Scoring

Unlike traditional grading, Track and Sign Evaluations use a weighted scoring system that reflects the difficulty rating of the track or sign (spoor). The candidate is awarded one point for the correct interpretation of simple spoor, or three marks against for a mistake. Two points are awarded for the correct interpretation of complex spoor, or two marks against for a mistake. Three points are awarded for the correct interpretation of very complex spoor, or one point against for a mistake. The correct interpretation of three bonus questions, or extremely complex spoor, erases one mistake. The participant’s final score is a percentage calculated by dividing the total number of correct points by the sum of the correct and incorrect points.

Simple Questions: Clear, complete, typical, with no similar species: The margins of the sign are clear and distinct and the track or other sign is typical in every way: It is not exceptionally small (e.g. young animal), it is not abnormally large. There are no similar tracks or signs of other species.

Complex Questions: Unclear, incomplete, typical, (and/or) can be confused with a single other similar species: A simple track or other sign but with margins unclear or indistinct. Or the sign is slightly incomplete in its typical form. The sign is still typical in every way – It is not exceptionally small (e.g. young animal), it is not abnormally large.

Very Complex Questions: Obscure, partial, atypical, (and/or) can be confused with two or more similar species, or tracks of very small animals. A track or other sign that is very unclear and indistinct, or severely incomplete, yet still distinguishable (e.g. only claws showing in track). Or, a clear and distinct track or other sign from a small animal (chipmunk or smaller), a rare species in an area, or a species poorly covered in tracking resources.

Extremely Complex Questions These may be extremely incomplete or indistinct tracks or sign of common species, tracks or sign of rare species, or challenging bones, scats, nests, etc.

In the Trailing Evaluation, the tracker is awarded points from 0 to 10: Not Yet Competent (0 – 6 points); Fair (7 points); Good (8 points); Very Good (9 points); and Excellent (10 points,) in a number of applicable categories including the ability to see subtle tracks, predict animal movement, and move stealthily. The particpant’s total number of points scored are expressed as a percentage of 100. Depending on circumstances, some indicators may not be included in the test (and therefore not included in the score).

Levels (How it works)

The CyberTracker system serves as professional-grade training, but also identifies and celebrates existing high-level trackers. This means an individual with exceptional skill can achieve the highest award possible in the type of evaluations they participate in, even on their first evaluation.

Each branch of the Evaluation system has four possible levels:

Track & Sign levels I, II, III, Professional and Track & Sign Specialist 

Trailing levels I, II, III, Professional and Trailing Specialist.

Taken together, these evaluations reflect a tracker’s overall skill. Tracker certificates are awarded to participants who undergo both types of evaluations, and corresponds to the lowest level scored on either evaluation: Tracker levels I, II, III, Professional and Senior Tracker.

Scores and corresponding levels:
Level I: 70-79%
Level II: 80-89%
Level III: 90-99%
Professional 100%, on a Standard Evaluation
Specialist, 100% on a Specialist Evaluation with two evaluators, one of whom is an external evaluator
Senior Tracker 100% on both Track and Sign and Trailing Specialist Evaluations