[Tutor] Brainbench Python 1.5 Certification

[Rob Andrews]

Tests like the one under discussion can be valuable and/or interesting 
in a number of ways. Personally, I think the primary value of such a 
test is not its use as an assessment tool, but as material to engage the 
student to further thought on the subject.

I actually hope to put together one or more tests that people can take 
through the Useless Python website, although the plan isn't to charge 
$$$ and provide credentials in return. The idea is still a mostly in 
pre-development and somewhat vague, really. But I think that having a 
few quizzes to test knowledge of basic facts may prove a valuable 
addition to the site. And at a planned cost of $0.00, I don't expect 
anyone to feel abused. 3;->

Brainbench now charges about $50(USD) for the Python 1.5 certification, 
and so I wouldn't likely have taken the test myself if I didn't have a 
subscription that allows me to take as many of their tests as I please. 
I can, however, say that I found the test to be a very successful way to 
clarify quite a few gaps and cracks in my Python knowledge.

I find the test author's remarks regarding the test to be quite 
interesting. But I also note that of course he knows about the test's 
flaws and how he would want it to be better. It's still good, whether or 
not it's worth $50.00.

A good exercise for someone learning the language, IMO, is to try to 
collect your own list of questions that you think would be good test 
questions. (In fact, that just might make a good Useless Python 
Challenge. A whole section could be set aside just to display people's 
lists of questions and/or proposed answers.)

Rob

Raymond Hettinger wrote:

>>I've heard of certification tests for Java and C, but not for Python.
>>Being relatively new to the language (and to programming), it's not
>>something I'm considering anytime soon.  But I'm curious: what kind of
>>skills are assessed in such a test?  What sorts of things are considered
>>valuable to test-creators?  (Python, Java, whatever.)
>>
> 
> The test creators value:
> -- complete knowledge of the tutorial, all basic objects, methods,
> operators, etc
> -- some knowledge of the most commonly used modules in the library
> -- a few standard idioms and the most common pitfalls
> 
> Employers would value, but testers have a hard time testing:
> -- ability to write a program to solve a problem
> -- ability to find an error in a program with a bug
> 
> 
>>Btw, I ask this in all sincerity and am temporarily suspending my
>>distrust of standardized tests -- I'm not trying to play devil's
>>advocate or anything.
>>
> 
> In this case, you should not suspend your distrust.  The author of the
> test thinks it is seriously flawed because of Brainbench's test constraints:
> http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&th=fd6cd5dc680aceab&rnum=1
> 
> 
> Raymond Hettinger
> 
> 
> 
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