Assessments & Medicals discussion

[Jam248]

I've taken the MMI twice as I failed first time round and the best advice I can give is practice as much as you can. If you look through the forum you'll find plenty of questions they might ask you and you can prepare for them. They ask plenty of probing questions during the interview and try put you under a bit of pressure but if you talk clearly and slowly you'll be fine.

What where the 6 questions they asked if you don’t mind sharing?

 

[AAC]

Hi guys,
Can anyone point me in the direction of learning material for the Northern Rail Online assessment? Need to do mine by the 17th, but wanted to see if there are any websites or discussions I can look up?
Cheers
Stu.

How did you get on, have you heard back yet?

 

[RDJW18]

Hi guys, Is someone please able to confirm for teaocc, the last test where you are doing both. Is it the case you are searching for symbols and counting the tones until you are told to stop and write down total at the end of the test or it is you are searching for symbols whilst listening to the tones and get stopped randomly to state how many tones you've heard up until that point and then restart and so on. I hope that makes sense ?

 

[RiverDon]

Hi guys, Is someone please able to confirm for teaocc, the last test where you are doing both. Is it the case you are searching for symbols and counting the tones until you are told to stop and write down total at the end of the test or it is you are searching for symbols whilst listening to the tones and get stopped randomly to state how many tones you've heard up until that point and then restart and so on. I hope that makes sense ?

It resets each time. So you're listening to the tape and it goes:

Beep - Beep - Beep - Beep - Beep - Beep

Then the guy says "How many?" and you would write 6, then after a short pause it starts again:

Beep - Beep - Beep - Beep

"How Many?" and you write 4 and so on. On this bit it's the same tone you're counting every time, there are no separate high and low tones so when you hear a tone you count it.

 

[RDJW18]

It resets each time. So you're listening to the tape and it goes:

Beep - Beep - Beep - Beep - Beep - Beep

Then the guy says "How many?" and you would write 6, then after a short pause it starts again:

Beep - Beep - Beep - Beep

"How Many?" and you write 4 and so on. On this bit it's the same tone you're counting every time, there are no separate high and low tones so when you hear a tone you count it.

Thank you so much for that mate. That’s really cleared it up for me.

 

[whitby26]

Hi everyone! I have my stage 2, computer assessments and MMI at the OPC for GTR next week. Of course assuming all is positive with the computer assessments, with the MMI could you use a similar scenario for multiple questions or do they prefer something new each time? Just curious as I have a few stronger examples that would fit into a lot of different questions but don’t want to repeat myself too much if it’s not as desirable

I have passed S1/S2 & MMI with GTR for a role at st albuns Thameslink in February Still waiting for a DMI date.

The questions I was asked in the MMI where

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

I answered all the questions around my current job as an aircraft movements specialist as I could relate the job to each question. The only think they asked me at the end was to think of another job which is similar to a train driver and I spoke about a bus driver.

They like to ask you ( so how did that make you feel ) when elaborating on your answers.

Good luck

 

[Brenfield]

I have passed S1/S2 & MMI with GTR for a role at st albuns Thameslink in February Still waiting for a DMI date.

The questions I was asked in the MMI where

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

I answered all the questions around my current job as an aircraft movements specialist as I could relate the job to each question. The only think they asked me at the end was to think of another job which is similar to a train driver and I spoke about a bus driver.

They like to ask you ( so how did that make you feel ) when elaborating on your answers.

Good luck

Hey, thanks for the info.
I've also got my MMI coming up with GWR and just had a couple of extra questions.

How detailed do they expect the examples to be / how deep do they probe? I work in IT and so most of my examples are quite technical and i feel that i can't go into much detail without either including lots of jargon or having to give a long explanation.

Also did you get any extra hypothetical questions on top of the main 6?
Thanks in advance.

 

[GrooveLine]

I have passed S1/S2 & MMI with GTR for a role at st albuns Thameslink in February Still waiting for a DMI date.

The questions I was asked in the MMI where

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

I answered all the questions around my current job as an aircraft movements specialist as I could relate the job to each question. The only think they asked me at the end was to think of another job which is similar to a train driver and I spoke about a bus driver.

