............................................................................ 90% correct

Purging....................................................................................................... 50% correct

Safety Standards & Procedures................................................................. 62% correct

Total Scored Questions.............................................................................. 69% correct

Unscored Pilot Questions.............................................................................No score

Total Time Used out of 180 Minutes. .........................................................97 minutes

Percentage of Available Time Used. ............................................................... 54%

that reflect common misunderstandings and errors that candidates may find plausible if all the information in the question is not considered carefully. The CIRO scores ( see figure 2 ) represent two attempts by a candidate who scored higher in four content areas but still needs to improve in four of the nine CIRO content areas. This candidate scored below 70% correct on 8 of 9 content areas on the first CIRO attempt. The total score of 61% correct on the first attempt means that 49 of 125 scored questions were answered incorrectly. The candidate then scored above 70 in 5 of 9 content

areas on the second attempt. The total score of 67% means that the candidate answered 41 of 125 scored questions incorrectly on the second attempt. CARO and CIRO Practice Tests take this information one step further by directing candidates to the chapter in the appropriate RETA book that supports the correct answer to questions they missed. These tools are designed to help CARO and CIRO candidates understand how to prepare for a future attempt. We welcome your questions about RETA’s credentialing exams and activities. Send your questions by email to Dan Reisinger at dan@reta.com.

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