Testing & Grade Examinations

[Frater Yechidah]

Since this topic has recently come up on the GD blogosphere I thought it deserved a thread of its own. Generally speaking grade testing is based on the Knowledge Lectures and Initiation Ceremony, and takes the form of a written examination. Some groups require a practical element, however, but I needed to post this somewhere, so I've chosen "Knowledge Lectures" for now.

To begin with I will post two links to start some discussion. The first is from Morgan:

http://gleamingsfromthedawn.blogspot.co ... -dawn.html

The second is my thoughts on the topic, inspired by his post:

http://mishkan-ha-echad.blogspot.com/20 ... tions.html

What are your views on testing and examinations?

LVX,
Dean.

[RVACh]

Besides the occasional bellyaching - a person does the golden dawn work because they have an affinity for the golden dawn work - so why complain about the tests at all? Its a way to show love for your work as far as im concerned.

What else is one using that grey matter for anyways?

[aeternitas]

I think its great, I wish I had someone who could quiz me, just so could see where im at.

[Frater Yechidah]

Aside from people complaining, however, what are people's thoughts on the testing process? Is it too strict, not strict enough? Should it be purely written, purely pratical, a mix of both? Should it be done in a formal or informal way, monitored or not? Should it include on the spot testing or something prepared months in advance?

LVX,
Dean.

[Bráthair FnB]

Hmm, I'm waiting till I have sufficient experience of the testing process to judge. From what I have heard from a variety of sources the ideal formulae for the testing process is a healthy mix of both practical and theory work. Now I would say that my views might alter I have been tested for well first grade 1=10 but I do think they need to be monitored as many people come from an institutionalized learning background (school etc) where they have to be able to show up and be prepared to flaunt themselves.

[fraternpi]

The outer order testing regime I think of as “normal” is:

A written and/or oral test of the knowledge lecture. Not just repeating by rote but making sure you know the material back to front. E.g transliterate sentences from English into Hebrew and work out the gematria or been given a number and asking what it relates to. Should be found perfect of pretty close to it. After all the knowledge lecture of the grade is the foundation the next grade sits upon.

Theoretical essays of certain points of the grade and essays on personal experiences.

Practical testing of ritual and practices - testing the ritual is being performed correctly and that it is magically effective. It does rely on having people with the ability to test this.

Failing a practical test doesn’t necessarily disqualifying you from advancement, but failing the knowledge lecture does.

in LVX,
Simon

[Samuel]

The outer order testing regime I think of as “normal” is:

A written and/or oral test of the knowledge lecture. Not just repeating by rote but making sure you know the material back to front. E.g transliterate sentences from English into Hebrew and work out the gematria or been given a number and asking what it relates to. Should be found perfect of pretty close to it. After all the knowledge lecture of the grade is the foundation the next grade sits upon.

Theoretical essays of certain points of the grade and essays on personal experiences.

Practical testing of ritual and practices - testing the ritual is being performed correctly and that it is magically effective. It does rely on having people with the ability to test this.

Failing a practical test doesn’t necessarily disqualifying you from advancement, but failing the knowledge lecture does.

I am pretty much in agreement with this form of testing. Regurgitating by rote the material in the Knowledge Lecture does not necessarily help a person fully understand the material. Being able to explain the material somewhat out of context does though. The essays of experiences in grade and with material are excellent methods also.

As for the practical testing of ritual performance. It is an absolute must. While there is a great deal of intellectualization within the GD there are some practical ritual which are the foundation of what is to come later. A person should be able to perform these basic rituals, with effect.

Personally, I view the failure of ritual work more of a hazard to failing and advancement exam than failing the written exam. A person can always go look up there Hebrew alphabet for instance if they get stuck, but you will not have someone to correct you in the performance of a ritual should need this for some of protection or invocation.

In case there is some confusion on my stance on this topic - I prefer both a written exam on the Knowledge which includes a person's experiences in that grade and with specific portions of the grade material, and that there should be a practical portion of the exam dealing with a person's ritual performance. All the Knowledge in the world is not worth a hill of beans if you cannot properly perform with effect the LRP or MP or any other ritual given for a specific Grade.

The object of the training of the GD is to produce Adepti Magicians - this requires both knowledge and practice on the part of the aspirant/initiate.

In LVX,
Samuel