The NCIDQ needs to be held accountable. Currently there is no way to appeal a score if you feel something is severely wrong. This needs to change. The Architectural licensing exam (NCARB) has an appeal process and so should we. Already the grading scale is set against us.

Since when have you ever taken a test that tells you you can only score an A,B...D or E? So after 4 B's and 1 D, that would push you over the edge to fail.

The NCIDQ, a test required to become a licensed Interior Designer, scores the very subjective Section 3, this way and it is UN-necessarily causing %52 of test takers to fail the test.

There are 7 sections of varying weight. 2 Volunteer graders (who NCIDQ doesn't even specify if they themselves are licensed) grade each section,
1- Incomplete
2-Failure to complete correctly
3-There is no middle ground, so if you fail a section you have a lot to make up.
4- Borderline Pass
5-Pass

Each of the 7 sections are given a weighted percentage that way the main, more important sections dealing with life safety must be passed in order to pass the exam. The exam should be graded fairly and not have such a large gap between pass/ fail.

As a Florida resident I simply compared the NCIDQ pass rate with those of the Florida Bar.
Florida Bar 2012 Pass rate: 76.2%
NCIDQ Pass Rate: 48%

https://www.floridabar.org/__85256AA9005B9F25.nsf/0/242EC16FACB4FBD0852579F4006F2CED?OpenDocument​

http://www.ncidq.org/AboutUs/AboutNCIDQ/News/Fall2008ExamResults.aspx

I think something is wrong here. The NCIDQ should test you on your knowledge on life safety, ADA and important design criteria, and not grade in such a way that heavily weights the scale against you so you must take the test again.

After a 6 year journey whether 4 years of school and 2 Years experience or 2 years of school and 4 years experience. You have to Apply 6 months before you can even take your test after which you must wait 3 1/2 months to find out your score and are given no way to repeal or even find out what you scored on each section. All you receive is a simple pass fail. It is now almost a year after you were eligible to sit for your exam and if you fail you are back to waiting 6 months to take it again and 3 1/2 to find out. Which makes it a very long journey that is very costly.

The Section III, also know as the practicum costs $400 each time you take it along with a $180 application fee. Compared to the Architecture NCARB is only $200 per section.

Please sign and share this petition. Help be the change that you want to see in organizations like the NCIDQ.