STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES - USC School of Architecture

9.1.4.4 The Glass System Category
This category was particularly challenging for both Groups, but especially for Group A. With
3 of the 5 questions in this category, Group A participants provided more incorrect
responses during the 2 nd test than in the 1 st test. The other two questions had the same
number of incorrect responses as the 1 st test. The questions are presented and discussed
below, primarily based upon the Group A results. The correct answer is highlighted in yellow.
Question 11
Point-fixed glass systems
provide optimum transparency.
require a spider fitting.
glass with drilled holes.
must have the points securely fixed to the glass with silicone.
I don’t know.
This question was answered incorrectly 36% and 60% of the time on the 1 st and 2 nd test
respectively by Group A, and 17% and 57% of the time on the 1 st and 2 nd test respectively by
Group B.
Group A: Three people changed their answer from “don’t know”, and all three selected the
same wrong answer; glass with drilled holes. It is entirely possible that none of these three
people had any idea what point-fixed glass systems are when taking the test the first time.
The topic was a prominent part of the learning program. The certainly knew about point-fixed
glass systems by the 2 nd test, but what they knew was unclear. The answer they selected
was not a bad choice, it just was not the best. Most of the point-fixed systems included in the
program were in fact of the drilled type. They were however, presented with point-fixed
clamping type systems that do not require drilled holes. One of these participants wrote the
word “sometimes” after this answer, which properly qualifies it but still neglects the best and
correct response.
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