They like to ask you ( so how did that make you feel ) when elaborating on your answers.

Good luck

Congratulations on passing stages 1&2 & MMI. I wish you success for the DMI also.

Would like to ask, which assessments did you sit for stage 1 and stage 2?

Ive just done my miniscaat test for GTR London Bridge/Victoria and have an invite to Stage 1 for Arriva/First Group in May (the only one I haven't done for this assessment day coming is SJT - hoping I dont need ro resit any others).

I have already passed the following and never did a MMI, only DMI with another TOC for shunting:

TEA OCC
WAV-T
ATAVT
TRP 1
TRP 2
GROUP BOURDON
HAND EYE COORDINATION

Are there additional tests for GTR trainee train driver? Thanks in advance.

 

[Twin82]

I'm sure GTR does the DFFT as their additional test

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Apr 2026 ==

May I ask when did you apply to GTR for the London Bridge /Victoria vacancy as well as the Arriva vacancy? I'm gonna assume that was for New Cross

 

[GrooveLine]

I'm sure GTR does the DFFT as their additional test

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Apr 2026 ==

May I ask when did you apply to GTR for the London Bridge /Victoria vacancy as well as the Arriva vacancy? I'm gonna assume that was for New Cross

Oh yes i knew there was a test I forgot to mention that id done - DFFT. Thanks.

Applied for Arriva New Cross in September and GTR in December.

 

[Twin82]

Wonderful. I applied for both but came up short for both roles. The spatial reasoning assessment for Arriva threw me off. Lol. I left school nearly 30 years ago. Did you use any particular material to prepare for that test? With GTR, dunno what happened but I tripped up on the miniscaat test, which wasn't difficult to say the least. My hand was shaking as if there was an earthquake cooking in it. Lol, hopefully next time around I can settle the nerves. How did you find the DFFT?

 

[Jam248]

I have passed S1/S2 & MMI with GTR for a role at st albuns Thameslink in February Still waiting for a DMI date.

The questions I was asked in the MMI where

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

I answered all the questions around my current job as an aircraft movements specialist as I could relate the job to each question. The only think they asked me at the end was to think of another job which is similar to a train driver and I spoke about a bus driver.

They like to ask you ( so how did that make you feel ) when elaborating on your answers.

Good luck

How did you find the interview? Was it friendly? How many interviewed you? Did they ask any MMI 2 questions? If so, what were they? Thanks and good luck

 

[whitby26]

Hey, thanks for the info.
I've also got my MMI coming up with GWR and just had a couple of extra questions.

How detailed do they expect the examples to be / how deep do they probe? I work in IT and so most of my examples are quite technical and i feel that i can't go into much detail without either including lots of jargon or having to give a long explanation.

Also did you get any extra hypothetical questions on top of the main 6?
Thanks in advance.

Before you no in you had to fill out the answers to the questions very briefly the the just ask you to elaborate and they will but in everyone and then. The one thing they like to but in with is “so how did tha mae you feel” for instance if you’re answering one of the questions and you mention about challenging someone they will then button and say so how did that make you feel challenging that person? Only extra thing they asked was give me another job that is similar to train driving

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==

Congratulations on passing stages 1&2 & MMI. I wish you success for the DMI also.

Would like to ask, which assessments did you sit for stage 1 and stage 2?

Ive just done my miniscaat test for GTR London Bridge/Victoria and have an invite to Stage 1 for Arriva/First Group in May (the only one I haven't done for this assessment day coming is SJT - hoping I dont need ro resit any others).

I have already passed the following and never did a MMI, only DMI with another TOC for shunting:

TEA OCC
WAV-T
ATAVT
TRP 1
TRP 2
GROUP BOURDON
HAND EYE COORDINATION

Are there additional tests for GTR trainee train driver? Thanks in advance.

