Scene to read · Problem solving, Professionalism
An odd number
You are the organizer of a community chess tournament.
Entries locked last night so that pairings could be set in advance, and with an odd number of players, someone sits out each round. In the tournament hall, minutes before round one, Hala, 62, who did not register, has walked in. Dorothy, the volunteer arbiter who runs the pairings, is with you.
The scene
Hala: My neighbor told me this morning. I took two buses. Any room?
Dorothy: We do have an odd number. But re-pairing takes twenty minutes I don't have.
Hala: I'd play anyone. I'd even just fill the empty chair.
Dorothy: We lose the hall at five, and last year we never finished. In or out?
The two questions
- 1What would you decide, and what would you say to Hala and Dorothy?
- 2When an exception would help the person asking, how do you weigh it against the people who followed the rule?
What raters look for
- Problem solving
- Gathers facts before acting, considers options and consequences, and chooses a workable next step.
- Professionalism
- Is reliable, respects boundaries and confidentiality, and holds a consistent standard under pressure.
Answer scenarios like this on the real timers
Answer both questions on the clock, and get each one scored 1–9 the way raters score. Your first set is free, no card.
Practice free
