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Southern (GTR) - Trainee Train Driver (Future vacancies) - Various depots (02/06/23)

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Sly Sloth

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Just got my email from Southern confirming I have passed the SJT and will be contacted by OPC for SCAAT test shortly.

I already hold passes to enhanced standard with OPC. I'm wondering if I pull out now, as I don't want to jeopardise my passes.

Thoughts?
If you’ve passed something then you wouldn’t need to sit it again. GTR do some tests others don’t include which you’d have to do on the assessment day and the pre MMI questions
 
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Chrysalis

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I, too, have been invited to do the SCAAT test!

I'm a little nervous. How difficult is the SCAAT test compared to group Bourdon? If you fail, does it count as one of your two lives gone?
 

Mattydo

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I, too, have been invited to do the SCAAT test!

I'm a little nervous. How difficult is the SCAAT test compared to group Bourdon? If you fail, does it count as one of your two lives gone?

To be honest I think the SCAAT is a little easier just purely because the shapes are more structured than GB, that said the GB in person isn't as bad as the practice test. The trick is differentiating the similar shapes and not rushing and making mistakes (the practice materials use Capitals and lower case V's for example.

Clarify with OPC how a failure might look but I believe the "2 strike system" is on each test. I didn't do a SCAAT test as part of my driver application it was for a shunter role for example.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Do GTR do CBI?
No MMI
 

Class2ldn

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The 2 strikes is over the whole set of tests, if you fail any of them that is 1 whole life gone, you may come back and do them a 2nd time and pass the one you failed but fail another test you haven't done and that would be the 2 lives gone
 

Mattydo

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The 2 strikes is over the whole set of tests, if you fail any of them that is 1 whole life gone, you may come back and do them a 2nd time and pass the one you failed but fail another test you haven't done and that would be the 2 lives gone
Sorry my point is on the "extra" tests as opposed to the national standard ones. I don't believe a VSE/SCAAT etc. failure has any bearing on your ability to sit the usual ones. Appolgies for lack of clarity.
 

Chrysalis

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To be honest I think the SCAAT is a little easier just purely because the shapes are more structured than GB, that said the GB in person isn't as bad as the practice test. The trick is differentiating the similar shapes and not rushing and making mistakes (the practice materials use Capitals and lower case V's for example.

Clarify with OPC how a failure might look but I believe the "2 strike system" is on each test. I didn't do a SCAAT test as part of my driver application it was for a shunter role for example.

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No MMI
Ok, thanks. Do you know what the difference is between SCAAT and mini SCAAT? SCAAT is apparently more long term focusing whilst mini scaat was designer for shorter bursts of intense concentration, but how does this impact what the tests actually look like?
 

Mattydo

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Ok, thanks. Do you know what the difference is between SCAAT and mini SCAAT? SCAAT is apparently more long term focusing whilst mini scaat was designer for shorter bursts of intense concentration, but how does this impact what the tests actually look like?
I'm afraid its been a long time so I am not sure I can remember. There is a GB tool on this forum and I'm fairly sure it also will produce SCAAT tests too.
 

Dispatcherr

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Does anyone know the actual pass marks required for each computerized tests? (In regards to the Stage 2 assessment day)
 

Chrysalis

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I'm afraid its been a long time so I am not sure I can remember. There is a GB tool on this forum and I'm fairly sure it also will produce SCAAT tests too.
Thanks, I forgot about that tool!

I have one last question (for now). Maybe I'm over thinking things, but how does the screen size affect things? I have the choice to either to do test on a small 13 inch laptop or a massive 42 inch screen. Is the sheet with the letters the same size no matter what?
 

Mattydo

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If you can print them out I'd say that will be best as it's a very different task I find. Paper if I'm honest feels easier. Lack of screen glare etc. A4 sizes sheets for the right effect.

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Does anyone know the actual pass marks required for each computerized tests? (In regards to the Stage 2 assessment day)
None but the OPC or company invigilator I'm afraid. Accuracy and a calm approach are your friends. For example if you go out the lines in the hand eye it's about getting back in track (excuse the pun) and avoiding more mistakes. Don't prioritise getting from start to finish super quickly. That kind of mindset works well for every test. Concentrate and be accurate.
 

Chrysalis

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If you can print them out I'd say that will be best as it's a very different task I find. Paper if I'm honest feels easier. Lack of screen glare etc. A4 sizes sheets for the right effect.

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I was sent a link to the test, so the real test will actually be on a screen. I agree that paper feels better, but unfortunate that's not a choice.
 

Dispatcherr

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If you can print them out I'd say that will be best as it's a very different task I find. Paper if I'm honest feels easier. Lack of screen glare etc. A4 sizes sheets for the right effect.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


None but the OPC or company invigilator I'm afraid. Accuracy and a calm approach are your friends. For example if you go out the lines in the hand eye it's about getting back in track (excuse the pun) and avoiding more mistakes. Don't prioritise getting from start to finish super quickly. That kind of mindset works well for every test. Concentrate and be accurate.
No worries. When doing the Photo memory how long did you get to select what you seen before next photo appeared ? I'm told the practice you can buy online (Which i bought) are a bit harder than the ones you do on the actual day.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

I was sent a link to the test, so the real test will actually be on a screen. I agree that paper feels better, but unfortunate that's not a choice.
How did you get on with it ?
 

nithen

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The tests you do online, at home do not count towards your lives. Because what if you got a family member to try and pass it for you. Only tests taken in person have any bearing on your 2 life's.
 

Mattydo

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The test in person arena little easier I think. The pictures are just of better quality. You have more time than you need to select what you saw (I'm not entirely sure if it's even limited). Just don't guess. Put what you definitely saw.
 

