Quality Management and Quality Control Examination (QC Examination) CBT Grade 3 Test-Taking Experience
0. Introduction
The Quality Management and Quality Control Examination® (QC Examination®) is a certification exam for the methods and practical knowledge required in quality control.
If you are not familiar with it, please refer to the link below: The Japanese Standards Association Quality Management Examination Center website.https://webdesk.jsa.or.jp/common/W10K0500/index/qc/qc_qc1/
Our company also publishes many textbooks and problem sets, and the note manager has been involved for many years, having been in charge of editing each series since joining the company.
Starting with the 40th exam this September, the QC Examination has adopted the CBT method for Grades 3 and 4, replacing the traditional mark-sheet method (Grades 1 and 2 remain the same).
This is a policy that is in line with the current era.
So, with that in mind, the note manager decided to actually take the Grade 3 exam and summarize the experience. I hope it serves as a reference for someone...
1. From Application to Exam Day
Previously, if the exam was held in September, you had to apply by mid-June, go to the test site on a Sunday in early September, and take the exam there.
I feel it is a major advantage that the exam dates are now a period-based system, and that the test site and time can be chosen freely (though preferred sites and times may be booked up).
It is very easy.
The system of creating and managing an account on My Page also took a little effort to register, but it was easy afterward.
As for the essential studying, I used the following and the previous books I had on my desk as textbooks, working on them for 30 minutes to an hour a day for about 10 days.
https://webdesk.jsa.or.jp/books/W11M0100/index/?syohin_cd=350536
Before starting, although it is not quite "the apprentice who lives near the temple will chant the scriptures without having learned them," I was optimistic, thinking, "Well, I can probably do it," based on my experience editing books on quality control and statistics.
When I actually tried solving the problem sets, I felt that the "Practical Section," which tests knowledge in the quality control field, was okay, but in the "Methods Section," which focuses on calculations such as statistics, I remembered the formulas reasonably well and understood what was being asked, but the numbers in the calculation results didn't match...
After all, you really have to move your hands and head.
I welcomed the day of the exam feeling a bit anxious about the final result, thinking, "I can probably pass, but I hope I don't make any small mistakes or misremember anything..."
2. Exam Day: Until the Exam
The exam date was Saturday, June 28th, and I took it at a test center about a 4-minute walk from my house.
As I mentioned earlier, this level of freedom is really great.
Since it was a test center, it seemed there were test-takers for various exams.
I only glanced at them, but I didn't see any QC Examination takers at a glance. Well, I think this is largely due to the nature of the period, time, and venue.
The reception was smooth, and the system was flexible enough that when I checked in a little early (sorry...), I was able to start the exam without waiting for the scheduled start time.
Calculators, writing utensils, and memo pads were not allowed. The calculator was included in the CBT system, and writing utensils consisted of a ballpoint pen and one sheet of A4 memo paper (I think), which were distributed on the day and collected after the exam.
I was a little worried about the calculator because I didn't know how easy it would be to use, but it was a standard calculator function on the PC screen that could be easily called up, so there was no inconvenience, and I was relieved.
Even during the exam, it was a reassuring system for taking tests, as I could check which question I was on at any time and choose to "answer later." It is a well-regarded system, as expected!
3. Exam Day: After the Exam
After finishing, I could go home once I received the printout of the result report. I received it immediately. You can check your performance in the form of a correct answer rate for each major question.
Also, it was a system where I could choose to "finish answering" at my own timing, log out of the system, and leave the room. Nice!
The report itself showed a correct answer rate of 71.7% for the entire Methods Section, 89.1% for the Practical Section, and an overall average of 81.1%.
I made a huge blunder by missing an entire major question in the Methods Section, but I think the result is something like, "Well, I guess it's okay???
But, these are just correct answer rates, and I don't know the point allocation...
The pass/fail results will be on August 1st!
4. Conclusion
The QC Examination Grades 3 and 4 have become very easy and convenient to take now that they have adopted the CBT method.
I hope this will be a reference for readers who are considering taking the exam.
Our company also has a wide range of textbooks and problem sets, so please make use of them!
Quality Management and Quality Control Examination® and QC Examination® are registered trademarks of the Japanese Standards Association.
This content has not been approved, recommended, or otherwise reviewed by the Japanese Standards Association.