Test One

Well remember it is supposed to provide a "before" snapshot for the "after" when you have finished. If you come and do a similar test after finishing the course you should score better.

Unfortunately they don't provide an Final Exam to do this, but maybe if we email them that would be cool.

The last two problems aren't given solutions in the solution part, they are just there to test your knowledge of rook endings, so don't get angry

I certainly hope so!

Thanks for the heads-up on the last two problems not having answers :-)

Well I scored 44 and got the last two problems right.

Although I saw some of the lines that were deemed correct, I failed to "see" that they were good ... and that is exactly where I think I am weak and why I am here!

Results document says "clearly better for white"... my internal board viewer says "ummm.... errr.... I guess it's ok... " and I go looking for tactics to win material again lol

I'm going to start the test.....should I do the all the questions in one sitting?

My advice is "don't rush it!" :-)

If you can do it all in one sitting and not rush it then go for it.

Let say there is 7 minutes given for a particular problem, is that 7 minutes inclusive of the writting time?

I thought first (seven minutes) then wrote as much time as needed.

It's very hard for me.....

Btw, do u do Positional Evaluation (based on notes given by ICS in month 1) on the given position first and then find the answer?

I'm confused whether to use Positional Evaluation or Making decision in chess (both given in month 1). Which will help me to decide the best move? Or do I need to use both?

Sorry....silly question it may sound but pls give me some advice....

Use all of it. I summarized it here:
https://icsdiscussion.forumotion.net/ics-month-one-f3/month-one-theory-section-synopsis-t55.htm

I got a humble 33 points. Got lots of the first moves correct but my variations were way off.

Did the test. Took four sittings in all and didn't look up the solutions until I had done all of the problems. I included writing time in the total time allowed. I was very strict in marking myself: if I didn't write down ALL the line stated in the solution, it would be zero marks for me.

I got 18 points (my FIDE Elo is 1849). I would have liked more time, also some more indication of the expected format of the solutions. Problems 15 and 16 were quite easy as I had read a number of endgame books, including The Survival Guide to Rook Endings by John Emms.

If there is a final test at the end of the course, I'll use the same test marking standards as before so that I can compare like for like.

Basic endgame: Philidor and Lucena. More a test of basic endgame knowledge, for some reason no score given. :O

I scored 20 pts and got both endgame questions wrong, haha, I'm going to watch some videos on the Lucena and Philidor positions now, I have an endgame book but I've only read a few pages of it, same goes for quite a few chess books I have, I've never read a single chess book from beginning to end, I get too unmotivated, hope I can successfully complete this course!