RE: Free IBM Testing at COMMON

What happened to the idea that this was a benefit of COMMON?  

Why is it so difficult to "omit the data from COMMON when analyzing the tests?" 

I have System Admin certifications for V4R5, V5R1 and V5R2.  Why would I pay 
for the V5R4 certification when I have passed three already?  In addition I 
have Linux Technical Solutions and Domino Technical Solutions which I would 
have never even have taken if I would have had to pay for them.

Why shouldn't people have the opportunity to try a cert test, even at the risk 
of "failing dramatically?"  In my mind this opens you up to new ideas, 
opportunities, etc. and can also give you a great assessment of your skills and 
weaknesses.  I also thought that the cert testing really underscored the 
importance of COMMON.

Just my 2¢.

Regards,
 
Scott Ingvaldson
iSeries System Administrator
GuideOne Insurance Group


-----Original Message-----
date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 10:46:27 -0500
from: Larry Bolhuis <lbolhuis@xxxxxxxxxx>
subject: Re: Free IBM Testing at COMMON

With the free tests they had a lot of folks just trying something, 
anything, and often failing dramatically. This messes up the performance 
statistics of the tests quite badly, so badly in fact that they had to 
omit the data from COMMON when analyzing the tests. You may not think 
this is a big deal but the tests are worthless if you can't prove that 
those who should pass do and those that shouldn't don't. Without 
statistics you simply can't do that. It's all done with mystical 
mathematics by specially trained folks (read 'spreadsheets'!) but 
believe me, it works. So the decision was that by charging at least 
something, people won't take a test unless they believe strongly enough 
in their ability to pass it to shell out the bucks. It washes out the 
'hey I get one free, I might as well give it a go' crowd.

-Larry

William A. Hansen wrote:
> IBM still offers certification testing, but it is no longer free.  They 
> charged for it in Orlando this fall, but at a reduced rate.
>
> I teach a lab in which I let people take Manta courses to prepare for the 
> Operations and System Administration exams.  The attendance was down, because 
> fewer people wanted to pay for the exams.
> William A. Hansen
> Manta Technologies Inc.
> Toll-free: (800) 406-2682
> Direct: (847) 382-7189
>