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1. When is the next exam scheduled for?
2. If you miss the next testing window, how long do you have to wait for the next one?
3. Where do I go to take the WCET exam?
4. Will I get preliminary test results before I leave the testing center?
5. How many questions need to be answered correctly to pass the exam?
6. Will the questions on the exam be adaptive? For example, will the difficulty of the next question depend on how the current question was answered?
7. How many chances are given to pass the exam?
8. What do you mean by "web based calculator"? Is the exam conducted through the Internet and not on paper?
9. How long is the WCET Certification good for? Is there a renewal required for recertification?
10. What happens if one area covered on the exam is entirely not answered correctly?
11. Will the certification help in securing a career in the wireless field?
12. Are there discounts for companies looking to get their employees certified?
13. Does academic experience in a university (such as a research assistant position) count towards the 3+ years experience noted for potential candidates?
14. If someone does not have the four year degree, is there any combination of training, work experience, or education that would also meet the WCP requirements?
15. Will the exam go over CDMA and GSM or LTE and WiMAX?
16. Do we have to know all the mathematical formulas for the various computations since this is not an academic examination?
17. Is there one book that covers everything for taking the exam?
18. Is reading the WEBOK enough to pass the exam?
19. Is there anything not covered in the WEBOK that is covered in the exam?
20. Are there any instructor-led courses available for this certification?
21. How many centers are there for taking a practice exam? How much does it cost?
22. If a practice exam is purchased multiple times, will it always have the same questions or will the questions change from purchase to purchase?
23. Are there any restrictions when you purchase a practice exam? Is this a timed exam?
24. What is the passing point for the practice exam?
25. Is there any official list of local training companies across the world?
General Exam, Logistics, and Scoring Questions
1. When is the next exam scheduled for?
ANSWER: The next testing window will be open from 9 April - 5 May 2012. To sit for the Spring 2012 exam your application must be received by 23 March 2012..
2. If you miss the next testing window, how long do you have to wait for the next one?
ANSWER: Two testing windows are planned each year; the next one takes place in the Fall. Applications to sit for the exam in the fall 2012 are due by 7 September 2012. The testing window for the Fall 2012 exam will run from 23 September - 278 October 2012.
3. Where do I go to take the WCET exam?
ANSWER: Prometric testing centers are located around the world. Candidates who are testing in the US or Canada should visit www.Prometric.com/Candidates or call +1 800 532 2169 to find the center closest to them. For a list of centers outside the US and Canada view our list of Testing Centers and Regional Contact Centers.
4. Will I get preliminary test results before I leave the testing center?
ANSWER: There is a misprint in the hardcover copy of the Candidate's Handbook. At this time, preliminary test results are not available to candidates before they leave the testing center. Eventually, candidates may receive preliminary results before or shortly after they leave the test center. However, for the forseeable future, it is essential that we conduct standard setting and question analysis to ensure that each question is providing meaningful and valid scoring data before score reports are generated. Once we are able to provide such results, it is important to note that they will be preliminary and unofficial, and candidates should wait until they receive their official score report before informing their colleagues or managment of the outcome of their examination.
5. How many questions need to be answered correctly to pass the exam?
ANSWER: The passing point, or number of items that must be answered correctly, is set using a criterion-referenced methodology. Passing points can be either relative (i.e. norm-referenced) or absolute (i.e. criterion-referenced). A relative standard, more commonly referred to as norm-referenced, involves setting the passing point relative to obtained test statistics. This method depends on comparisons among candidates. A major disadvantage of this method is that passing or failing the examination depends on the relative ability of the examinees with whom an individual is tested.
Using a criterion referenced procedure, the percentage of candidates passing the examination is not determined prior to the test administration. A major advantage of criterion-referenced passing point methods is that it sets an absolute standard that is independent of other examinees’ scores. Criterion-referenced passing scores are typically determined based on content specialist’s judgments regarding the expected test performance of candidates who are minimally competent to practice at entry-level within the profession.
Like most other certification programs, IEEE-WCET does not divulge the number of items that must be answered correctly to pass the exam.
6. Will the questions on the exam be adaptive? For example, will the difficulty of the next question depend on how the current question was answered?
ANSWER: No. This is not an adaptive exam. Each question is independent of other questions; difficulty level does not increase as the exam progresses. Exam items are scrambled differently for every candidate.
7. How many chances are given to pass the exam?
ANSWER: Each candidate has one chance to pass the exam in a given testing window. Candidates who do not pass the exam are welcome to sit for it again in the following testing window. Candidates who do not pass the exam will need to pay to take the exam again. There is no limit on how many times a candidate can sit for the exam.
8. What do you mean by "web based calculator"? Is the exam conducted through the Internet and not on paper?
ANSWER: The exam is administered by Prometric at testing centers located throughout the world. It is a computer-based multiple-choice test that is not written on paper.
9. How long is the WCET Certification good for? Is there a renewal required for recertification?
ANSWER: The WCET Certification is good for five years. Recertification will be required after five years. The exact process for recertification is currently being finalized.
10. What happens if one area covered on the exam is entirely not answered correctly?
ANSWER: The WCET exam is scored using a compensatory model. All questions on the exam are graded equally. Candidates may do poorly on any one area and make up for it in another. Candidates get credit for questions answered correctly, but do not get penalized for guessing. For the most part, it is unlikely that a candidate will pass the exam if all the questions in one area are answered incorrectly.
