Here’s an interesting article forwarded to me by a reader of the blog. It’s from WalesOnline .
Apparently, the lowest driving test pass rate (Rhyl) during 2009/10 was 38.4%, but the highest (Llandrindod Wells) was 73.3%. The figures have been uncovered by a Plaid Cymru politician – Chris Franks – whose argument appears to be that the people in North Wales can’t possibly be half as good as those in South Wales. He says:
While the DSA say that pass and fail rates among individual examiners are analysed, there must be an issue when pass rates vary so much – from under 40% to more than 70%.
I don’t believe that learner drivers in North Wales are any worse than those in Mid or South Wales, despite the figures.
He has a point. But the DSA is damned if it does, and damned if it doesn’t.
They have recently introduced a new statistical model to their monitoring of examiner performances. I wrote about it in this article, and then in this further article. People on the forums were wetting themselves over the prospect of something else to snipe at the DSA with.
As far as the average ADI is concerned, variable pass rates are bad. Trying to make them consistent is bad, but leaving them alone is also bad. Making the test harder is bad, but making it easier is bad, too.
Confusing, isn’t it?
If you want to understand the thought process of the typical ADI, look no further than the image above. And then just extend it to politicians.