2021 RETA Breeze May-June

RETA TESTING CORNER NO. 24 V3

RETA’S CREDENTIALING EXAMS AND ACTIVITIES Dr. Ron Rodgers, RETA’s Psychometrician (testing expert) and ANSI Accreditation Manager

M any factors contributed to declining pass rates for CARO and CIRO candidates since COVID-19 restrictions started in March 2020. RETA provides many resources to help candidates earn RETA credentials. Three may be especially valuable as candidates and employers strive to recover from the many hidden effects of the pandemic. CIRO pass rates fell from 59% in 2019 before the pandemic to 41% from July 2020 through May 2021. CARO pass rates also fell from 69% in 2019 to 59%. Just 34% of CIRO candidates passed without taking a RETA Practice Test during this period. CARO candidates did better, but all candidates might improve their skills and understanding of refrigeration concepts and operations by taking a Practice Test.

RETA PASS RATES: July 2020 through May 2021

CARO

CIRO

52%

49%

Candidates who took a Practice Test before full exam

Candidates who did not take a Practice Test

62%

34%

All candidates since July 2020

59%

41%

69%

59%

Comparison baseline: 2019 Pre-pandemic pass rates

RETA PRACTICE TESTS are designed to help candidates become familiar with sample questions and reference documents for CARO, CIRO and CRST BEFORE they take a full exam. Practice Tests are about half as long as full exams. RETA validates sample questions as part of the item banks that support full-length exams, but Practice Test questions do not appear in full-length RETA certification tests.

Practice Test score reports direct candidates to chapters in RETA books that support sample questions they answered incorrectly. Candidates may review content areas in which they score poorly on a Practice Test to improve their understanding of industrial refrigeration. Practice Tests reflect RETA’s commitment to its mission “to enhance the professional development of industrial refrigeration operating and

28 RETA.com