Dear Training Coordinator,
One of the topics discussed at the recent Board of Examiners meeting was Part 1 portfolios. Many of the comments that come back to me from the examiners are related to common weaknesses in portfolios, and it was agreed at the examiners' meeting that I should summarise these for you so that you can pass them on to supervisors and trainees.

  • Length of portfolios. The guidance in the training prospectus is that portfolios should be between 60 and 80 pages in length. Additional data may be included in an appendix but may not be marked. The examiners wish to emphasise that learning to write clearly and concisely is an important part of training. Please make your trainees aware that portfolios in excess of 80 pages may be penalised, and portfolios greatly in excess of 80 pages may be returned to the candidate without being marked.
  • Experimental technique, basic statistics & treatment of uncertainties. The examiners are concerned that some candidates appear to have little grounding in experimental technique, dealing with measurement uncertainties, and using an appropriate number of significant figures. These are serious weaknesses that should be identified and remedied at the beginning of Part 1 training. There are examples of candidates presenting for viva who do not understand the concept of "standard deviation" or who quote the results of calculations to five or six significant figures when two or three would be appropriate.
  • Hands-on experience. The main purpose of the portfolio is to evidence work that trainees have carried out personally. It is important that the examiner can distinguish work that has been carried out by the trainee themselves from any background material. The examiners recommend that this is done by introducing sections of the portfolio or descriptions of work carried out by the trainee in the first person, with wording to the effect that "I carried out the following ..." and then writing the subsequent text in the third person.
  • Critical analysis & discussion of results. In order for a portfolio to reach "pass" level, trainees must demonstrate that they have a basic understanding of the physics & engineering of the subject. A common weakness in portfolios is for results to be presented without sound conclusions, or evidence of understanding or critical thinking. This often leads to the portfolio being graded as a borderline "pass/fail" or a "fail".
  • Familiarity with portfolio material. The examiners advise candidates to review the contents of their portfolios before attending for viva, as they will be expected to discuss the work that they have undertaken.

Information and advice about writing portfolios and sitting the end-point viva examination is given to trainees by the Chief Examiner during the Part 1 Induction Day (usually in December each year). Some of this material has also been presented at the recent "Training the Trainer" sessions. So as to make this information and advice readily available to all training coordinators and supervisors, I will circulate a copy of the Induction Day presentation by email during the next few weeks.

It is worth noting that while the percentage of candidates failing Part 1 at first sitting has remained fairly constant over the last 5 years, the number achieving an overall "Merit" level has continued to increase, and is currently 40-45%. This is an encouraging result and demonstrates the high quality of training that many candidates receive.

I hope you find these comments helpful. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like any clarification.