Kinetic News: September 2, 2024

In this issue:
• Exam Context (and what it means to you)
• API 653 Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector Training Course Options
• Ask Me Anything (about exam prep)

In this issue:

1. Exam Context (and what it means to you)

2. Training Spotlight: API 653 Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector Training Course Options

3. Ask Me Anything (about exam prep)

1. Exam Context (and what it means to you)

Have you ever read a code requirement or statement and thought, “That is not how we do it where I work. Why does the code say that?” This is something that can happen when reading a code requirement during examination preparation. Why is there a difference between what we study in the code and what we do in real life? The answer is Exam Context.

Exam context is a concept that I start all my course presentations with. It is an essential idea that will shape and control an exam candidate’s preparation, study, and responses on an exam. It is very important, so what is it?

Exam context is the difference between how information is applied in an exam setting and how the same subject or code reference is applied in a workplace, aka, “the real world.”

This is a crucial preparation idea, because failing to understand this will cause confusion during preparation, improper understanding of code concepts, and mistakes in the examination.

The reason this becomes an issue is that when considering examinations such as the API 510, 570 or 653 exams, the exams ask questions that are not limited by industry, jurisdiction, client specifications, or unique issues specific to a certain type of installation. They are limited only by the Code being referenced, which are typically broad in scope.

But in the real world, inspection decisions are always limited by jurisdictional requirements, client/owner specifications, industry practices, or specific design considerations for the equipment being considered, and then, finally, by the applicable Code.

Consider the following common examples of real-world QA/QC subjects that are specific to jurisdictions, client specifications, or design considerations that are not typically represented in an examination setting.

Welder performance qualification expiry dates: In many jurisdictions, (such as Alberta, where I live) performance qualifications are controlled in part by the expiry date assigned at the time of the performance qualification test. However, ASME BPVC Section IX does not have expiry dates for performance qualifications.
Vessel Nameplate Stamping: When considering the required marking on a pressure vessel nameplate, there are differences between what the construction code requires and what the jurisdiction requires. For example, in Canada, CSA B51 requires pressure equipment to have a CRN (Canadian Registration Number), and in some jurisdictions, an additional provincial number showing provincial acceptance of the installation (e.g. an Alberta A#). Neither of these requirements is found in ASME VIII-1. An ASME stamp is not required to construct vessels in some Canadian jurisdictions, but it is a stated requirement in ASME VIII-1.
Impact Testing (Charpy V-notch Testing): Many times, owner specifications dictate if impact testing is required for weld procedure qualification and design considerations. It may be that the owner specifications are more stringent than what the applicable construction code would have required. For example, a company may state that all designs and welding will have impact tested considerations as part of the design, even if the material being used could have been exempted by the code. Exam questions cannot create a situation that goes beyond the limits of the code. The exam can only ask when the code would require impact testing.
Post Weld Heat Treatment: There are situations where the construction Code might not require a welded assembly to be PWHT’d, but the design specifications do require it based on service conditions or client specifications. I remember discussing a P-No.4 material that was potentially exempt from PWHT based on B31.3, but the owner specifications stated PWHT was required based on service and their experience with that material. Again, the exam is only going to ask for the limitations of the Code, not what is best in a real-world scenario.

These are just a few examples of how what we, as pressure equipment inspectors, do in our day-to-day work may differ from what is stated in the Code. While this is not a complex or earth-shaking idea, exam context is something that must be addressed when preparing for an examination to avoid confusion.

The steps needed to address exam context properly are:

Clearly understand the information the exam is going to cover and what you will be tested on.
Have a progressive, step-by-step plan to work through the required information, building a base of knowledge, including multiple exam strategies such as reading, review, and testing your knowledge.
Test the knowledge base you have developed using realistic practice examinations. Combine these tests with a detailed study plan and focus report that identifies your personal areas to improve.
Make sure you have support from a qualified instructor to identify and explain any code or exam concepts that you need help with.

At Kinetic Inspection & Testing Ltd. exams are our thing. Our courses address exam context and provide the tools you need to prepare for your API or National Board examinations. Call us and find out how we can assist you.

2. Training Spotlight

As discussed in last month’s newsletter, the API 653 Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector certification is arguably the most difficult of the “Big Three” API certifications (API 510, API 570, API 653).

But the effort is worth it. If you are in the tank industry, it is likely this is something that is on your list to accomplish, as it is highly employable, functions across many jurisdictions, and is required by many employers who own, maintain, or repair storage tanks.

This is a challenging certification that covers ten reference documents. (2 ASME Codes, 2 API Codes, 6 API Recommended Practices)

Here at Kinetic, we offer 3 options to assist those preparing for this exam.

