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November NCE pass rate down on last year

The number of reporters qualifying as seniors in the National Certificate Examination has increased since the summer despite some poor shorthand skills.

However the results were down by 10pc on last November, from 62pc to 52pc, but the number of entrants was up from 86 to 101.

The results published today saw 53 out of 101 candidates pass the November exam run by the National Council for the Training of Journalists with the overall pass rate rising from the previous sitting in July from 46pc to 52pc.

Chief examiner Steve Nelson said: “It was in the news report and news interview sections where the pass rate was lowest, and this was largely through factual errors. There was an improved pass rate in newspaper practice, while the logbook section produced an excellent selection of entries.

“It should be noted that the entry figure was the highest since July 2010, pointing to a trend among employers to recruit trainee journalists after the difficulties posed by the credit crunch.”

The results saw 53 of 88 candidates pass the news interview exam, a rate of 60pc and the pass rate news report exam increased slightly from 53pc in July to 60pc, with 58 of the 94 candidates successful.

Markers were disappointed by the number of factual errors which appeared in reports and it was also apparent that candidates had difficulty taking an accurate shorthand note.
 
The newspaper practice exam challenged reporters on the legal issues they face on a daily basis. The pass rate increased from 59pc in July 2011 to 70 per cent, with 60 candidates out of 86 successful.

One of the scenarios was about a couple who met through a suicide website and then decided to get married. Markers were looking for candidates to show sensitivity while also challenging the website.

In the logbook section there was another high pass rate of 98pc – with 62 out of the 63 candidates who submitted entries achieving success.

Those who passed the NCE were:

Beth Allcock Northwich Guardian
Christopher Ballinger Courier Newspapers
Daniel Bean The Press, York
John Birch Newark Advertiser
Catherine Bolado Dorset Echo
James Michael Brindle Burton Daily Mail
Laurey Buckland Newark Advertiser
Rachel Butler Derby Evening Telegraph
Jill Castle Kirkintilloch Herald
Paul Clifford Shields Gazette
Stephanie Cureton Wirral Globe
Simon Farr Bucks Free Press
David Ford Halifax Evening Courier
Tim Fletcher Burton Daily Mail
Sophie Flowers Maidenhead Advertiser
John Fuller West Cumberland Times & Star
Hayley Gallimore Nelson Leader
Andrew Gray Kent Messenger
Andrew Groves Harrogate Advertiser
Christopher Hewett Watford Observer
David Edward Higgs Hereford Journal
Alexander Homer Express & Star
Caroline Ivison West Cumberland Times & Star
Scott Kirk Westmorland Gazette
Laura Linham Mid Somerset Newspapers
Jasmin Claire McDermott Southend Evening Echo
Christopher Melvin Wiltshire Times
David Mercer Press Association
Will Metcalfe North West Evening Mail
Helen Morton Basingstoke Gazette
Simon Philip Moss Basingstoke Gazette
Omar Oakes Wimbledon Guardian
Sara Odeen-Isbister Barking & Dagenham Post
James Palmer Courier Newspapers
Kenny Paterson Berwickshire News
Helen Mary Perkins Westmorland Gazette
Suzanne Pike Grantham Journal
Paul Rogers Hereford Times
James Scott Kentish Express
Sophie Emily Scott Luton on Sunday
Sam Smith Brentwood Gazette
Jennifer Stanton Surrey Advertiser
Colin Strachan Wakefield Express
Elizabeth Sweetman Worcester News
Jack William Tappin Haverhill Echo
Andrew Turton Express & Star
Nicholas Wakefield Stroud News & Journal
Lindsay Watling Aberdeen Press & Journal
Matthew White Isle of Wight County Press
Benjamin Wilkinson Oxford Mail
Michael Wilkinson Wiltshire Times
Richard Wood Lowestoft Journal
Matthew Young Courier Newspapers