Oral Board Grading

DOE-HDBK-1080-97

members will not be able to function efficiently. In all cases, questioning should continue

until all board members are satisfied that they have determined the trainee's level of

knowledge and can accurately grade the trainee's performance. At the conclusion of the

board, the board chair should ensure a representative sampling of the learning objectives

has been covered in sufficient detail to determine the trainee's level of knowledge.

Breaks can be allowed during oral boards. Subjects covered before a break should not be

discussed after the break. At least one board member should remain with the grading and

question/answer sheets at all times to prevent examination compromise.

At the conclusion of questioning, the board chair should dismiss the trainee. The oral

board members should then tabulate their individual grades, and determine the trainee's

pass/fail status. When the associated paperwork is completed, the board chair recalls the

trainee and informs the trainee of the board's decision. The board chair should discuss

highlights of the results (discuss all areas in which the trainee may need to study to correct

any identified knowledge deficiencies, and indicate areas of excellent performance) of the

board with the trainee. The trainee should be encouraged to ask questions regarding the

outcome of the board.

5.3.5

Oral Board Grading

The grading standard for pass/fail should be set by facility procedure. Each board member

should independently grade each question that the board member is qualified to grade. The

grades should be recorded on a standard form by each board member, and the overall

board grade is assigned by the board chair. These forms, completed and signed by each

board member, should become a part of the trainee's training record.

The board questioning should be organized into distinct areas such as theory, systems and

components, normal operations, abnormal operations, administrative controls, technical

safety requirements, etc. Questions pertaining to each area may be asked by one or more

of the board members.