Davo2020

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No worries. When doing the Photo memory how long did you get to select what you seen before next photo appeared ? I'm told the practice you can buy online (Which i bought) are a bit harder than the ones you do on the actual day.
May I ask where you bought the tests from? Thank you in advance and good luck :)
 

Chrysalis

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Does anyone know if the real test is with letters, numbers or symbols? The free practice test on OPC's website uses letters, but the tool available on this website uses symbols, and some people mention tests using numbers...

I want to open the link I was given so that I can read the instructions (and maybe access practice material if there's any), but I worry that the test will start once I log in using the code I was given.
 

Tb12

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Just got my email from Southern confirming I have passed the SJT and will be contacted by OPC for SCAAT test shortly.

I already hold passes to enhanced standard with OPC. I'm wondering if I pull out now, as I don't want to jeopardise my passes.

Thoughts?
An enhanced pass for one TOC ie not necessarily a enhanced level for another. A common mistake I have seen on here. A TOC could ask you to sit the DFFT and your pass will be considered enhanced as not every TOC uses it. However you may have only passed some of the tests to national level.
 

Sly Sloth

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The 2 strikes is over the whole set of tests, if you fail any of them that is 1 whole life gone, you may come back and do them a 2nd time and pass the one you failed but fail another test you haven't done and that would be the 2 lives gone
This is incorrect. you can fail every test once but a second fail on the same test means you could no longer be considered…..until they alter the tests/add in something new and if that happens you can start again with fresh lives
 

Class2ldn

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No its not, you fail any test of the process and thats 1 strike, fail any of the tests again and your out. I'm talking about the proper opc tests not the ones they make you do at home otherwise you could go on failing over and again just because it's a different test. Its 2 strikes and your out.
 

nithen

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No its not, you fail any test of the process and thats 1 strike, fail any of the tests again and your out. I'm talking about the proper opc tests not the ones they make you do at home otherwise you could go on failing over and again just because it's a different test. Its 2 strikes and your out.
Yeah. So if you pass every test apart from from 2 hand coordination, you would have to do only the 2 hand coordination test again, but if you fail it again, you're out of the running altogether
 

Class2ldn

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Yeah, you can pass as many times as you like but say you failed the gb test one day and it was the first test for example, you'd be sent home and thats one life, then say you attempted again at another date, passed all the written and computer tests and failed the mmi for example, that would be your 2nd fail and that would be you out the running, you only get unlimited attempts if you pass them in which case you'd unlikely be doing them again anyway.
Some companies do make you take the tests again even if you've passed and this would overwrite any previous attempts so if you passed the tests the first time and failed on the 2nd you'd have no passes and lose 1 life at the tests.
 

Sly Sloth

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No its not, you fail any test of the process and thats 1 strike, fail any of the tests again and your out. I'm talking about the proper opc tests not the ones they make you do at home otherwise you could go on failing over and again just because it's a different test. Its 2 strikes and your out.
Once again this is incorrect. I know of a few drivers that have taken these tests and failed single elements but not twice!
 

Tb12

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Once again this is incorrect. I know of a few drivers that have taken these tests and failed single elements but not twice!
Remember someone failing may not mean losing a life. You may be asked to redo elements of the assessment to reach an enhanced level and fail to hit that pass mark. However if you still achieved the RSSB national level you do not lose a life. You would just lose a life with the TOC you did the assessment for. Most TOCs with enhanced level requirements seem to only give you 2 tries at it despite the fact you will technically still not have lost your 2 lives.
 
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Once again this is incorrect. I know of a few drivers that have taken these tests and failed single elements but not twice!

I agree with you here, I sat the assessment day with a person who failed certain tests which they had to retake on the day, for all the tests they passed they just had to wait outside whilst the rest of us did them.

The first 'half' of the day consisted of somewhere between 4-6 tests, they definitely werent marked after each test as we went straight onto the next.

Our instructor told us that the only way you are getting sent home halfway through the day is if its very very clear you will never make it through the training or you have attitude issues.

I was also given the impression from the instructor that the tests add up to an average that needs to be over a certain number to pass the 'day'.

I may be wrong but the instructor I thought made it pretty clear to us on the day.
 

baz962

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I agree with you here, I sat the assessment day with a person who failed certain tests which they had to retake on the day, for all the tests they passed they just had to wait outside whilst the rest of us did them.

The first 'half' of the day consisted of somewhere between 4-6 tests, they definitely werent marked after each test as we went straight onto the next.

Our instructor told us that the only way you are getting sent home halfway through the day is if its very very clear you will never make it through the training or you have attitude issues.
On my day with gtr we did three tests and a break and then the rest .During the break the OPC marked the first three tests. Half the room got sent home, 9 iirc and the other 9 did the other tests. 7 of us got invites and dates for stage two and 2 didn't as they didn't pass the dfft.
 

Class2ldn

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Once again this is incorrect. I know of a few drivers that have taken these tests and failed single elements but not twice!
You cant fail any elements more then twice that is the point. You can fail individual elements yes but you can't fail any element of the process more then twice. I remember failing the first time I did mine and was specifically told I had 1 more attempt at the tests and that was it, been driving over 15 years now so I've been through the process.
Yes the tests got reset and changed but the element of 2 attempts has never changed. If since the tests changed you have failed any part of the process of psychometric testing twice you are ineligible to apply again and do the tests. Telling people they can fail one element of the test once is correct but if you fail any of the other parts on your 2nd attempt then its game over. If you failed one test then came back and attempted the tests again and passed that but then went on to fail another element then you don't keep getting another attempt to pass that specific test otherwise people could just keep failing one test each time, apply again and pass it and then fail another one etc until they passed them all, thats not how it works. Its 2 FAILS of any part of the process , you can take the tests as many times as you like if you pass them.
 
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