11. Will the certification help in securing a career in the wireless field?
ANSWER: It is believed that an extra credential from an organization such as the IEEE whose mission is to foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity should help an individual in their professional growth.
12. Are there discounts for companies looking to get their employees certified?
ANSWER: We have just recently introduced a new corporate program where we can offer discounts and packages to companies who want to offer their employees the opportunity to sit for the WCET certification exam. Anyone interested in learning more about the corporate program can send an email to cert@comsoc.org to request it.
Eligibility Requirements
13. Does academic experience in a university (such as a research assistant position) count towards the 3+ years experience noted for potential candidates?
ANSWER: Yes, it counts. For more specifics, review the Eligibility Requirements.
14. If someone does not have the four year degree, is there any combination of training, work experience, or education that would also meet the WCP requirements?
ANSWER: The original intent was to require a four-year degree; however, as we have learned from the industry over the past year, there are many potentially qualified candidates who do not have such a degree but how have extensive experience in the field. We are currently reviewing potential guidelines that could expand eligibility to those with an Associate's Degree and considerable experience. Any such guidelines will be announced via our website and press releases.
Studying for the WCET Certification Exam
15. Will the exam go over CDMA and GSM or LTE and WiMAX?
ANSWER: It is recognized that mobile and fixed wireless systems may present many different designs and solutions. However, to be certified as knowledgeable in wireless, it is important to have a broad range of wireless expertise covering many aspects as addressed in Appendix A of the Candidate’s Handbook on IEEE WCET® Examination Specifications. In summary, all of the technologies mentioned including CDMA, GSM, WiMAX, LTE and many others are important wireless technologies and are topics for possible questions.
For more specifics on the different areas of expertise that are covered in the IEEE WCET® exam, review the Exam Specifications.
16. Do we have to know all the mathematical formulas for the various computations since this is not an academic examination?
ANSWER: No. A partial list of formulas will be provided. You will however need to know which formula to use in order to compute the correct answer.
17. Is there one book that covers everything for taking the exam?
ANSWER: While there is no definitive study guide to help you prepare for the exam, the WEBOK or “A Guide to the Wireless Engineering Body of Knowledge” book published by IEEE Press and John Wiley Publishers, outlines the topics that may be covered on the test and includes numerous references in which detailed wireless communication knowledge can be found. The WEBOK can be ordered from John Wiley Publishers at www.wiley.com.
18. Is reading the WEBOK enough to pass the exam?
ANSWER: Based on any individuals knowledge and work experience it is difficult to assess if reading a book is sufficient preparation to pass the exam. Reading the WEBOK will certainly help - but candidates are encouraged to take a practice exam to assess their areas of strength and weakness and overall readiness to pass the actual certification exam. The results of a practice exam would provide the candidate with an indication of which areas are strong and which are weak. The WEBOK can help guide the candidate to references which could be used for study to improve performance in the weak area(s). The candidate should be selective when preparing for the exam.
19. Is there anything not covered in the WEBOK that is covered in the exam?
ANSWER: No. All subject areas tested on the exam are covered in the WEBOK. However, the WEBOK covers the material at a relatively high level, so there certainly may be detailed questions on the exam that may not be specifically addressed in the WEBOK.
20. Are there any instructor-led courses available for this certification?
ANSWER: There are courses that can help you prepare to take the exam but not one course has been developed to teach the exam. Visit ComSoc Training to learn more about specific course topics, dates, locations -- courses are offered in both online and in-person formats and reading course descriptions and reviewing agendas will help you identify the best one(s) for you.
21. How many centers are there for taking a practice exam? How much does it cost?
ANSWER: The practice exam can be purchased by individuals online. An individual who enters their credit card information can take the exam immediately from their computer in the comfort of their own home or office or anywhere they are logged on to the Internet. A practice exam costs US$50.00 and a candidate can take it from start to finish up to two times.
22. If a practice exam is purchased multiple times, will it always have the same questions or will the questions change from purchase to purchase?
ANSWER: At this time, the 75 questions on the practice exam are fixed and if an individual purchases it multiple times, they will be tested on the same questions.
23. Are there any restrictions when you purchase a practice exam? Is this a timed exam?
ANSWER: Anyone can purchase an online practice exam for US$50.00 which allows them to take it from start to finish one time. When a candidate clicks on "end exam", closes the window, or uses up the alloted time, that counts as taking the exam one time. And yes, the online practice exam is timed. There is an option to take the exam in either 120 or 180 minute mode. The extra 60 mintues is added to accommodate candidates with disabilities.
24. What is the passing point for the practice exam?
ANSWER: In terms of the practice exam, a pass point has not been established. The practice exam is to be used as a diagnostic tool to help a candidate ascertain areas of strength and weakness in preparation for the exam.
25. Is there any official list of local training companies across the world?
ANSWER: A list of companies who have informed us that they offer training for the WCET Certification Exam is listed on our website under "Training". This list is not exhaustive enough to break out by country or local areas around the world at this time.
If you have a question that hasn't been addressed here, send an email to cert@comsoc.org.
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