API 653 Preparatory

GUIDELINES FOR API 653 CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

Contents

1. Examination Scheme
2. Distribution of Marks
3. Salient Features of the Examination
4. How to Prepare for the Examination
5. Tips for Maximizing the Score
6. Time Management During the Examination

1. EXAMINATION SCHEME

As per the present scheme, API 653 examination is one-day, 8-

hour, 2 session examination, comprising of pre-lunch session (4
hours) for “open-book” examination and post-lunch session (4
hours) for “closed-book” examination.

There are a total of 150 questions carrying 1 mark each (total of

150 marks), split into open-book (approximately 50 questions) and
closed-book (approximately 100 questions). The distribution of 50
and 100 questions respectively for open-book and closed-book
examinations is approximate; however the total is always 150
questions.

Each question is multiple choice questions with given 4 possible

choices. Only one is the correct choice. The candidate has to pick-
up the correct choice and indicate the same on separate answer
sheet. The answer sheet along with the question paper should be
returned back to the Supervisor. The correct answer is to be
indicated by blackening (filling) the relevant circle by a pencil.
There is no set passing percentage. However a score of about 95 to
105 out of 150 is a good estimate of passing score.

Please note the following:

 Fill only one circle out of four given

  Fill the circle fully and completely. Half or less than half
blackened circle area is not reckoned for answer.
 Never indicate the answers by ticking (√) the circles.
 There is no negative marking.

During the “open-book” session, you are permitted to refer to the

codes and other documents as per “Effectivity Sheets”. Code pages
may be tabbed, highlightened, underlined or notes in margin of the
pages are accepted. Additional new pages to codes are not
accepted. Always carry the following to the exam hall.

 2 Nos. B or 2B pencils and eraser

 Non-programmable calculator
 Photo identity (passport, driving license, etc.)
 Exam confirmation letter

Be present in the exam hall at least 15 minutes prior to scheduled

start of exam. The supervisor announces important instructions
during this period. Do not miss them. Now relax and attempt the
exam calmly. Time is always more than enough.

Good luck, friends!

2. DISTRIBUTION OF MARKS

As per the Effectivity Sheet, there are total 7 codes prescribed for
examination. However, all of them are not equally important and do not
therefore require equal emphasis. About 50 percent questions are asked
from one code API 653 which is hardly 40 pages, while all other 8 codes
contribute 50% marks which are more than 1,000 pages. Following
distribution scheme will help the participant to decide how much time
he should spend for each document during preparation.

Approx. Questions
S.N
Code Weightage (in Asked Out
.
%) of Total 150
1 API 653 45 – 50 68 – 75
2 API 650 15 – 18 22 - 27
3 ASME Sec. IX 10 -12 15 - 18
4 ASME Sec. V 10 – 12 15 - 18
5 API RP 575 5 7
6 API RP 651 3 4
7 API RP 652 3 5
8 General Knowledge 2 3

3. SALIENT FEATURES OF THE EXAMINATION

As stated earlier, the examination comprises of open book and closed
book parts. The closed-book examination includes such questions which
the inspector is normally expected to know without referring the Codes,
i.e., the questions are “awareness level” questions.
Whenever you find a very definitive or quantitative statement in body of
the Code, a closed book question may be expected on it. Thus, the basic
requirements of a code, specific “DO” and “DON’T” statements,
important quantified statements, important definitions and well-known
inspection principles will constitute such questions.
Where the student is required to refer to the diagrams or formulas or
tables or graphs and curves from the Codes, it will always be an “open-
book” question. All calculation oriented questions will normally be
“open-book” type. The Code information which is not short and crisp,
(i.e., large paragraphs, several descriptive statements clubbed together)
will normally be asked in “open-book” part. Here the participant is
expected not to remember the information but should know where to
find it in the body of the Code.
The questions asked in closed book part are straight forward statements
directly taken form Code without much of the modifications and
therefore are easy to answer. To answer open-book questions, one only
needs to know where to find the answer in the code and therefore
tabbing of Code pages, highlighting the paragraphs or additional
explanatory notes in page margins is useful for saving time. Closed-book
part of the exam (100 marks) can be finished in hardly 2 to 2 ½ hour
though 4 hours are allotted. While “open-book” part (50 marks) takes a
little longer and may require all the 4 hours that are allotted.

4. HOW TO PREPARE FOR EXAM:

If your aim is only to get “certified”, i.e., to obtain just around 100-110
marks, detailed study of documents nos. 1 to 4 above (Chapter 2) may
be adequate. Additionally, one should try to remember all the “Points to
Recall” and review the mock examinations attempted during the
Preparatory Course. If two or more participants from same organization
are appearing for exam, then joint discussions and one putting question
to another and vice versa has been found very effective during
preparation. Other 5 codes (i.e., Serial No. 5 to 9) may be studied in
detail if there is additional preparation time available. An overall
“awareness” level knowledge of these 5 Codes may be okay.

If your objective is to get certified and also to obtain a good score, (say
125+) then it is worthwhile to study the 5 Codes (Serial No. 5 to 9).
However, please remember that study of API 653 has to be “thorough”
and total, while study of API 650, ASME Sec. IX and ASME Sec. V should
be such that it can cover the topics mentioned in the “Body of
Knowledge”. The last 5 Codes (Serial No. 5 to 9) should be read at least
once and note the important points. A very “thorough” study of these
documents however will not result in “gains” commensurate with the
efforts put in.

