"You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to."
-Frodo
I just read one of the most extreme accounts of how someone tried to calculate their score on the PE exam. While the person was filling out their scantron sheet for the test, they would put a mark next to each answer they thought they had answered correct. They kept a running tally during the test on how many questions they thought were correct. They were doing this so they could “figure out how many more points they needed to get in order to pass”. This strategy is wrong in so many ways…
Where are this person’s priorities? Was it answering the questions correctly or was it achieving this “magic” number of correct answers on the test? Do you think they might have been a little distracted while working the problems?
You must remember that you have no way of knowing what the passing score for the mechanical PE exam is. The passing score is never revealed for these exams. All you find out is whether you passed or failed…that’s it. You could have aced the test or you could have not passed by one measly point. Your score doesn’t matter. All that matters is if you passed. Focusing on what score you receive will only distract you from your goal.
“Every man of genius sees the world at a different angle from his fellows.”
— Havelock Ellis
Don’t go to the internet forums trying to figure out what the passing score will be! People there claiming to know just what the passing score is are just blowing smoke up you know where. Don’t get caught up in all of the conjecturing and prophesizing. Focus on what you do know-if you study hard and learn the material you’ll be able to pass.
“It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish, as my old gaffer used to say.”
-Sam
There is a sense of comfort and security given by knowing what the passing score is. I totally understand the desire for wanting to know this. You can set up a goal out there, a specific number for you to shoot for and if you hit it, you passed. This way of thinking makes sense. But you must realize that this goal can never be met because there is no way you will ever find out the passing score!
Don’t put off the real work that needs to be done.
Think about how much time you could be investing in preparation for the mechanical PE exam instead of searching for this passing grade. Think how much more focused you’ll be on the questions during the exam if you’re not trying to tally up your correct answers. Remember what your goal is-to pass the PE exam-not to obtain a specific score.
“Great heart will not be denied”
-Théoden
If you put in the work during your studies you’ll be prepared come test day. If you know the material, you’ll be prepared, and if you’re prepared you’ll be confident, and if you’re confident you won’t care about what the passing score is. You’ll know deep down inside that you have what it takes to pass this test. Don’t worry about the score, focus on passing.
