Well, it seems that PGDB sent the graded exam to an old address (though I gave them the correct new address 4 weeks ago )
so I haven't seen my scores. But I have been a craftsman plumber in the US for 15 years, passed all those exams with flying colors. I have been in NZ for a year working as a plumber, passed the $3500 week long exam in Wellington and studied very hard for this written exam. I felt I did 90%.
I didn't. I got 54. I don't even know how that is possible. It means I missed every other point on the exam. 
I knew all the questions--recognized them from my study materials--and I know that I answered well.
If  you score 55-59, they automatically re check the grading. But they don't with 54.


I am just curious about the grading policy. My wife is a maths teacher and we have discussed the test in detail. She thinks that the multiple point questions (where you explain and make a drawing of a system) must have been graded all or nothing.
Do they give partial credit? 

I thought that if there are multiple parts to the question, and I missed one tiny part, I would still get credit for the parts I got correct. But a score of 54 says otherwise!

Many of the questions were complex but time was short. I wonder also--how fair is the grading? I know it is completely subjective and I bet the graders all grade completely differently.

I am just trying to figure out what went so wrong. I know this material. I was comfortable that I answered the questions very well. There is just no way that I missed 46% of the questions. That is very extreme.

And now the packet that they sent to the wrong address can't be tracked down. No paper, no chance to ask for a regrade. 

Basically, we are in very bad shape for our immigration status with a failing grade.



Linkback: https://www.plumbers.nz/exam-policies-and-updates/63/grading-policy-for-the-exams/272/

Very Sorry to hear about that, Something similar happened to me about 2 years ago. Luckily the paper showed up 3 months later, turned out a relative of mine picked up the post and forgot to tell anyone so it sat under the front seat of his car for 3 months. Anyway.. I didn't pass with 54 and couldn't dispute anything without the paper, They explained that it was impossible to keep a copy of all papers which is fair enough but they could have at least sent it via track n trace. Is that to much to ask for when the fee to sit it is $300?? I must say, they did do there best to help me and even offered me to sit the next exam free of charge (good on ya PGDB). Well it never came to that because I did find the paper and it wasn't even their fault (sorry for the abuse PGDB). I know its not much but I'm sure they would do the same thing for you. I must commend you for going through the whole process of certification, not many people are as committed as you.

You can now see just how they marked them look up the PGDB web site often if you were correct but your answer was not on the marking schedule you were marked incorrect.