Associate exam question (confused ??)

[kathey1]

I have my associate exam to take next week, I’ve been revising from literature that I have acquired from the unofficial 2012 exam guide and from tests online. I am abit sceptical about a question I have come across and I am wondering if any of you know the correct answer ???

What do you need to do in order to place a railing ?

A: draw a path
B: select a host element
C: click to place the element
D: work in a section view

I think it is draw a path but the book says select a host element

[ArchTech247]

Draw a path is the correct answer.

[kathey1]

I thought so, makes me doubtful of the rest of the questions, i best check them. thank you

[cliff collins]

Actually, picking a Host 1st is an acceptable answer.

Then sketch the line--otherwise the railing may not attach to a floor or stair. So I could see why the answer was pick host.

[ArchTech247]

When I took my certification assesment exam that was one of the questions I got incorrect because I chose the 'select a host element' answer. You can sketch a path for a rail without picking a host.

[cliff collins]

Agreed.

However, if the work plane is set to the wrong level, you may be placing the railing at the wrong location without "realizing it". This is more of a "real-world" modeling technique than a "correct test answer".

The two are often worlds apart!

Good luck on the test.

cheers

[Steve_Stafford]

The correct answer in my opinion is "draw a path". A railing can't exist without a path.

If I start the railing tool, draw a path and finish...it will be on whatever work plane is currently active in the view. I don't have to select a host in order to start and finish a railing.

If the question stated, "You are creating a railing for a stair, you've clicked the Railing tool, what should you do next?" If "Pick or Draw Path" and "Select a Host" are both offered in the list that's a problem, they are both technically correct. You could do either "first", there is no prerequisite action to succeed.

[Revitaoist]

As someone who has passed many professional tests of various formats, I can tell you the key is in the wording of the sentence, "what do you need to do...". As you know, you do not NEED to pick a host, but you do NEED to sketch a line. The confusion comes from experience telling you is is better modeling practice to associate those railings with hosts.

[cliff collins]

My point (in the above post) exactly.......

"Real world" vs "Test world".

cheers

[Steve_Stafford]

"... the book says select a host element"...

Taking that advice into the test will get her one wrong answer. :(

[lesack]

The book's answer to a poorly worded question appears to be in the choice of the wording "place a railing" rather than "create a railing". You can "place" a railing, that has already been drawn, to an object by selecting the host (according to the book's logic). I can't say that I agree with it, but I somewhat follow the author's logic.

[The Monk]

I agree with Les. The answer is in the question. It is not asking about railing creation. It is asking about placement. Railings are a "host" based element and therefore will require the selection of a host.

The key to all these exams are to not read more into the question than what is stated. Creating senarios about the creation of the railing is not part of the question ( and should not be part of the conversation in your head ).

As Steve noted you can "create" a railing in either order. But you can only place a railing by selecting a host.

These exams are as much about understanding the tools as they are about reading the questions carefully.