In the not so dim and distant, new member of staff would be asked if they have anything they are interested in, given a book and asked to start to teach the subject in a few weeks. Before this gets decried I have probably known many like this and those eager to decry the idea, will have been instructed in all things by people like this. It is part and parcel of volunteering.
This worked for God knows how long as the books had all the things the cadets might be asked and quick look at the last 3 or 4 past papers gave an idea of the questions and areas that might need some attention.
The exams didn’t and still don’t expect any real knowledge or understanding to answer questions in an essay or short form.
Some bright spark decided to not have books anymore and have a purely online system, with poor resources and even poorer exam system, that the new member of staff couldn’t access immediately.
Even under the old exam style 3 attempts was the most as the number of questions was severely limited. IF a cadet took more than one resit you’d be wondering about them.
I seem to recall a document with a lot of different questions and answer styles when the new system was adopted, as the old question database was on a rickety old system that was a problem to print the papers and the questions couldn’t be used on another system. But the questions now are largely the same as I remember in exams as a cadet. The only reasons the old system was got rid of was cost
As to whether it’s fit for purpose who cares? It’s easy to do as you only really need to do minimal instruction as the exams are rubbish and only really test the patience of cadets as they have to go through umpteen mouse clicks to answer one question.
The PTS system seems to need a more knowledgeable member of staff, which means longer for new off the street staff to feel they are properly contributing and may have to go on courses, which is not good for retention or recruitment, if they have a mate who could be a potential and tell them about the system to become staff and do things.