Assessment day with First Capital Connect for a Trainee Train Driver

[syva]

Hello everyone,

I have been invited for an Assessment day ( beginning of next month) and was wondering what should I expect on that day? What kind of interview questions and tests (I would like to get ready before I will go there)???

Thanks for all your information.

 

[156441]

For what post dude?

 

[orbit8475]

Good luck with that, I applied yesterday but still awaiting short listing. Out of interest can I ask how long you had to wait between submitting your application, and getting news of your assessment?

Best wishes,

Dave
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I'm no expert in this field, but a couple of bits of advice I can give you.

You will do some kind of fast reaction and coordination test, and there is a toy called bopit. If you can get your hands on one they are a good practice took, especially if you get a very high score and turn it upside down as well.

Also if you google "Group Bourdon tool" there is a practice tool for the concentration tests. You can download it to your laptop. I would recommend also printing some pages off and practice doing it on paper just in case they decide to use the paper method on the day. Once you have downloaded it you need to basically go through the pages and highlight the groups of 4 dots as fast and accurately is you can. You get marked down for any group of dots either omitted or incorrectly marked. Also you can do the SCAAT test using the same program which is similar to GB but involves highlighting certain shapes instead

Another idea is to go on-line and download some mechanical comprehension test questions. The "how to become" website has some good ones.

That's about all the advice I can give you at the moment, as Im still only at the application stage myself, but I wish you the very best of luck at your interview.

 

[syva]

For what post dude?

it says in my original post,,,,
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I waited around 1 month

Good luck with that, I applied yesterday but still awaiting short listing. Out of interest can I ask how long you had to wait between submitting your application, and getting news of your assessment?

Best wishes,

Dave
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'm no expert in this field, but a couple of bits of advice I can give you.

You will do some kind of fast reaction and coordination test, and there is a toy called bopit. If you can get your hands on one they are a good practice took, especially if you get a very high score and turn it upside down as well.

Also if you google "Group Bourdon tool" there is a practice tool for the concentration tests. You can download it to your laptop. I would recommend also printing some pages off and practice doing it on paper just in case they decide to use the paper method on the day. Once you have downloaded it you need to basically go through the pages and highlight the groups of 4 dots as fast and accurately is you can. You get marked down for any group of dots either omitted or incorrectly marked. Also you can do the SCAAT test using the same program which is similar to GB but involves highlighting certain shapes instead

Another idea is to go on-line and download some mechanical comprehension test questions. The "how to become" website has some good ones.

That's about all the advice I can give you at the moment, as Im still only at the application stage myself, but I wish you the very best of luck at your interview.

 

[renik]

Syva, about 1week to the time u will get assessment package in the mail, which tells u about the test,the sample of what to expect is in the package,is very simple if u can practise &follow instr.&details u should have no problem . I got my package 2 days ago for next week ass. It involve DFFT driver fault findings test,trainability test,cordination test, reaction test and structural interview.Trust me just practise u should have no problems.

 

[syva]

Thanks a lot for this info. Good luck. How do you know that it is very simple if you still did not have it yet???

Syva, about 1week to the time u will get assessment package in the mail, which tells u about the test,the sample of what to expect is in the package,is very simple if u can practise &follow instr.&details u should have no problem . I got my package 2 days ago for next week ass. It involve DFFT driver fault findings test,trainability test,cordination test, reaction test and structural interview.Trust me just practise u should have no problems.

 

[renik]

According to the sampling that have been practising which is similar to the test expected,if u practise and follow details u sholud be fine.

 

[TDK]

According to the sampling that have been practising which is similar to the test expected,if u practise and follow details u sholud be fine.

Oh yeas it is so simple with a 10% pass rate

 

[LCC106]

Not simple at all. I worked really hard studying and practising for mine. Even the guy that does mechanical work on trains at Leeds station who was at our assessment centre found the mechanics hard!

That's not to say that you should worry too much, just practise, practise, practise.

 

[syva]

According to the sampling that have been practising which is similar to the test expected,if u practise and follow details u sholud be fine.

