“Electricians need to live in the real world”. That was the response by a chief examiner from City and Guilds to a question posed by the IET’s own doyen of sartorial elegance, Mr Mark Coles when he asked the chief examiner if electronic copies of BS7671 could be used in future exams. “Oh no” said the chief examiner, “electricians need to understand how to source information from the book.” Perhaps what he meant to say was that City and Guilds are very protective of a well-embedded revenue stream and that any attempt to facilitate online exams using the electronic book would require a complete and expensive engine change. Anyway, moving forward, its the paper version of the 7671 for those sparks living in the real world!
It wasn’t apparent if Mr Coles agreed with the chief examiner, but in his effort not to be contrary, but without being deferential, Mr Coles had the last word, “ah well, maybe some time in the future”. At least that will offer a tiny glimmer of hope for us sparks who do not live in the real world!