If you have passed the tests you won’t need to reset. GTR do enhanced testing so you have to do the fault finding exam (some tocs don’t require this one but GTR do)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==

How did you find the interview? Was it friendly? How many interviewed you? Did they ask any MMI 2 questions? If so, what were they? Thanks and good luck

I found the interview ok-ish I don’t interview well but with my current background I was able to sail through as it’s similar to train driving. One person interviewed me , all the questions the asked are in my previous post

 

[GrooveLine]

Wonderful. I applied for both but came up short for both roles. The spatial reasoning assessment for Arriva threw me off. Lol. I left school nearly 30 years ago. Did you use any particular material to prepare for that test? With GTR, dunno what happened but I tripped up on the miniscaat test, which wasn't difficult to say the least. My hand was shaking as if there was an earthquake cooking in it. Lol, hopefully next time around I can settle the nerves. How did you find the DFFT?

I know what you mean with the miniscaat. I felt under pressure because it's simple but intense, isn't it. And using a mouse creates a kind of weird "disconnect" between your mind and your responses clicking.
The spatial was really outside of my comfort zone, so I bought spatial reasoning books for 11+ exams and the like and practiced before. I didnt make the top 200 who went straight to assessment day, but I did make it to the longlist and eventually got picked up for an invite to the assessment day.

I'm in a similar position where my school days are long over, this recruitment process is quite an education!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==

Before you no in you had to fill out the answers to the questions very briefly the the just ask you to elaborate and they will but in everyone and then. The one thing they like to but in with is “so how did tha mae you feel” for instance if you’re answering one of the questions and you mention about challenging someone they will then button and say so how did that make you feel challenging that person? Only extra thing they asked was give me another job that is similar to train driving

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==


If you have passed the tests you won’t need to reset. GTR do enhanced testing so you have to do the fault finding exam (some tocs don’t require this one but GTR do)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==


I found the interview ok-ish I don’t interview well but with my current background I was able to sail through as it’s similar to train driving. One person interviewed me , all the questions the asked are in my previous post

Thats good to know. I guess the only one left for me to sit, bringing all the answer together, would be the MSJ-7. I think I am going to sit this one next month for Arriva for stage 1. So I should just have the MMI left for Stage 2 Arriva and GTR, and then depends who I get first, I guess.

Ive never been through a recruitment process that takes this level of commitment. But I love it. And the delays seem to make each stage feel like a magnificent achievement, even if one fails, you look back and see that you've come a long way. Hope everyone succeeds in their journey whether 1st 2nd or 3rd time around.

 

[RDJW18]

I know what you mean with the miniscaat. I felt under pressure because it's simple but intense, isn't it. And using a mouse creates a kind of weird "disconnect" between your mind and your responses clicking.
The spatial was really outside of my comfort zone, so I bought spatial reasoning books for 11+ exams and the like and practiced before. I didnt make the top 200 who went straight to assessment day, but I did make it to the longlist and eventually got picked up for an invite to the assessment day.

I'm in a similar position where my school days are long over, this recruitment process is quite an education!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==


Thats good to know. I guess the only one left for me to sit, bringing all the answer together, would be the MSJ-7. I think I am going to sit this one next month for Arriva for stage 1. So I should just have the MMI left for Stage 2 Arriva and GTR, and then depends who I get first, I guess.

Ive never been through a recruitment process that takes this level of commitment. But I love it. And the delays seem to make each stage feel like a magnificent achievement, even if one fails, you look back and see that you've come a long way. Hope everyone succeeds in their journey whether 1st 2nd or 3rd time around.

I’m in the exact same boat as you. I’ve been invited for Arriva as well next month. The only thing that’s putting me off is that the email says that you may need to resit some tests and if you fail these then you fail overall and lose your pass mark. I’m thinking is it really worth it. I might just stick with my original TOC

 

[Twin82]

practiced

To make things worse, it was my birthday and I was out with a friend and her kids, as well as my brother, as we share the same birthday. It was also the last day for me to do the miniscaat. I had to ask her if I could go to her house and use her sons pc. So it wasn’t in the most ideal situation.

Did the book you bought to help prepare you for the spatial reasoning help? I may have to consider buying that book

 

[GrooveLine]

I’m in the exact same boat as you. I’ve been invited for Arriva as well next month. The only thing that’s putting me off is that the email says that you may need to resit some tests and if you fail these then you fail overall and lose your pass mark. I’m thinking is it really worth it. I might just stick with my original TOC

Its a tricky one. But at the end of the day you're in the driver's seat.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==

To make things worse, it was my birthday and I was out with a friend and her kids, as well as my brother, as we share the same birthday. It was also the last day for me to do the miniscaat. I had to ask her if I could go to her house and use her sons pc. So it wasn’t in the most ideal situation.

