I TOOK THE EXAM TWICE IN 2010. IT WAS OPEN BOOK BOTH TIMES. I HAVE A CLASS IV LICENSE SO MOST OF THE TEST AND THE LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CERTIFICATION AREA OF PRACTICE. WITHOUT AN OPEN BOOK TEST I THINK THAT IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR ANYONE TO PASS THE EXAM.
WHEN I TOOK THE EXAM 14 YEARS AGO; I REMEMBER THAT THE QUESTIONS WERE SOMEWHAT ABIGUOUS AND IN SOME CASES 'WRONG' IN THESE CASES I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE TEXT IN THE BOOK REFERRED TO IN THE TEST QUESTION BUT THE POSSIBLE ANSWER WAS NOT ON THE TEST PAGE.
IN THE PREPARATION FOR THE SECOND TIME I STUDIED VERY DILIGENTLY AND KNEW THE MATERIAL. THE OPEN BOOK STILL HELPED IMMENSELY. AFTER I COMPLETED THE TEST I SPENT SEVERAL MINUTES LISTING THE DISCREPANCIES I DISCOVERED.
SO MY SUGGESTION IS TO CREATE QUESTIONS THAT ARE DIRECTLY QUOTING THE LAW. I WOULD PREFER AN OPEN BOOK TEST IN ORDER TO BETTER KNOW THE CLASS I THROUGH III TEST ITEMS.
I ALSO SUGGEST REVISIONS TO THE CLASS IV PORTIONS OF THE LAW THAT PROVIDE MORE DETAILS AND BETTER TECHNICAL EXPLANATION OF METHODS AND REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
MY VOTE IS FOR OPEN BOOK TESTING.