SWRI Tests Procedure for Housewives Proficiency Tests

Housewives Guild Secretaries of the Federations in which Area Tests are scheduled are notified at least 6 months in advance, indicating that closing dates for the receipt of Test Entry Forms - 1st March for Autumn Tests and 1st October for Spring Tests.

The Schedule and Application Form is available from Headquarters but members must return a completed form to their Federation Housewives Guild Secretary with the correct fee, £5.00 per test.

The Guild Secretary is responsible for forwarding these to Headquarters by the closing date.

Once applications have been received a draft Itinerary is drawn up in consultation with the judge. Guild Secretaries for the Federations concerned are asked to confirm suggested dates.

Once the final programme is set Guild Secretaries will be informed and issued with the candidates labels etc.

Tests in all areas are judged by the same National Judge so that there is consistency in marking, and when the adjudication is completed, members are always invited to meet the judge, who, as well as giving an overall criticism of the items entered in the tests, will talk to each member individually and suggest ways of improving a test submission or offer advice as to which test to try next.

Judges Tests
Provided there are sufficient members interested in Judges Tests (a minimum of 4 candidates) they will be held on the day before Proficiency Tests in your area. The necessary qualifications are four First Class passes (two of which must be Preserving and Baking) or one Honours and two First Class passes (again two of which must be Preserving and Baking) For these tests candidates require to judge three sections from the Schedule namely, Preserving, Baking and Cold Meal.

Floral Art Tests
These annual tests are held in the North and the South on alternate years.

Garden Produce Tests
These are held every second year.

Housewives Committee Proficiency Test Schedule and Hints and Guidelines is available from HQ.