Did the book you bought to help prepare you for the spatial reasoning help? I may have to consider buying that book

Oh dear what a day that must have been. You must have felt unsettled. I'm sure you'd do better with preparation and being on your own computer.

Yes I found that the books helped me a lot. As I said, it's not my strong point but I managed a pass with the practice materials I had. They did help me to gain confidence in what I was looking for. Some groups of tests in the books I bought were easier than others.

Collins was one of the school books I bought. Hope that helps.

 

[Twin82]

Its a tricky one. But at the end of the day you're in the driver's seat.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==


Oh dear what a day that must have been. You must have felt unsettled. I'm sure you'd do better with preparation and being on your own computer.

Yes I found that the books helped me a lot. As I said, it's not my strong point but I managed a pass with the practice materials I had. They did help me to gain confidence in what I was looking for. Some groups of tests in the books I bought were easier than others.

Collins was one of the school books I bought. Hope that helps.

It surely wasn’t a comfortable position to be in. I had no choice as my laptop broke weeks before. But it would of been a more relaxed experience if I had done it at home using my personal laptop.

That’s good to know the books were a big help especially as it’s not one of your strengths, likewise for me. Thanks a lot for your imput. I really appreciate it. I will get this and pass it down to my 9 year for future use.

 

[whitby26]

I know what you mean with the miniscaat. I felt under pressure because it's simple but intense, isn't it. And using a mouse creates a kind of weird "disconnect" between your mind and your responses clicking.
The spatial was really outside of my comfort zone, so I bought spatial reasoning books for 11+ exams and the like and practiced before. I didnt make the top 200 who went straight to assessment day, but I did make it to the longlist and eventually got picked up for an invite to the assessment day.

I'm in a similar position where my school days are long over, this recruitment process is quite an education!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==


Thats good to know. I guess the only one left for me to sit, bringing all the answer together, would be the MSJ-7. I think I am going to sit this one next month for Arriva for stage 1. So I should just have the MMI left for Stage 2 Arriva and GTR, and then depends who I get first, I guess.

Ive never been through a recruitment process that takes this level of commitment. But I love it. And the delays seem to make each stage feel like a magnificent achievement, even if one fails, you look back and see that you've come a long way. Hope everyone succeeds in their journey whether 1st 2nd or 3rd time around.

Soon as you do the mmi for one company you won’t be able to do it again with the other one. I applied for another train job and they said because I have recently done mmi pass or fail I couldn’t go any further. This was with avanti

 

[GrooveLine]

Soon as you do the mmi for one company you won’t be able to do it again with the other one. I applied for another train job and they said because I have recently done mmi pass or fail I couldn’t go any further. This was with avanti

That's interesting. Thanks for that info Whitby26. So it's the "recently passed MMI" part that mattered to avanti. I think I've read that some who have done MMI previously have ended up going straight to DMI stage (I'm presuming with a different TOC). Maybe the TOC doesnt want to risk you starting with them and perhaps getting a better offer? Has anyone had a similar experience to Whitby26 with other TOC's?

 

[whitby26]

That's interesting. Thanks for that info Whitby26. So it's the "recently passed MMI" part that mattered to avanti. I think I've read that some who have done MMI previously have ended up going straight to DMI stage (I'm presuming with a different TOC). Maybe the TOC doesnt want to risk you starting with them and perhaps getting a better offer? Has anyone had a similar experience to Whitby26 with other TOC's?

This is what the OPC emailed me saying


Avanti uses a Criterion-Based Interview (CBI), which is like the MMI as it assesses the same competencies. Unfortunately, we’re unable to progress your application at this time, as candidates are not able to complete the MMI and CBI within a short timeframe of each other.

 

[RDJW18]

Its a tricky one. But at the end of the day you're in the driver's seat.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==


Oh dear what a day that must have been. You must have felt unsettled. I'm sure you'd do better with preparation and being on your own computer.

