Assessments & Medicals discussion

[Sweets795]

@Sweets795 - One of the other forum members (@klkl) created this tool which I found useful . You can print out the sheets which, horizontally, are very similar to the format of the actual test.

GroupBourdon by klkl -p5.js Web Editor

A web editor for p5.js, a JavaScript library with the goal of making coding accessible to artists, designers, educators, and beginners.

editor.p5js.org

You type R to refresh and P to print. I'd recommend changing the numbers shown in the code on line 122 to 2,6 as this then correctly displays dot formations of between 3 and 6 dots.

Yes, I saw it a few days ago and have been using it to practice. I will stick with these ones given your advice. Thank you.
Thanks also for the code tip, I will amend.

 

[Brickz]

They are done on carbon type paper 3 sheets thick if I remember correctly. 3 pages in total, 1st is on page 1, 2nd & 3rd on page 2 and 4th & 5th on page 3
I've got about 8 of them saved onto a pdf that are from the programme thats pinned on here I will try upload it later as its on my computer.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Feb 2026 ==

They are A4 size so you can just spin it upside down and use it twice so the 8 sheets become 16 different. 2 minutes per sheet same as the real test your likely to only get to around line 10/11. Each sheet is a different download of the dots from the programme so are different from eachother (I merged them all into 1 pdf to speed up printing them)

 

[Sweets795]

They are done on carbon type paper 3 sheets thick if I remember correctly. 3 pages in total, 1st is on page 1, 2nd & 3rd on page 2 and 4th & 5th on page 3
I've got about 8 of them saved onto a pdf that are from the programme thats pinned on here I will try upload it later as its on my computer.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Feb 2026 ==

They are A4 size so you can just spin it upside down and use it twice so the 8 sheets become 16 different. 2 minutes per sheet same as the real test your likely to only get to around line 10/11. Each sheet is a different download of the dots from the programme so are different from eachother (I merged them all into 1 pdf to speed up printing them)

That is super helpful. Thank you very much.

 

[Harjam11]

For the Trainability of everyday attention, what does this test involve? Do you have to count sounds and symbols, or do you circle/mark the symbols whilst counting the tones

 

[juspassingby]

Due to start 27th of april. Hard but think knowing Manchester well I could make out a lot of the stations

I was referring to the hearing test at the medical, I'm guessing you've not had an appointment yet? You'll be sent a pre medical form to fill out, keep an eye on your junk mails (mine went there). If I recall correctly, it from a company called Optima.
Once you've filled in the forms, you'll get a call to book you in for a medical.

If you told them your notice period is 1 month or more then they usually process it quick, otherwise they can be pretty slow.

 

[Madisuperstar]

The Hogan online test is one of those where you have 4 options. strongly disagree, disagree, agree, strongly agree. And you choose 1.

From memory the question was "Skydiving is something I'm very interested in" I put "Agree" since I am interested, since I have done one (Quick unpaid plug for Go Skydive in Salisbury. ) But not strongly agree since I won't do another.

It was not mentioned at all in my DMI. I was surprised they asked me to do the Hogan test at all when nothing was mentioned in the DMI. But then some of the questions in the DMI seemed more like the MMI questions. But I guess thinking on your feet is to be expected as part of the selection process. So I'm not complaining

@madisuperstar, I will help if I know the answers. Feel free

How long you waited for DMI date after your second stage and MMI

 

[hawkster26]

For the Trainability of everyday attention, what does this test involve? Do you have to count sounds and symbols, or do you circle/mark the symbols whilst counting the tones

The test I did that you are referring to I did 2 weeks ago the sounds I was told that I was in a lift and the control panel didn’t work. Every low tone I heard was the lift going up. They played 10 different sound clips of low and high tones I just had to count the low tones and write down what floor level I would have been on. Then I had to search through a telephone directory and just circle matching symbols I had 45 seconds to do this then I had to listen and count low tones whilst going through circling matching symbols.

 

[NeutralSection]

Anyone who has recently taken the WAFV test… what did you see?

