Professional Review

Written Exercise

Uncontrolled
Document:
Refer to ICE Website for current information

The Written
Exercise
By Bob Bennett
Membership Development Officer
Written Exercise Webinar 2014 Uncontrolled document Institution of Civil Engineers
 Welcome and
Programme
We will cover today:

 Written Exercise – Context in PR

 Purpose of WE
 Types of Questions & Topics
 Example Questions
 Strategy and Detail
 Plan your WE
 Details and Presentation
 What happens next
 Q&A
 Further help and advice

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 Context – The Professional
Review

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 Professional Review – context (1)

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3

Initial
Educational Professional Professional
Base Development Review
IPD

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

TA signed off or CA pass

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 Professional Review – context (3)
You Must demonstrate the ATTRIBUTES:-
 Knowledge and Understanding of Engineering
 Application of Engineering
 Management & Leadership
 Independent Judgement & Responsibility
 Commercial Awareness
 Health Safety and Welfare
 Sustainable Development
 Interpersonal Skills & Communication
 Professional Commitment

AND Pass the Written Exercise

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 The Written Exercise

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Preparing for the Professional Review

1. Preparing the Evidence = the Written Submission

 Experience Report
 Project Report
 CPD
 Sponsors

2. Preparing the Evidence = the Presentation & Interview

3. Preparing the Evidence = the Written Exercise

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 The Written Exercise

ICE Membership Guidance Note 21

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The Written Exercise

PURPOSE

1. A test of:
The use & knowledge of the English language
 to an acceptable standard
Communication skills
 ability to marshal thoughts
 to express them clearly
 within a time constraint
2. A further opportunity:
 to demonstrate technical & professional knowledge

You may take in a limited amount of reference material

You may use a laptop but have to declare your intention to do so

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The Written Exercise

ONE Answer (selected from two questions) in 2 hours

(MPR & CPR)

TPR MPR/AMPR CPR/CPRP

To demonstrate
To demonstrate
an ability to
an ability to
marshal your
Written produce
ideas and
Exercise N/A straightforward
opinions and to
requirements documents
communicate
without
them clearly in
assistance
writing
Time allowed N/A 120 minutes 120 minutes

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The Written Exercise: Topics

ICE Membership Guidance Note 21:

5 groups of topic areas

 A. Financial
 B. Management
 C. Societal
 D. Commercial
 E. Technical / Academic

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 Example Questions

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Example Questions – Financial/Societal

Background: a candidate involved in the

management of a portfolio of bridges – it is
appropriate for a CPR candidate.

“Insufficient resources for maintenance are directed

towards bridges that have strategic transportation
importance for small communities”. Discuss

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Example Questions – Financial/Commercial

Background: a candidate with a contractor

involvement in preparing a tender bid – it is
appropriate for an MPR candidate.

Describe how you would cost the ground-works element

of a green field roads project.

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Example Questions – Management/Technical

Background: a contractor based candidate – it is

appropriate for an MPR candidate.

Explain how a Contractor can utilise technology on a

major construction site to provide the Client a higher
quality product with lower construction costs.

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Example Questions – Management/HS&W

Background: a candidate in a consultancy – it is

appropriate for a CPR candidate.

Outline the roles and responsibilities of the various

defined parties within the CDM 2007 Regulations.
Discuss the role of the engineering consultant within
these regulations during the feasibility, design,
construction and subsequent operation stages.

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Example Questions - Societal

Sample Questions - Social
Background: a candidate mainly involved in the
design phase – appropriate for a CPR candidate.

Discuss the responsibility of engineers to ensure that

designs are aesthetically pleasing and environmentally
acceptable as well as functional.

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Example Questions – Academic/Commercial

Background: a PhD researcher now working in

industry – appropriate for a CPR candidate

Discuss the different strategies for disseminating the

results of research to practising engineers and
demonstrate the benefits of research to the profession.
Illustrate your answer by giving examples of effective
dissemination of current research.

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Example Questions – Technical/HS&W

Background: a candidate mainly involved in the

design phase – it is appropriate for both MPR and
CPR candidates.

How should designers of civil engineering works take

account of health, safety and welfare during the design,
construction, maintenance, operation and subsequent
removal of the works?

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Example Questions – Management/Commercial

Sample Questions - Communication
Background; a candidate who works for a company with
offices across the world – appropriate for a CPR
candidate.

Discuss the importance of effective communication and how

engineers across the world have embraced advances in
communication technology.

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Example Questions – what do we learn?

 Questions can overlap topic areas

 Questions are differently phrased for MPR and
CPR candidates
 Questions are specific to YOU
 You cannot predict, but you can prepare

 Prepare by thinking carefully through your

submitted evidence
 Prepare by forming your own opinions about the
issues within your sphere of work
 PRACTICE!

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 The Written Exercise:
Strategy and Detail

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The Written Exercise

Suggested Timetable during your WE

 about 5 mins choosing the better question

 20 minutes gathering material/thinking (left hand
inside back cover)
 5 minutes writing outline plan
(right hand inside back cover)
 80 minutes writing (stick to plan!)
 10 minutes checking
 Laptop users will be provided with headed paper
There is no substitute for PRACTICE!

