Having to take psychometrics again (less than a year since passing!)

[DistrictDriver]

Bit of advice again please!
I passed psychometrics for FGW less than a year ago but they don't do the mechanical test which Northern insist on.
But instead of just inviting me to do the mechanical part, they want me to do the entire thing again!

My question is: is it legal to retake all these tests again when I only passed them within a year (but over 6 months). I'm dreading doing them all again in case I fail on something this time!

Just seems very pointless having to do everything again!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Daniel84]

Hi mate

The same sort of thing happened to me, albeit my circumstances were slightly different. However, it was explained to me that it is Northerns policy to ask that any external candidate to complete all tests, internals can just complete any missing parts provided the six months has passed. It seems that Northern are now staging the assessment as other TOCs do, so I wondered if their process would be different.

I know how you feel on worrying about a resit, I got through mine and I'm sure you will be fine.

Could there be a situation where for example you pass the first few tests including the mechanical, but fail say the reaction test, could you then not put all the results you have together leaving you with a complete set of passes as demanded by Northern, it is a strange one, but good luck.

 

[Vicpaul]

I had it with southern, they insisted I only had to sit GB test but when I attended I sat everything again

 

[W230]

My question is: is it legal to retake all these tests again when I only passed them within a year (but over 6 months). I'm dreading doing them all again in case I fail on something this time!

Do you mean legal or required? If Northern want you to take them and you want the job then I guess you'll have to take them. But pointless, yes.

The "6 month" timescale only comes into the picture if you fail the tests. As long as you pass them you could in effect go and take them every day!

When I had a pass at another TOC, Northern only required me to do the mechanical test but I guess things must have changed since last year. :?

 

[455driver]

My question is: is it legal to retake all these tests again when I only passed them within a year (but over 6 months).

Of course its legal, no company is under any obligation to accept a pass from another company (hence why paying to take the tests privately can be a waste of money.

I'm dreading doing them all again in case I fail on something this time!

So dont do them then, apply to companies that will accept your current pass without the mechanical part.

Just seems very pointless having to do everything again!
Thanks in advance!

Its their choice and they will have more than enough decent applicants to set whatever rules they want to, if you dont want to play by their rules, walk away.

 

[DistrictDriver]

Of course its legal, no company is under any obligation to accept a pass from another company (hence why paying to take the tests privately can be a waste of money)

455 driver, Maybe I phrased things wrong! I certainly have no problem with taking the tests again if that's what it takes!
What I meant by being legal, was basically making sure I wasn't breaking rules etc by retaking the tests so soon after taking them previously. Judging from previous answers though it seems I can take it every six months if needs be provided I keep passing of course!!

 

[455driver]

You can take the tests every day as long as you keep passing then (I wouldn't recommend it though), it's only when you fail a part of them you have to wait the 6 months.

The tests are changing soon anyway and apparently everyone gets 2 goes again so I am not sure if that is the reason and they want you to take the new tests.

 

[SkinnyDave]

455 driver, Maybe I phrased things wrong! I certainly have no problem with taking the tests again if that's what it takes!
What I meant by being legal, was basically making sure I wasn't breaking rules etc by retaking the tests so soon after taking them previously. Judging from previous answers though it seems I can take it every six months if needs be provided I keep passing of course!!

Did you have any borderline passes?

 

[Beveridges]

If you passed it before you should have no problem passing again, scores will only be up on last time, the thing to watch out for is the structured interview, its a bit of a con and they can fail you with any bull$hit excuse, a real money making con with the OPC/CCL.

 

[Daniel84]

You can take the tests every day as long as you keep passing then (I wouldn't recommend it though), it's only when you fail a part of them you have to wait the 6 months.

The tests are changing soon anyway and apparently everyone gets 2 goes again so I am not sure if that is the reason and they want you to take the new tests.

In my experience this was not the case, I had an assessment with DBS and passed the required elements well, I fell down on a non-standard DBS specific test and so could not continue. Although I clarified that this did not count as one of my fails and any future test would not be considered a retest, I was told I could not repeat any of elements I had taken in the last six months, as Northern required a full set I was unable to take the test again until the six months had passed.

Under the repeat tests section of the document, it advises "An applicant should not be tested again within six months" and does not mention the previous test being a pass or fail (although I suspect that they wouldn't expect a candidate who had passed the tests to resit). I'd be interested to hear of people who were able to resit the tests within the six months after sitting them, but it would be unusual for this to be required with previous passes unless in a situation as the OP.

As you say the tests are in the process of change anyway, so it won't matter too much in any case.

I think I managed to do worse on one particular part of the test as when I read my answers back, I misread the corresponding questions and answers and wondered how on earth I had arrived at my answer and began changing them, then with moments to spare realised I had the order correct the first time round, so spent a frantic last few seconds rectifying my answers again, nightmare.

 

[W230]

...the thing to watch out for is the structured interview, its a bit of a con and they can fail you with any bull$hit excuse, a real money making con with the OPC/CCL.

Bev, you're the second person to say this in recent posts. I'm confused as to why/how it's a money making con? It's certainly a part of the assessments which a lot of people seem to fail on, granted, but i'm not sure that it's a stich up?

Are OPC failing people when they shouldn't be (or that's the suggestion anyway)? :?