Some posts I read it was a solid grey square that turned black, others I read flashing grey square and a black square, flashing light grey turning to dark grey? Is it a small square, a big square… on a white background?

Just curious to know if it differs?

 

[BigEasy]

Anyone who has recently taken the WAFV test… what did you see?

Some posts I read it was a solid grey square that turned black, others I read flashing grey square and a black square, flashing light grey turning to dark grey? Is it a small square, a big square… on a white background?

Just curious to know if it differs?

It's a grey square that flashes on and off, occasionally it turns black. It is about 20-25mm square and is on a white background. Occasionally it can seem like the square is getting lighter or darker - but I believe this is just an optical illusion. When it turns black it is very obviously black.

 

[Brickz]

Anyone who has recently taken the WAFV test… what did you see?

Some posts I read it was a solid grey square that turned black, others I read flashing grey square and a black square, flashing light grey turning to dark grey? Is it a small square, a big square… on a white background?

Just curious to know if it differs?

Its just one shade of grey that changes to black randomly, the colour difference from the grey to black are easily noticeable.

 

[NeutralSection]

@BigEasy @Brickz thanks for clarifying this. Does the grey square flash consistently at the same pace or is it random? Same with the black square does its time on screen match the sequencing of the flashing grey square?

 

[Brickz]

@BigEasy @Brickz thanks for clarifying this. Does the grey square flash consistently at the same pace or is it random? Same with the black square does its time on screen match the sequencing of the flashing grey square?

It stays solid grey untill it changes to black then soon as you click it will change back to grey I would assume if you don’t click at all then it would change back at some point but the idea of this test is reaction time so soon as you see the change click the button. Its a boring test but thats the idea of it to see if you remain focused even when staring at same thing for a while.

 

[NeutralSection]

It stays solid grey untill it changes to black then soon as you click it will change back to grey I would assume if you don’t click at all then it would change back at some point but the idea of this test is reaction time so soon as you see the change click the button. Its a boring test but thats the idea of it to see if you remain focused even when staring at same thing for a while.

So does the grey square flash on and off before the black square or not?

 

[WillPlym]

So does the grey square flash on and off before the black square or not?

Yes.

If you head to the rail prep website you can buy practice materials which has a program you can use to practice it.

 

[NeutralSection]

Yes.

If you head to the rail prep website you can buy practice materials which has a program you can use to practice it.

Thanks - yes this is what I have been looking at as practise! I just couldn’t seem to find an accurate description for comparison on what you are actually presented with in the test.

 

[Harjam11]

The test I did that you are referring to I did 2 weeks ago the sounds I was told that I was in a lift and the control panel didn’t work. Every low tone I heard was the lift going up. They played 10 different sound clips of low and high tones I just had to count the low tones and write down what floor level I would have been on. Then I had to search through a telephone directory and just circle matching symbols I had 45 seconds to do this then I had to listen and count low tones whilst going through circling matching symbols.

Thanks mate. What TOC was this with please and was it OPC

 

[Madisuperstar]

Hi all,
Just registered as I really wanted to say Thanks for this thread. I've read so much on the process. I think it helped a lot!

That said, I recently failed my application for GT Railways for Trainee Driver with Southern. Such is life.

Applied well over a year ago. The process is not fast!

Did the psychometric online test. Where you are given a set of scenarios and have to choose what is the best and worst option from the 4. Evidently passed that as was called to the assessment centre in Croydon. I found this challenging if I'm honest. In some examples, I wouldn't have done any of the options. But I guess that's the point.

Dot Test, fault finding, restaurant and tradesman lists with the right symbols. Reading and retaining info (mine was about the control panel for the train) beeping lift floors etc. The 30 minute attention test where the flashing black box goes grey briefly. And the photos that flash up briefly and you have to remember if there were cars, bikes or pedestrians in the pic. I remembered the key points. Accuracy over speed on the DOTs. When he says put your pencil down do it. Immediately! Dont even think about doing that extra answer. (He made one applicant cross it out!) Also pay attention when the examiner says what pages to write your name on. I think that's deliberate sometimes he'll say "name and date" sometimes neither. Means you're paying attention!