Does anyone know if mechanics are included in the first assessment day with FCC or it will be sometime next time. I have been told that test which are included are DFFT driver fault findings test, trainability test, cordination test, reaction test and structural interview test.

COULD SOMEONE CLARIFY PLEASE,,,,,

 

[W230]

Does anyone know if mechanics are included in the first assessment day with FCC or it will be sometime next time. I have been told that test which are included are DFFT driver fault findings test, trainability test, cordination test, reaction test and structural interview test.

COULD SOMEONE CLARIFY PLEASE,,,,,

It'll all be confirmed in your assessment pack from FCC, which should arrive in plenty of time before your interview. Alternatively give their HR department a ring as they may be able to give you details on the phone.

Either way, the advice offered on this post is all good - practice practice practice! You will have to sit all those tests at some point!

 

[TDK]

Not simple at all. I worked really hard studying and practising for mine. Even the guy that does mechanical work on trains at Leeds station who was at our assessment centre found the mechanics hard!

That's not to say that you should worry too much, just practise, practise, practise.

I was being sarcastic

 

[LCC106]

I was being sarcastic

Ha ha! Yes, I gathered that by the 10% pass rate comment , it was an earlier post I was alluding to! I should have made it clearer, sorry

 

[Trainer74]

Just wondering if anyone has had their assessment day in cannon st to date for the trainee drivers jobs? I have my interview on Monday 23rd.

 

[Gareth43]

Hi Trainer74, when did you have your assessments, I have been on hold since Feb and eagerly awaiting a date from FCC

 

[Trainer74]

Hi Gareth, I haven't had my assessment as of yet. It is a week Monday 23 April. I was notified by email about 5 weeks ago and the practise tests were sent out a week later.

 

[Panch]

Hi,

Can anyone please tell me if the Group Bourdon test with FCC is on paper or computer? Thanks in advance.

 

[W230]

It's on paper.

 

[Panch]

It's on paper.

Thanks W230!
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Thanks W230!

Sorry to ask again but is the SCAAT on paper too?

 

[W230]

Sorry to ask again but is the SCAAT on paper too?

Yep. Well it was when I did mine!

They were trialing an online version when I did my second day assessment expecting to be bringing it in at some point (no idea when though).

 

[Panch]

Thanks again and many congratulations W230! Good luck

 

[Gareth43]

Has anyone heard from FCC for the next intake for assessment dates?

 

[Trainer74]

Got my assessment day Monday.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Has anyone heard from FCC for the next intake for assessment dates?

Got my assessment day Monday Gareth

 

[Gareth43]

Best of luck to you Trainer 74 hope all goes well for you, what Depot are you going for?

 

[Trainer74]

Thanx Gareth. 42 people were there yesterday. 22 failed after the morning session. 2 failed the afternoon assesements. I passed . Got stage 2 next Tuesday.

 

[Gareth43]

Well done Trainer 74, was it as hard as they say, I am anxiously awaiting an assessment date but as they are doing assessments based on depot locations I do not know when I will get mine through. Best of luck next week.

P.s Out of interest which depot did you select in your application?

 

[Trainer74]

Thanx Gareth. I'm trying for Bedford. There were people there trying for Brighton also. One of the guys yesterday mentioned that this was the last week of stage 1 assessments for the time being as there is normally a six month starting time from your stage 1 tests to your training course which will mean the next round of new starters will be Aug/Sept. how much of this is true I do not know. Good luck anyway.
The Dot Test or Group Bourden test are what the 20 odd people failed on yesterday morning. The group Bourden test in the afternoon was a lot harder and quicker. Practise that's all you can do.

 

[Gareth43]

What was the time limit for the dot test and SCATT test per sheet?

 

[W230]

It's two mins per sheet on the GB (five sheets, 10 mins) and one minute per sheet on the SCAAT (9 sheet, 9 minutes).

 

[Gareth43]

Thank you W230, I have practised them both so much lately I am actually enjoying them