BRITISH INSTITUTE OF GRAPHOLOGISTS
Examinations

Introduction

The qualifying examination for Full Membership of the British Institute of Graphologists will be in three parts:

Part 1 (A and B) Basic Principles of Graphology [more details]
Part 2 (A and B) Psychological Theories of Personality as applied to Graphology [more details]
Part 3 (A and B) Applied Graphology [more details]

The three parts may be taken in sequence normally over a minimum of three years. A longer period of time (more than one year) may elapse between individual parts.

It is intended to offer part 'B' of each examination once a year, initially in London. Arrangements may be made for overseas' students to take this examination in their own country. Part 'A' of each examination, undertaken at home, must be completed without assistance from other people. The candidate will be required to sign a statement to that effect, and any breach of this condition will result in the dismissal from the Institute.

Entry Requirements

Entry is only available to fully paid-up Student and Affiliate Members of the Institute.

It is the responsibility of the candidate and/or the candidate's tutor to assess that he has reached a satisfactory level of ability before entry.

All candidates will be asked to present their work in a similar format. It is necessary to have some conformity of approach and standard based on common requirements so that when marking papers a fair judgement and comparison of standard may be made.

IT IS THE QUALITY AND ACCURACY OF THE END RESULT THAT IS IMPORTANT, though this should be achieved in an organised and systematic way.

Results

Candidates will normally be required to pass all 3 parts of the exams before being entitled to full membership and to use the letters MBIG (Dip). In certain cases, exemption from taking parts 2A and 2B and/or 1A and 1B may be granted, at the discretion of the examiners, to someone who has already completed an equivalent course of study in graphology or holds a qualification that is recognised by the Institute. For more information about exam exemption please contact the Education officer.
A Diploma Certificate will be awarded on satisfactory completion of the examination.

PART 1 - BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GRAPHOLOGY

The Part 1 examination will be in two sections.
It is intended that the emphasis should be on eye-training, not psychology at this stage.

SECTION 1A
The candidates will be sent copies of two samples of handwriting and will be allowed one month to assess the following:-
1. Speed
2. Regularity
3. Form Level
4. Dominant Movements
5. Secondary Movements
6. Miscellaneous Movements
The candidates will be expected to record fully (in ink) their observations of the movements with a high degree of accuracy, placing them under the correct heading and in order of hierarchy on the answer sheet. 
The candidates will then be required to prepare and type a Brief Portrait from each sample, in clear and simple language, approximately 500-700 words long.

The format of the Character Portrait to be under the following six main categories:- General Vitality and Wellbeing, Personality Structure, Social Attitudes and Reactive Behaviour, Intellectual Qualities, Working Qualities, Interests and Personal Tastes.

The candidates will be required to submit their working notes with each report. These should be set out in clear and concise format which facilitates the construction of the brief portrait and assists the examiner in assessing the ability of each candidate to relate interpretations to graphical traits.

SECTION 1B*
This is to be a practical examination under examination conditions held in London for the duration of 3 hours. Candidates will be supplied with a photocopy of a sample of handwriting, the original being available for inspection any time during the examination. The candidates will be required to assess the following:-

1. Speed
2. Regularity
3. Form Level
4. Dominant Movements
5. Secondary Movements
6. Miscellaneous Movements

The candidates will be expected to record fully (in ink) their observations of the movements with a high degree of accuracy, placing them under the correct heading and in order of hierarchy on the answer sheet. 

The candidates will then be required to produce, in the form of working notes, set out as defined above, interpretations of the movements they have observed.

The candidates must use the worksheets supplied. All working notes must be submitted on completion of the examination. Every candidate will be allowed to take TWO items for reference into the examination room; these may be in the form of books and/or reference material in a file etc. These items must be declared to the invigilator before the commencement of the examination, and be approved by him.

*OVERSEAS STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS AND TAKE THE 'B' PART OF THE EXAMINATION IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE.

PART 2 - PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF PERSONALITY AS APPLIED TO GRAPHOLOGY

The Part 2 examination will be in two sections.

SECTION 2A
The candidates will be sent copies of two samples of handwriting from which they must
produce two in-depth reports of 1,500-2,000 words each, typed.
They will be prepared by the candidate at home These will be prepared at home, over a period of approximately six weeks, and then submitted for assessment. 
As they are to be to a professional standard, they may be typed commercially.

SECTION 2B*
This is a written paper under examination conditions held in London for a duration of 3 hours.
Questions will include the application Theories of Freud, Jung, Maslow, Fromm and Adler.
The use of reference material of any sort will not be allowed in this examination.

*OVERSEAS STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS AND TAKE THE 'B' PART OF THE EXAMINATION IN THEIR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE.

PART 3 - APPLIED GRAPHOLOGY
The Part 3 examination will be in two sections.

SECTION 3A
Candidates will be required to be fully conversant with the following four areas of specialisation:-
1. Personnel Management
2. Partnershps/Human Relationships
3. Vocational Appraisal
4. Human Development (Childhood and Adolescence)
For the examination, the examiners will select three out of the four areas above and require candidates to prepare appropriate reports for each. These will be prepared at home, over a period of approximately six weeks.
As they are to be to a professional standard, they may be typed commercially.


SECTION 3B *
A written paper under examination conditions held in London with a maximum duration of 3 hours. Questions will cover all four areas of specialisation.
The use of reference material of any sort will not be allowed in this examination.

*OVERSEAS STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS AND TAKE THE 'B' PART OF THE EXAMINATION IN THEIR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE.

EXAM VENUE

The Part B examinations are currently held once a year at The Soroptimist Residential Club, 63 Bayswater Road, London W2 3PH, usually in September.  Arrangements can be made for overseas students to sit this part of the exam in their own country. Please contact the Exam Administration Officer, Anne Cummings (annecummings@ccac21.plus.com) for details of arrangements.

The British Institute of Graphologists

EXAMINATION DATES AND APPLICATION FORM (2010)

Click here to download the exam dates plus an application form.
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Further information can be obtained from 
Ruth Rostron
Education Officer

Tel: 0161 431 5517