If you've failed to attain a satisfactory result in an examination, you might have another go. But will you do so when you've passed the exam or even got a high grade?

Three outstanding candidates in the 2006 Promotion to Sergeant Qualifying Examination have done so for different reasons.

For Police Constable John Fong Lok-man from Tsim Sha Tsui Division and Police Constable Adams Cheng Kam-fai from Sham Shui Po District, their reason was to update themselves on police knowledge through exams, while Woman Police Constable Helen Ling Hoi-ying from Police Tactical Unit Hong Kong Island wanted to strive for a better result.

The trio's efforts have paid off, with John and Adams attaining a Distinction and Helen, a Great Credit.

John, who got merely a Pass in the 2002 exam, scored 88 marks at his second attempt, the highest among all the candidates.

Helen's second attempt is a big improvement on her first attempt.

Adams came off with flying colours at his first attempt in 2001, scoring a Distinction. At his second attempt in 2005, he got a Great Credit.

"I could have stopped after the first exam. But then I found there were areas I was not clear about, for example interpretation of some laws when I was carrying out my duties. So by taking the exam again, I could push myself to revision." By the same token, he said he might make further attempts in future.

Study for job

John added: "Rather than just being a syllabus to be forgotten all about after exams, the police procedures, regulations and instructions contained in the Police General Order, Force Procedure and Police Manual, etc. are being applied in day-to-day police work."

John studies not just for exams but also for his job because police knowledge and procedures keep changing. "Once you stop updating yourself on them, you're out! After all, keeping oneself updated is in line with the spirit of lifelong learning," he noted.

Adams agreed and cited smoking as an example. "Smoking was allowed in many places before the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Legislation came into effect. Now the situation has changed and will continue changing after the grace period for some trades has expired."

Helen is happy with the result of her second attempt at the qualifying exam. Her experience gained from being a PTU police officer, like dealing with public meetings and processions, has proven useful for taking the qualifying exam, as she needs to know how to exercise police powers and where the powers lie.

She reminds fellow officers that the exam debriefing reports on POINT are a very helpful tool for preparing for the qualifying exam. Both John and Adams agreed.

Superintendent Poon Tsang-kee from the Examinations and Assessment Division of the Learning Development Centre, Hong Kong Police College said the reports also showed the percentage of the correct answers to exam questions. This serves to alert candidates to the areas where mistakes or misconceptions are commonly found.

He added that candidates could discern a changing trend in the exam if they were meticulous enough in analysing the reports.

"All the exam questions are set, based on the practical needs of officers' day-to-day work!" he declared.

New measures

Mr Poon then referred to new measures approved by the Force Examinations Board regarding the electronic information devices of exam candidates, including mobile phones. Coming into effective in the near future, the measures require candidates to turn off their devices or switch them to vibration mode, and place them under their chairs.

Mr Poon was quick to add that he never doubted candidates' self-discipline and integrity.

Welcoming the measures, John said candidates need not worry about losing or having their devices damaged at the exam centres.

Adams said the vibration mode allows easy checking of missed calls.

John suggested briefing candidates on any new measure beforehand. This could be supplemented by announcements at the exam centre to remind candidates to take care of their communication devices.

Finally, Mr Poon emphasised that the new measures aim at raising the standard and credibility of police professional examinations. The three officers concurred with this view.

The three PCs have got a pat on the back from SP Poon