Got through that

Then was asked to complete a Hogan personality test. Wasn't expecting it. But was told that my responses in that would come up in my upcoming Driver Manager Interview. I did wonder about some of the questions. But I guess there's a point to them. Made me laugh that it asked me a question about skydiving. I suppose the idea is they dont want daredevils who would put the train and passengers in danger. But I have done a skydive some years ago. (probably wont do it again) But that doesn't mean I just ignore the rules of my job cause I once did a fairly risky thing for fun.

Went to the DMI, nothing from the Hogan test was mentioned. And some of the questions reminded me of what people said I'd experience in the Multi Modal Interview.

I thought the DMI interview went OK.

We talked about the role. The fact there was a real shortage of drivers coming down the line as many were reaching retirement. Some of the ups and downs (including people standing in front of trains) I mentioned a couple friends who had retrained to drivers at my age. I gave a couple examples of times I've given good customer service in my job, times I've taken control of a situation at work. Again they seemed to like the 2 examples as one had a bit of a twist in the tale which made them both laugh in amazement.

I felt the 2 staff liked me, they showed me a sample rota. And also the pay scales. The overtime opportunities and what some of the drivers were getting pay wise with a bit of overtime. Also mentioned the £100k of training they would put into the successful applicants. (And the fact that if I got that far, there is NO leave/time off allowed in the first 5 months) With hindsight I'm surprised they bothered with the rota and pay scales. I knew I would be taking a pay cut from my current job whilst retraining.

I'll admit as that was after all the questions and scenarios, that it made me relax a bit and think maybe I'd done enough to demonstrate I was a good candidate.

I came away thinking might have made it to the next stage. Thinking back a few hours later, I wasn't sure I'd given a good enough answer to a question or 2. And with hindsight I would have had better ones. I spoke to my retired father who is ex another TOC and he suggested an alternative which might have worked a bit better. But I was still feeling 60/40 that I'd done enough to get to the MMI. Which I expected to be REALLY tough.

24hrs later I got the email saying "wont be progressing your application... you can reapply in 6 months"

I replied saying that the DMI staff had said there would be feedback available afterwards and could I have that please? But the contact email I had for GTR has not replied or supplied anything to date.

Again, thanks to all the contributors on this thread. It may not have led to anything, but I appreciate it anyway.

If anyone has any questions. Feel free to ask

How long you waited after your stage 2 and MMI to DMI

 

[Chesney]

How long you waited after your stage 2 and MMI to DMI

I didn't have a MMI at all. It was strange. I was expecting the MMI to be the next step, and then a DMI further down the line.

If you look at my first post, that's what I had to do. About 3-4 months from my initial application to the Psychometric online. Then about 6 months later. In person tests. Then another 3-4 months to the DMI. And about 2 weeks prior to that, they sent me the Hogan test to do, which was a sort of simplified version of the first psychometric online assessment I took.

As @whitby26 said above, the order seems open to change. I dont know if there's a reason for that, or just down to staffing available.

I visited my retired parents the other day. I told them I had requested feedback, but none had been forthcoming. (I may chase them again in due course) As I said above my father worked for a different TOC for 40 years up to his retirement.

He's taking the rejection harder than I am to be honest. Not in a way aimed at me. He just said he makes no sense from what I've told them (I dont need to lie or embellish it with them! He knows I'm not the messiah ) He's trying to work out what I may have done wrong to make them reject me. He wondered if it was my current career? Was it my age? (I'm in my 40s) Did I give off a vibe accidentally? All sorts of things. He even asked me what I wore to the interview

But honestly, we cant think of anything specific. But that's life. And sometimes you dont get what you want....


(ps. Thanks for the commiserations everyone.)

 

[hawkster26]

Thanks mate. What TOC was this with please and was it OPC

GTR. OPC Watford

 

[I2026]

I didn't have a MMI at all. It was strange. I was expecting the MMI to be the next step, and then a DMI further down the line.