Yes I found that the books helped me a lot. As I said, it's not my strong point but I managed a pass with the practice materials I had. They did help me to gain confidence in what I was looking for. Some groups of tests in the books I bought were easier than others.

Collins was one of the school books I bought. Hope that helps.

Are you going to risk it and try to pass their additional tests ? I’d have to do the DFFT and M7 test

 

[Brickz]

Soon as you do the mmi for one company you won’t be able to do it again with the other one. I applied for another train job and they said because I have recently done mmi pass or fail I couldn’t go any further. This was with avanti

Avanti use the other version of the mmi which is the cbi I believe its called which would have been why you have to wait. If you have pass the mmi then go do avanti's version it will override your current mmi pass so if you have a mmi pass as long as the company your applying with also use the mmi version they'll accept you pass mark.

 

[GrooveLine]

That makes sense now. So if the TOC'S applied for both use MMI a pass can be accepted from another assessment with the other TOC. But a CBI and MMI done recently together wouldn't be accepted. Maybe overall it could prevent more people being recruited into railway if they happened to get a fail for one of them and it override the pass.

I hope your hard work will bring you more success with GTR in the recruitment process Whitby26. I think GTR have a good work life balance from what I can see on advert, with a true 4 day week.

 

[Twin82]

That makes sense now. So if the TOC'S applied for both use MMI a pass can be accepted from another assessment with the other TOC. But a CBI and MMI done recently together wouldn't be accepted. Maybe overall it could prevent more people being recruited into railway if they happened to get a fail for one of them and it override the pass.

I hope your hard work will bring you more success with GTR in the recruitment process Whitby26. I think GTR have a good work life balance from what I can see on advert, with a true 4 day week.

That’s a good point you mentioned there bud. Any idea what the other TOC’s work life is like? As you mentioned, GTR operate on a 4 day on, 3 day off basis, having Sundays off. I know a couple of drivers who work at the Victoria and Selhurst depots respectively. Sure that’s what they said. Would be nice to know what arrangement the other TOC’s have.

 

[Pablo 45]

This is what the OPC emailed me saying


Avanti uses a Criterion-Based Interview (CBI), which is like the MMI as it assesses the same competencies. Unfortunately, we’re unable to progress your application at this time, as candidates are not able to complete the MMI and CBI within a short timeframe of each other.

Got the same email ‍♂️

 

[GrooveLine]

That’s a good point you mentioned there bud. Any idea what the other TOC’s work life is like? As you mentioned, GTR operate on a 4 day on, 3 day off basis, having Sundays off. I know a couple of drivers who work at the Victoria and Selhurst depots respectively. Sure that’s what they said. Would be nice to know what arrangement the other TOC’s have.

I think Arriva New Cross is an average 4 day week. The only other position I applied for was a Shunter Role at Grove Park, it had a fixed roster pattern. There is probably someone in this thread who has bonafide inside info on some of the TOC's?

 

[Twin82]

Ahh ok. I take it you probably researched the company that you’re interested in. Wonder what southeastern and southwestern’s work pattern is like.

 

[GrooveLine]

Ahh ok. I take it you probably researched the company that you’re interested in. Wonder what southeastern and southwestern’s work pattern is like.

Yes that's right. The Southeastern shunter interviewer confirmed that they have a fixed pattern roster. But from what they indicated mainline has more flexibility.

 

[Brickz]

That makes sense now. So if the TOC'S applied for both use MMI a pass can be accepted from another assessment with the other TOC. But a CBI and MMI done recently together wouldn't be accepted. Maybe overall it could prevent more people being recruited into railway if they happened to get a fail for one of them and it override the pass.

I hope your hard work will bring you more success with GTR in the recruitment process Whitby26. I think GTR have a good work life balance from what I can see on advert, with a true 4 day week.

Yes and no as ultimately even if you've passed your MMI via a toc/foc then apply for another they can see ask you to re-take any of the assessments especially is your pass mark doesn’t reach whatever their minimum pass mark is. If you do both a CBI and MMI whichever was the most recent you done is will be the valid score and the previous one becomes invalid if that makes sence?