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 The Written Exercise: Plan

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The Written Exercise: Plan

 Think about:
 What has the question asked of you?
 the structure – introduction/ main body/ conclusion
 Introduction:
 briefly say how you will address the question
 state what issues you will cover
 Main Body:
 Think about how you will cover each issue in a
structured way
 What factual information will you include?
 What arguments will you put forward?
 What evidence can you cite to support your ideas?
 Which examples from your own experience and areas
that you know about can you refer to?
 Conclusion
 Conclude by summarising main points
 Do not bring in any new ideas/information`
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A Spider Diagram

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Bullet Point approach

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 The Written Exercise: Structure

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The Written Exercise: Structure

STYLE
 format
 conventional essay
 can alternatively use
 report format
 sub-headings
 bullet points, lists
 sketches & diagrams
(more like workplace requirement)
 not ‘polished article’ – tidy ‘first draft’

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The Written Exercise: Structure

CONSTRUCTION

 divide the question into sections

 what have the Reviewers asked for?
 introduction, main body, conclusion?
 what are the main points of your answer to
each section?
 would each point make a paragraph?
 logical sequence of discussion?

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 INTRODUCTION

First section Second section Third section etc

KEY IDEA KEY IDEA KEY IDEA

Description, facts , Description, facts , Description, facts ,
arguments arguments arguments

explanation explanation explanation

key facts key facts key facts

examples examples examples

discussion & argument discussion & argument discussion & argument

KEY IDEA KEY IDEA KEY IDEA

Description, facts , Description, facts , Description, facts ,
arguments arguments arguments

explanation explanation explanation

key facts key facts key facts

examples examples examples

discussion & argument discussion & argument discussion & argument

CONCLUSION

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The Written Exercise: Structure

MANNER OF PRESENTATION

 answer the question

 consider the readers
 sentences/paragraphs sensible?
 “acceptable” English, proper sentences etc
 concise, precise
 factual examples
 back up opinions, thoughts, ideas

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 How will my Written Exercise be
marked?

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The Written Exercise – marking (1)

Knowledge & Relevance

 reasonable understanding?
 evidence of further reading?
 acceptable coverage of set subject?
 no repetition, unneccessay words?
 acceptable length/content?

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The Written Exercise – marking (2)

Use of English
 spelling & punctuation?
 no jargon, catch phrases?
 acronyms [job titles etc]?
 sentence construction?
 easy to follow?

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The Written Exercise – marking (3)

Clarity & Presentation

 ideas expressed logically?
 sound arguments expressed?
 good framework?
 orderly paragraphs?
 tidy & legible?

“a pleasure to read”?
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The Written Exercise – marking (4)

Clarity &
Knowledge &
English Presentation
Relevance

satisfactory

marginal

unsatisfactory

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 The Reviewers’ Role

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The Reviewers’ Role

Thereview
 Receive, Reviewers’ Role
and evaluate your documentation and measure
it against the nine attributes;

 formulate lines of questioning at the review;

 agree TWO different written exercises based on your

experience and within the context of the nine attributes. These
are sent to ICE in advance of the review for final approval

 receive and mark your written work against the criteria

 determine if you have passed this area of the PR

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 To finish …..

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Remember…


Remember
It is not set as a further technical challenge
 You should be able to tackle either question
 Read and understand the questions!
 Choose the one that you feel most confident about
 Plan the framework of the assignment and follow it
 Quality not quantity is important
 Read through your script
 Have you answered the question?
 It should represent a “tidy first draft”

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Plagiarism and Collusion

 Plagiarism is presenting the work of others as your own, including
reports and written exercise
 Collusion is any agreement to hide another individual’s input to any
piece of work when you know that they intent to submit the same
material
 ICE considers plagiarism and collusion to breach By-laws and the
Rules of Professional Conduct
 Instances could lead to lifetime disbarment from applying for
membership
 Don’t simply cut and paste work from others!
 Where you need to quote exactly from material developed by others,
be sure to fully attribute the source, and where appropriate, enclose
the material in quotation marks
Reference:
MGN 45 – Plagiarism
ICE 3001 – Routes to Membership, Appendix B

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Ideas for WE preparation

Tips to Win
 Join a self-help discussion group
 Think what questions you might get
 Ask colleagues/sponsors to read your reports and
identify possible questions
 Study, research, read, discuss
 Practise writing, especially writing to time

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Working Together
Working Together
 Join a self-help discussion group - Any volunteers
to start a group near you?

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 Preparation for the Professional
Review at IEng and CEng
ICE approved, peer reviewed guidance for your Professional Review
Further guidance from the official training company of the ICE, covering:

• The Review process and the administration required

• The structure and content requirements of the Project and Experience Reports
• How to produce the Reports and CPD records
• Effective practise for the presentation and written exercise
• Follow-up courses available from Thomas Telford Training

www.tttrain.co.uk/icetraining.aspx

Course code: M0303 | £225 per delegate

 Next Steps
 Arrange a Membership
Surgery appointment with
your local Membership
Development Officer
 ice.org.uk/nearyou

Written Exercise Webinar 2014 Uncontrolled document Institution of Civil Engineers