Why isn the pass rate for the interpreter examination as high as other professional examinations, such as the California State Bar exam?
The California State Bar exam has built-in prerequisites that essentially prepare and prescreen applicants before they take the exam. Court interpreter examinations require no such screening or preparation process or prerequisite. Also, unlike the court interpreters exam, most professional examinations test knowledge and not ability. The State Bar exam is heavily weighted towards knowledge and reasoning and much less on innate ability. Bilingual individuals may be fluent in English and another language and even have a strong command of legal terminology. The development of effective screening tests and prerequisites will be examined in the future, which could help increase the pass rate.
