Suggestions/Tips for Taking the GOE
What can the Candidate do to prepare?
- Cramming before the GOE is not helpful. A person who has read, marked, learned, and inwardly digested his or her studies during the previous 2½ years should do well. Life experiences, years of theological study and clinical training are themselves preparation. Come rested. Plan to be free of other responsibilities during the exam. Have books, notes and other resources organized and at hand when answering questions that allow "Open Resources." Review previous GOEs and practice responding to some of their questions. Over the last decade, about 2/3 of those who have taken the exam have written good papers (shown proficiency in 6 or 7 areas), about ¼ have written fair papers (shown proficiency in 3, 4, or 5 areas), and about 1/10 have written poor papers (shown proficiency in 0, 1, or 2 areas).
What are some pointers for answering GOE questions?
- Use language precisely and correctly. If English is not the Candidate's primary language, he or she should state that fact at the outset of the GOE. Proficiency in the canonical areas includes the ability to communicate ideas clearly and accurately. Check spelling and grammar through a word processor, but do not rely on it and check them yourself as well. Essay questions ask for biblical, theological or historical information and/or present is¬sues and life situations to which the Candidate is asked to respond in various ways. Read and reread and understand the question. Take time to think carefully about the answer (perhaps even briefly outlining it) before beginning to write. Answer the question asked rather than the question you wish had been asked. How you do this; how you perceive the issues in¬volved; how aware you are of the available resources; and what criteria you apply – all of these will determine the quality of the response. Personal witness is welcome and is sometimes requested, but it is not a substitute for a solid answer. Many questions have more than one part and the answer should speak clearly and directly to all parts of the question and should follow the structure of the question. Be sure to note the varied dimensions of the questions. Some questions may require a pastoral awareness of the people to whom the answers are addressed. The stated page limits are an important part of the questions and answers should not be overly brief or overly long. Do not recycle former work of dubious relevance to the question at hand, and do not overdo quotations.
Do answers require citations or references?
- Absolutely! Citations are an important component of any academic paper. Be sure to cite all sources, including theological, ethical and historical dictionaries and class notes (may say parenthetically "Class Notes"). Put direct quotations of more than five words within quotation marks. Quotes from the Internet must include the website reference. Credit the source of any quotations or close paraphrases in parentheses or by footnote. The GBEC may check GOE answers with antiplagiarism software and plagiarism detection sites both to insure originality of work and adherence to any restrictions about using electronic or Internet resources. The GBEC always calls to the attention of a Candidate and his or her bishop and Commission on Ministry instances of the use unattributed of work (plagiarism) or unauthorized use of resources in answering Limited Resources or No External Resources questions.