If you look at my first post, that's what I had to do. About 3-4 months from my initial application to the Psychometric online. Then about 6 months later. In person tests. Then another 3-4 months to the DMI. And about 2 weeks prior to that, they sent me the Hogan test to do, which was a sort of simplified version of the first psychometric online assessment I took.

As @whitby26 said above, the order seems open to change. I dont know if there's a reason for that, or just down to staffing available.

I visited my retired parents the other day. I told them I had requested feedback, but none had been forthcoming. (I may chase them again in due course) As I said above my father worked for a different TOC for 40 years up to his retirement.

He's taking the rejection harder than I am to be honest. Not in a way aimed at me. He just said he makes no sense from what I've told them (I dont need to lie or embellish it with them! He knows I'm not the messiah ) He's trying to work out what I may have done wrong to make them reject me. He wondered if it was my current career? Was it my age? (I'm in my 40s) Did I give off a vibe accidentally? All sorts of things. He even asked me what I wore to the interview

But honestly, we cant think of anything specific. But that's life. And sometimes you dont get what you want....


(ps. Thanks for the commiserations everyone.)

I like to think of myself as logical, level headed and methodical. Almost 30 years completed as a supervisor in the emergency services, I won't swing the lantern but I have dealt with a lot. That said, this journey of getting into the railways seems amongst the most mysterious, convoluted and inconsistent process I have come across. How it remains so secretive is in itself impressive, there would normally be leaks and information that over the years come to the fore, because there are cohorts of people that work within these recruitment departments who do hold all the answers. I know of a few people who have also failed their MMIs recently on our little group who are all on their journey in, and for no apparent reason / not commensurate with the feedback and response on the day.

One of the guys in our group applied in summer 2024 as an internal candidate and has STILL not even done their first assessment (whereas everyone else has had theirs within weeks of application).

None of it makes sense!

 

[Madisuperstar]

I didn't have a MMI at all. It was strange. I was expecting the MMI to be the next step, and then a DMI further down the line.

If you look at my first post, that's what I had to do. About 3-4 months from my initial application to the Psychometric online. Then about 6 months later. In person tests. Then another 3-4 months to the DMI. And about 2 weeks prior to that, they sent me the Hogan test to do, which was a sort of simplified version of the first psychometric online assessment I took.

As @whitby26 said above, the order seems open to change. I dont know if there's a reason for that, or just down to staffing available.

I visited my retired parents the other day. I told them I had requested feedback, but none had been forthcoming. (I may chase them again in due course) As I said above my father worked for a different TOC for 40 years up to his retirement.

He's taking the rejection harder than I am to be honest. Not in a way aimed at me. He just said he makes no sense from what I've told them (I dont need to lie or embellish it with them! He knows I'm not the messiah ) He's trying to work out what I may have done wrong to make them reject me. He wondered if it was my current career? Was it my age? (I'm in my 40s) Did I give off a vibe accidentally? All sorts of things. He even asked me what I wore to the interview

But honestly, we cant think of anything specific. But that's life. And sometimes you dont get what you want....


(ps. Thanks for the commiserations everyone.)

Thanks for your reply I understand. Something better is waiting for you for sure don’t lose hope

 

[mr92]

Hi has anyone done the MMI recently and can remember what the questions was?

 

[mickeyC]

Hi has anyone done the MMI recently and can remember what the questions was?

I did mine a couple weeks back with southeastern

1. Give an example of a time which demonstrates you can be relied upon to do a job well, even when in the face of difficulties?
2. Give an example of a time when you had to do a task where it was important to not make a mistake.
3. Give an example of a time you have been required to follow strict rules and procedures?
4. Describe a situation where you have had to take control of a pressurised or emergency situation?
5. Give an example of a situation where you have had to really preserve to learn or achieve something?
6. Give an example of a task you have undertaken that you think is similar to a task within the train driver role

 

[hawkster26]

Got my MMI tomorrow, praying for these questions if I pass the computer tests first

 

[mickeyC]

Got my MMI tomorrow, praying for these questions if I pass the computer tests first

Good luck tomorrow, I was fortunate to do both paper and computer tests all in one day, MMI was a month later and gave me time to prep.

