The number of students taking shorthand exams through the National Council for the Training of Journalists has risen for the third year in a row.

Figures published yesterday show the number sitting the exam this year rose by 8pc while the pass rate also went up.

The news comes at the start of Shorthand Week, a week of events celebrating shorthand which takes place from today until next Monday and includes the launch of a new textbook.

The NCTJ’s figures show there were 4,424 NCTJ shorthand exam sittings at speeds of 60-120wpm during the 2008/9 academic year, 321 more than in 2007/08.

The shorthand exam pass rate also rose this year to 51pc, up from the 47pc achieved the previous year.

Marie Cartwright, NCTJ shorthand chief examiner and chairman of the NCTJ shorthand board, said: “The number of students taking and passing exams, at all speeds, has increased this year compared with last year.

“Shorthand remains a vital skill for a journalist and even though it can be challenging for some learners to achieve the NCTJ’s gold standard of 100wpm, the time and effort spent is well worth it.”

Marie’s new textbook, NCTJ Teeline Gold Standard for Journalists has been published by Pearson and will be launched at the Society of Editors’ conference next Monday.

Comments

Cleland Thom (10/11/2009 12:10:17)
see my blog post at http://www.ctjt.biz/blog/daily_journal/0/shorthand.html