RE: AS/400 RPG Certification Test -- MIDRANGE-L

I took the sample test, and although I passed, I though it was a poor
test to level the compentance of an RPG programmer.  SFILE, SUBFL,
etc... who cares.  We all use skeletons know.  

I'd rather give them a test that makes them use logic.  Our network
supervisor had one that actually seemed simple, but really told you a
lot about the person.

You wake up in the morning, and want some toast.  You put the bread in
the toaster, push the lever down.  Nothing happens.  What do you do?

Bradley V. Stone
bvstone@taylorcorp.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Baird [SMTP:rbbaird@premsys.com]
> Sent: Thursday, September 03, 1998 9:35 AM
> To:   MIDRANGE-L@MIDRANGE.COM
> Subject:      Re: AS/400 RPG Certification Test
> 
> Pete Hall wrote:
> > 
> > At 08:56 09/02/98 -0500, Richard Baird wrote:
> > >Ken,
> > >
> > >I took the test, got a 92. (woohoo)
> > 
> > I suppose at some level these tests are fine, but I really question
> their value for anything but the lowest skill level. I write several
> different languages, and currently two different dialects of RPG. It'
> just not possible to keep it all 100% straight. For the more esoteric
> things (which indicators do what for TESTN? How do you find the system
> name for an SQL table? What the ~@!# is the op code for rollback this
> week?), I look it up in the manual. Life's too short to worry about
> this crap. You'd have to be an idiot savant>
> 
> I resemble that remark! :)
> 
> The test wasn't quite that simplistic.  True, many of the questions
> were meerly syntax excercises, but even those required logic skills
> and attention to detail to figure out.
> 
> >I think it's much more important to know how to quickly find that
> obscure bit of info than it is to be able to recite it on command. A
> good programmer can quickly shift gears and adapt to whatever
> environment is at hand. I'll always prefer someone who can think over
> someone who can only recite.>
> 
> I never could "talk the talk".  And it's been my experience that many
> of those who could talk the talk, were worthless when it came to
> walking the walk.
> 
> I took the test because of 'biz partner' requirements, and didn't find
> it difficult at all, but I have always done well on tests.  A collegue
> took the test and failed, not because he isn't a decent programmer,
> but because tests make him nervous.
> 
> Rick
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