 

[mr92]

I did mine a couple weeks back with southeastern

1. Give an example of a time which demonstrates you can be relied upon to do a job well, even when in the face of difficulties?
2. Give an example of a time when you had to do a task where it was important to not make a mistake.
3. Give an example of a time you have been required to follow strict rules and procedures?
4. Describe a situation where you have had to take control of a pressurised or emergency situation?
5. Give an example of a situation where you have had to really preserve to learn or achieve something?
6. Give an example of a task you have undertaken that you think is similar to a task within the train driver role

Thanks Mate

 

[Chesney]

I did mine a couple weeks back with southeastern

1. Give an example of a time which demonstrates you can be relied upon to do a job well, even when in the face of difficulties?
2. Give an example of a time when you had to do a task where it was important to not make a mistake.
3. Give an example of a time you have been required to follow strict rules and procedures?
4. Describe a situation where you have had to take control of a pressurised or emergency situation?
5. Give an example of a situation where you have had to really preserve to learn or achieve something?
6. Give an example of a task you have undertaken that you think is similar to a task within the train driver role

Thats the questons I expect to be in a MMI interview. Indeed at my computer assessment day. They asked us to fill in a form with those questions. So that we would be asked about it at the MMI.

However, a version of Q4 came up in my DMI. So I dont understand where the DMI ends and the MMI begins.

I like to think of myself as logical, level headed and methodical. Almost 30 years completed as a supervisor in the emergency services, I won't swing the lantern but I have dealt with a lot. That said, this journey of getting into the railways seems amongst the most mysterious, convoluted and inconsistent process I have come across. How it remains so secretive is in itself impressive, there would normally be leaks and information that over the years come to the fore, because there are cohorts of people that work within these recruitment departments who do hold all the answers. I know of a few people who have also failed their MMIs recently on our little group who are all on their journey in, and for no apparent reason / not commensurate with the feedback and response on the day.

One of the guys in our group applied in summer 2024 as an internal candidate and has STILL not even done their first assessment (whereas everyone else has had theirs within weeks of application).

None of it makes sense!

I'm obviously awaiting the official feedback for my rejection (if it ever comes)

I also like to think of myself as logical and methodical. I currently work in an engineering field and have done for just under 30years! In fact that experience came up in my DMI when they mentioned they have had drivers physically get under a train (line power off!) and see if they could help the Engineering department diagnose a fault. I found the "fault finding exercise" on my assessment familiar, fun and interesting.

That said.

The lack of understanding for failure is what's holding me back from re-applying frankly.

 

[jaybon92]

Would it sound stupid if majority of them questions relate to my current job?

 

[anderta]

Good morning all, I’ve been practising the Railprep tea-occ and nearly had heart failure attempting to do the simultaneous sound and ‘telephone directory’ part. Specific question I know but does anybody know the very rough frequency of the beeps. Every 1? 2? Seconds? I’m terrified, please put my little mind at ease! Thank you in advance and thanks for all the pointers in this thread, it’s incredibly helpful

 

[Luna78]

Good morning all, I’ve been practising the Railprep tea-occ and nearly had heart failure attempting to do the simultaneous sound and ‘telephone directory’ part. Specific question I know but does anybody know the very rough frequency of the beeps. Every 1? 2? Seconds? I’m terrified, please put my little mind at ease! Thank you in advance and thanks for all the pointers in this thread, it’s incredibly helpful

They're probably every 1 second, if not slightly quicker. They don't play massive strings of tones though, there's maybe 15 at the very max. You get a few practice go's before you do the real thing. I found it helped to count the beeps out on my fingers. I didn't think it was too intense, once you've got used to the sound of the tone you're listening for you will settle into it.