If you are about a month away from examination, read all the Codes at
least once and concentrate on highlighted text in the Codes and also try
to solve the question bank.
If you are about two weeks away from the exam, concentrate on
highlighted text as well as the mock examinations conducted during the
course. In the last week of preparation, focus on Points to Recall and
mock exams.

5. TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING THE SCORE

Remember the “10 Tips” covered during the preparatory course.

Following additional tips will be useful.

a. There are only 5 or 6 important definitions from Chapter 3 of API

653. Normally 3 to 4 definitions are asked in closed-book exam.

b. From Chapter 4 of API 653, nearly 15 questions are asked (7 to 8

closed book and 7 to 8 open book). Concentrate more on clauses
4.2.1.2, 4.2.3.1, 4.2.4.3 to 4.3.7.

c. Chapter 5, knowing figure 5-2 and only 3 clauses 5.3.5 to 5.3.7 is

enough.

d. From Chapter 6, about 10 questions are asked. It is only 3 page

chapter. Particularly pay attention to Inspection intervals.

e. From Chapter 7 and Chapter 8, generally 2 or 3 questions are

asked.

f. Chapter 9, about 7 to 8 questions are asked. Concentrate more on

Figure 9-1 and hot tap (Clause 9.14).

g. Chapter 10, about 3 or 4 questions are asked and those generally

“open book” type. So you can refer to the code and get answers.

h. Chapter 11, it is hardly 8 to 10 lines chapter but 1 or 2 questions

are asked.

i. Chapter 12, about 7 to 8 questions are asked. Normally the

questions are on NDT. The participant is expected to know that NDT
procedures shall be as per relevant article of ASME Sec. V, the NDT
extent shall be as per API 650 or 653 while acceptance criteria is as
per API 650 or ASME Sec. VIII, Div. 1. he should also know that
qualification standard of NDT personnel is ASNT SNT-TC 1A (or API
 650). This chapter is better explained in Appendix F (API 653) as
NDE Summary or in Appt. (API 650)

j. Chapter 13, generally 1 question covering name plate stamping is

asked.

k. Appendices: App. A. Here note that API 650 was introduced in 1961
(prior to this was API 12C) and seventh edition (1980) onwards the
joint efficiency (E) is taken as 1.

App. B: The important topics are number of settlement monitoring

points (Figure B-1, B-2) and formula B = 0.37 R (R in feet while B is
in inches)

App. C: This being item wise inspection checklist concerning what to

check where. Normally, 1 or 2 open book questions are set. No
need to remember this table.

App. D: Note certification requirement (Clauses D.2 and D.5)

l. From API 650. Normally, two questions are asked on materials. (Fig.
2-1, Table 2-3, Table 2-4 and Clause 2.8). Usually 5 to 6 questions
are asked on Chapter 3 concerning shell, bottom and roof
thickness, attachment welds. From Chapter 5, normally 2 or 3
questions will be asked. Focus on weld reinforcement, undercuts,
use of low-H electrodes and inspection pressure for pad-test and
vacuum box test. From Chapter 6, generally 3 questions covering
number of radiographs (Fig. 6-1) and acceptance standards and
personnel qualifications are asked.

m. Since there is no negative marking, there is no harm in making

guess. Generally, do not go against your first impulse, unless you
are sure you were wrong in the first place. If some questions are
still remaining unanswered mark the answers you “feel” may be
right. Do not leave any question unanswered.

6. TIME MANAGEMENT DURING EXAM:

Both “open” and “closed” book sessions are 4 hours each. This means
about 25 to 28 questions per hour for closed book and 12 to 15
questions per hour for open book. For proper time management
following are useful suggestions.
 a) You may start from Question No. 1 and proceed. If after 1 hour
you feel that you are maintaining the required progress as
mentioned above proceed serially.

b) If, however, you are behind the required rate, start jumping the
questions, i.e., start attempting those questions you can answer,
deleting whose answer you do not know. Proceed like this till the
end. Do not leave any question unanswered whose answer you
know.

c) Then come back to “deleted” questions and attempt them using

your “feel” factor. Go on like this till say last 10-15 minutes are
remaining.

d) If there are still some questions where you have no clue at all
just mark the answer at random in last 10-15 minutes. This may
give you few chance marks. Do not leave any question
unattempted.

e) After completion of writing exam, if you have still time (which

you normally have) you may go through your answers just to
check quickly if you have filled a wrong circle.

7. TEST TAKING TIPS

● Don’t read too much into a question. Do not get too elaborate and ruin your
answer.

● If two choices are very similar, the answer is probably not either of them.

● If two choices are opposite, one of then is probably correct.

● Don’t go against your first impulse unless you are very sure you were wrong.

● Check for negatives and other words that can throw you off.

● The answer is usually wrong if it contains “all,” “always,” “never,” or “none.”

● The answer has a great chance of being right if it has “sometimes,”

“probably,” or “some.”

● When you don’t know the answer, look for the wrong ones.
 ● If you are supposed to read a long passage and then answer questions
about it, read the question first. That will tell you what you are looking for and affect
the way you read the passage.

● Be suspicious of choices that seem obvious.

● Don’t give up on a question that, after one reading, seems complicated.

Looking at it from a different angle, restating it in your own words, drawing a picture,
or
breaking it down, etc., may help you realize that it’s not as hard as you
thought.