Jack's work suggests that there was a lack of consistency in the teaching material across the dioceses and minimal thought about curriculum development during the period up to middle of the nineteen-seventies. This can be verified because the national examinations, which were introduced in 1948, were clearly an optional requirement based on the diocese and the candidate . In addition the method of preparation varied enormously. In a parish in Southwark diocese in 1968 one Reader was admitted without taking the exams because he was a PhD research scientist whereas a civil servant, who was required to attend formal evening lectures and take the exams, suggested that the easiest way for him to become a Reader was to move to another part of the country. However the comment was unsound because some dioceses required additional training before licensing if they were sceptical of another dioceses training standards. A further example of inadequate training in 1971 is a candidate from the diocese of Guildford who only received one tutorial and was advised to choose and read one book on each of the four examination areas before taking the Readers' examination.