To write this exam, you need to meet the experience requirements and get permission from API. The exam is written three times per year, and there is a deadline to apply for each exam window. Once you have permission to write, you need to book your actual examination appointment through the testing company Prometric.

The next exam window for this examination is from November 1 – 22, 2024. Our preparation courses are scheduled to coincide with the exam window, so you arrive at your test date thoroughly prepared and ready to write!

The link to the API 653 program on the API website is here: API 653 Program

3. Ask Me Anything (about exam prep)

Please send me your exam and study related questions. I will feature one question in each successive newsletter.

One question I get asked a lot is: “How long should I study for?”

There are two aspects to this question. Some people are asking how long prior to the exam day do I need to study, and others are asking how long should I study each day? Let’s answer both questions.

Question: How long prior to the exam date should I begin to study?

Answer: Most of us have a limited memory, and if we begin studying a subject many months before we need the knowledge in an exam, we will forget what we studied first by the time we arrive at our exam date and only retain the information that was studied closer to the exam date.

However, if we leave our studying too late, it is unlikely that we will cover the information thoroughly and we risk being improperly prepared for the more detailed subjects and questions on the examination.

The final challenge, especially in the broad knowledge requirements for the API ICP examinations, is that the information covered may differ from our daily work, jurisdiction, or personal experience. (See the article about Exam Context at the beginning of this newsletter.)

So, ideally, we need to hit a balance between beginning early enough to cover all the information, not forgetting what we have learned, and not leaving it too late to study effectively. We need time to address and become familiar with new concepts that we may not know at all before beginning our study.

Now, it must be noted that everyone has different abilities, a different schedule, and different backgrounds and experiences, and different family responsibilities, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

But there are some common points to building a balanced study schedule:

You need to cover the information in a logical sequence.
You need to use active learning, not just reading.
You need to review regularly.
You need to be progressive in your study, working up to harder concepts.
You need to test your knowledge and fill in the gaps.

Our courses will help you find this balance. There are three parts to our webinar courses.

A precourse that introduces the basics, provides active learning methods, and immediate feedback and scoring, along with instructor support. This is available up to 100 days prior to the main course dates.
The main course is 6 days in a live webinar via Zoom. Here, the concepts learned in the precourse are reviewed, expanded upon, and new, more difficult material introduced, with daily reviews and practice questions.
The last part of the course is the study portion, where course participants have access to multiple, timed, online examinations that are structured just like the real thing, and 3 practice exam reviews with the instructor.

So, if you are a busy person, you will start towards the beginning of the 100 days prior to the webinar. If you have more time, you will start closer to the webinar dates.

This leads to our second question.

Question: How long should I study each day?

Answer: I don’t think you should study each day, but that is me. I have recommended a study plan to my course participants for years, and it works with the Focus Reports that are available with our Practice Exams. (This is how I prepare for an exam.)

Exam_Study_Table_for_Sept_newsletter

This table is based on two things:

The results from the personalized Focus Report in our Practice Exams which detail how you did in each reference document in the exam, which allows you to categorize your areas of study from worst to best.
Two daily study sessions comprising two 20-minute study periods with a five-minute break in between. This can be broken further into four separate 20 minute study periods. The point is, don’t do less than 80 minutes of study for the final three weeks of your study time on study days, but do not study every day of the week.

Studying like this allows you to measure your knowledge, identify your weak areas, fill in the gaps, and measure your progress.

Our courses have randomly generated online examinations and study materials that make knowledge measurement simple, and the course materials make short, focused study sessions possible.

Some people do more than this, some do a lot more than this, but you cannot do less than this and expect to be successful. (There are exceptions of course, but I have found those who don’t study don’t pass most of the time.)

Do you have a question about how to prepare for an industry examination such as the API 510, 570, 653, 1169, 1184, National Board, or Alberta Inservice exams? Do you have a question about the best way to study? If so, I want to hear from you. Please email your question to [email protected] and include the subject line: Ask Me Anything (about exam prep). Maybe it will get included in a future edition. Submissions that are picked will be notified and receive a discount to the course of their choosing.

4. Contact Information and Links

Please reach out to us! We want to hear from you.

website: www.kineticinspection.ca

email: [email protected]

phone: 780-213-0292

One Final Note:

I have been asked a lot about brain.fm since I mentioned it in a few posts and last month’s newsletter. I use it every week and want to give you a chance to try it out too. So, the people at brain.fm have given me this link to show you. Click it, try it out. You have nothing to lose and the chance of improving what you are doing.

The link is here: https://www.brain.fm/kineticinspection

Thanks for reading!

Kinetic News: September 2, 2024

In this issue: • Exam Context (and what it means to you) • API 653 Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector Training Course Options • Ask Me Anything (about exam prep)