NCIDQ graders use a well defined and uniformly accepted set of scoring criteria when scoring the practicum exams. Interwoven into the process is a measure of professional judgment from the graders, who have been trained specifically for the task by NCIDQ. The professional judgment aspect is based on the premise that “the whole is worth more than the sum of its parts.”
What this means is that graders consider individual attributes of the solution rather than assigning points for each thing a candidate does correctly. The focus of the grading is the overall impression of the solution and whether the candidate has demonstrated his or her ability to protect the users of the space. The graders are trained to apply professional judgment within the parameters of the established criteria set by NCIDQ. Other design professions such as architecture and landscape architecture also use a similar scoring method, which have proven beneficial to the candidate.
Two independent graders review each exercise and give it numerical score ranging from zero to five that indicates the extent to which the candidate has demonstrated his or her competence.
| 0 |
Completely Blank Solution
Given when the candidate has made no attempt to solve the exercise |
| 1 |
Fail or Incomplete
Given when the candidate has demonstrated few, if any, of the required skills |
| 2 |
Borderline Fail
Given when the candidate has submitted a complete solution to the exercise, but the overwhelming evidence is that the candidate did not demonstrate the required level of knowledge and skill in solving the exercise |
| 4 |
Borderline Pass
Given when the candidate has submitted a complete solution to the exercise and the evidence is that the candidate did demonstrate the required knowledge and skill in solving the exercise, even if all of the required criteria are not met |
| 5 |
Pass
Given when the candidate has submitted a complete solution to the exercise and the overwhelming evidence is that the candidate demonstrated the required knowledge and skill in solving the exercise, even if a few of the less critical required criteria are not met; solution does not have to be “perfect” |
If the two graders’ scores are divergent (one gives a failing score of 0, 1 or 2 and the other gives a passing score of 4 or 5) on any exercise, then that exercise automatically receives a third scoring by a grading coordinator, and that third score replaces the divergent score.
Example
Part A of the exam includes a space planning exercise and a lighting exercise.
On the space planning exercise, grader X gives the solution a 2 (borderline fail) and grader Y gives the solution a 4 (borderline pass). This exercise automatically gets a third grading by a grading coordinator. This grading coordinator gives the solution a 4 (borderline pass). The divergent score (the borderline fail) is dropped and the two scores become a 4 and 4.
On the lighting exercise, grader X gives the solution a 4 (borderline pass) and grader Y gives the solution a 5 (pass), so a third grading is not required.
The two scores for each exercise are added together and then multiplied by a weighting factor that becomes a percentage of the raw score. This weighting factor is based on the criticality of the skill in the profession of interior design. The weighting factors for each exercise are as follows:
| Part A |
| Space Planning |
23% of total exam score |
| Lighting |
11% of total exam score |
| Part B |
| Egress |
18% of total exam score |
| Life Safety |
18% of total exam score |
| Restroom |
9% of total exam score |
| Part C |
| Systems Integration |
12% of total exam score |
| Millwork |
9% of total exam score |
Scores
Candidates who pass Section 3 will receive a score report indicating PASS or FAIL along with notification of which exercises received passing and failing grades. Because the NCIDQ Examination is a practice-based exam, practical experience is best preparation for the exam.