Support Group for People Who Failed the Written Directors' Exam!

[Warrior Princess]

Yeah, I just failed the written test. I made alot of stupid mistakes that I would have caught had I gone over my test. I am frusturated with myself. Want to share stories about their Exam wether they passed or failed?

[MessiahFencing]

there's an exam to be a director? wow. hardcore.

[lindajdunn]

I failed the test that I took at the end of the seminar (during sectionals) and passed the one I took at the next opportunity: the nationals.

I found that I had two main problems: (1) I kept reading between the lines and imagining scenarios that were NOT what was asked. (2) I had failed to memorize some of the few things that just plain have to be memorized such as penalties.

I resolved the last problem by creating flash cards for myself and reading them at night. Not only did I learn all the penalties easily, it helped me fall asleep faster.

I resolved the first problem by answering the questions quickly and then going back through them to double-check after answering them all. Thus, I didn't have time to ask myself what-if questions and how x and y could occur because I've never seen that happen on the strip. The second pass through, I had to resist changing answers because I thought that a was correct but under some circumstances, c was also correct. [Or something like that.]

[MyrddinsPrecint]

The time I failed was because I was eating Chinese and trying to not listen to the Clown joke.

The next time I passed.

[SSMSabreMN]

Awww WP, I heard everyone except 2 people failed... so I mean, you cant be too upset. Who passed? Btw? I recognize enough names on the list so I'm curious now...

[Go? Fencing?]

I failed and haven't retaken yet. But then, the level I'm fencing at now, I could make up all the rules and no one would know the difference (well, one guy might doubt me, but if I acted confident enough, I bet I could trick him).

[Inquartata]

I have failed three times now---and that's taking only the general and sabre sections.

[AndrewH]

I showed up to the seminar thinking it would teach me everything I needed to know. Then the first thing the instructor said was "has everyone read the rulebook and study guide? (everyones hand but mine goes up). Good, because there's no way you'll pass the test without those". So i figured I had just wasted $100 but sat through the seminar anyway, then crossed my fingers and took the test.

I passed every section, including foil which I know nothing about.

Now what lesson did we learn...

[RITFencing]

First off, it's referee and not director.

And secondly, I failed it twice beofre passing all three, so you're in excellent company.

[IHateMrPotatohead]

I've been told several times that I over-studied. I passed all four sections the first time though.....

[MessiahFencing]

mind me for being stupid, whats the difference between ref and director?

[IHateMrPotatohead]

mind me for being stupid, whats the difference between ref and director?

*sigh* we used to be called "directors", and now we're called "referees". That's pretty much it.

[Go? Fencing?]

I still say director. Meh.

[Inquartata]

We ALL still say "director". Well, with the possible exception of professional referees.

Seriously, that was one of the very first steps on the road of "Make things like other sports, so maybe we can get televised and paid like other sports". Didn't work any better than the new timings, the Lexan masks or the colored uniforms.

[FAMOUS_TV_EXECUTIVE]

I SAY REF EXCLUSIVELY!!!!

Let's face it, no one in America knows what a director is. That has like NINE LETTERS!

[jeff]

Seriously, that was one of the very first steps on the road of "Make things like other sports, so maybe we can get televised and paid like other sports".

If I have to wear some goofy striped shirt and blow a whistle, I'm outta there...

[downunder]

I have failed three times now---and that's taking only the general and sabre sections.

Seriously?

Its not a difficult exam... What questions hold you up?

[RITFencing]

*sigh* we used to be called "directors", and now we're called "referees". That's pretty much it.

Basically, yeah. I don't know why it bothers me, but it does. The same reason I correct students when they call a mask a helmet, I guess.

[Inquartata]

Seriously?

Its not a difficult exam... What questions hold you up?

Seriously.

The questions are poorly worded and almost beg you to overthink the answers and to second-guess yourself.

Take my favorite example: What is the required run-back at the end of a strip?

There is no rule specifying this, nor indeed any mention of one being required at all in the written rules. BUT, the diagram depicts one, of a certain length. So---is the diagram a "rule"? No. The rule book includes diagrams of the foil and the epee, too---does that mean that French grips are mandated by the rules? The diagrams show French grips, so if the diagrams rise to the standard of rules themselves then French grips and only French grips are legal. Since ortho grips are ubiquitous, obviously this is not the case.

Questions like this are invitations to overthinking. Obviously, the question wants an answer, so it's likely that it's looking for "1.5 to 2 m". But what if one of the answers offered is "none"? Ah, then it could be a trick question...

[downunder]

Seriously.

The questions are poorly worded and almost beg you to overthink the answers and to second-guess yourself.

Its like everything with the FIE though. Common sense goes out the window.

Shouldn't hold you up 3 times though