Assessments & Medicals discussion

[baz962]

I failed the two handed coordination test 2 years ago , I have to do it soon to keep my previous tests, or will have to do them all over again in the future
The only thing is, in the past 2 years I have not gained enough experience to answer the final questions, and it will be my last life
Should I risk it or just wait until the future to see if I do gain the experience the answer.. The question I find most difficult is "Tell us about a time you handled an emergency situation" or something along those lines
The fact I only get 1 chance at the MMI ever is only adding more nervousness and anxiousness and will come across during the interview, even though its not how I normally am

This question is hard to answer , because it's really a choice for you only. A lot of people will have started on the railway without experience and feel they can't answer those questions. In the question that asks tell me a time you dealt with an emergency , it doesn't necessarily mean a medical or police type of emergency.

 

[pele92]

Hi all,

I’ve been invited to do my assessment, an interview all on the same day for trainee train conductor at Leeds station.

What I was wondering is if anyone has had any experiences of this and what I could expect on the day as it’s scheduled for seven hours.

Any tips or advice would greatly appreciated.

 

[zcarrey]

Anyone have any tips on how to approach this? would be incredibly grateful for any info.
I have been scouring the net for that Richard Mcmunn book that specialises on this but I think it's ran out of print!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@zcarrey. Which Richard McMunn book are you after exactly? He's done various "How 2 Become" career-related titles, including one for Railway Signallers and another for Train Drivers, amongst numerous others.

 

[zcarrey]

@zcarrey. Which Richard McMunn book are you after exactly? He's done various "How 2 Become" career-related titles, including one for Railway Signallers and another for Train Drivers, amongst numerous others.

This one :Railway Verbal Communication Exercises (rVce) Book and Audio CD: 1 (Testing Series) - Softcover
Richard McMunn

I've checked their website and even emailed the How2become become site but got no response

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Yep. That particular title does seem to be 'unavailable'.

 

[Llanigraham]

Just work to the rule that all railway comms should be clear, concise and simple, and that whatever you are instructed to do you repeat back, so confirming that both parties understand it.

 

[Martyn]

Could someone tell me what's involved in the visual search exercise please?
Thank you.

 

[Luckyflames]

I failed the two handed coordination test 2 years ago , I have to do it soon to keep my previous tests, or will have to do them all over again in the future
The only thing is, in the past 2 years I have not gained enough experience to answer the final questions, and it will be my last life
Should I risk it or just wait until the future to see if I do gain the experience the answer.. The question I find most difficult is "Tell us about a time you handled an emergency situation" or something along those lines
The fact I only get 1 chance at the MMI ever is only adding more nervousness and anxiousness and will come across during the interview, even though its not how I normally am

Use anything. For example a nephew / niece choking on a sweet. Carrying out emergency first aid.

 

[westman10]

If I passed every psychometric test, and failed the SJT would I never be able to become a train driver for the rest of my life?

Or am I still able to apply to certain companies?

 

[SouthernStar]

You would be able to apply to any TOC that doesn‘t make use of the SJT as part of their psychometric testing. According to the OPC it’s not part of the core set of tests. (See image below) you’ll have to do a bit of research into which tests are used by each TOC. It’s likely you’ll have to settle for those companies who use the national standard, as the SJT is an additional and therefore an enhanced test.

usually the SJT leads into the MMI and helps shape that interview, so I’m surprised you’ve passed the MMI!?

 

[westman10]

You would be able to apply to any TOC that doesn‘t make use of the SJT as part of their psychometric testing. According to the OPC it’s not part of the core set of tests. (See image below) you’ll have to do a bit of research into which tests are used by each TOC. It’s likely you’ll have to settle for those companies who use the national standard, as the SJT is an additional and therefore an enhanced test.

usually the SJT leads into the MMI and helps shape that interview, so I’m surprised you’ve passed the MMI!?

So sorry I meant the MMI

 

[SouthernStar]

Ah! That’s rather unfortunate as the MMI does indeed count as one of your lifetime attempts.

 

[rail_latino84]

Could someone tell me what's involved in the visual search exercise please?
Thank you.

The vse involves tracking the movement of a dot on a track, keeping an eye for jumps and colour changes. Then you also have to match at the same time symbols that appear on the right side. Somewhere on here there is an example.

 

[driver333]

Hi,

I have recently been offered a position at southeastern as a trainee driver starting in January.

I have a medical booked for next month and wondered if anyone on here has been to the medigold assessment in London.

I am worrying as I wear glasses. My vision is fine and I drive daily without glasses but one of my eyes is short sighted without my glasses.

Will this be an issues as I’m panicking now, I’ve heard you wear your glasses during the test but some reassurance would be nice

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Oct 2024 ==

Hi,

I have recently been offered a position at southeastern as a trainee driver starting in January.

I have a medical booked for next month and wondered if anyone on here has been to the medigold assessment in London.

I am worrying as I wear glasses. My vision is fine and I drive daily without glasses but one of my eyes is short sighted without my glasses.

Will this be an issues as I’m panicking now, I’ve heard you wear your glasses during the test but some reassurance would be nice

And any insight to what all the tests actually consist of would be greatly helpful

 

[Paulm36]

Sounds like your eyesight is well within the parameters of being a train driver . They will test your eyesight with your glasses on and without. They will also ask you to bring with you an up to date prescription for your glasses. Nothing to worry about .

Standard eye test
Hearing test
Height and weight
Blood pressure
ECG
Drugs and alcohol
Diabetes test
That's about it I think .

Worst one is the hearing test . Also Remember to declare any medication you have taken at all . I include paracetamol in that when asked .

 

[driver333]

Sounds like your eyesight is well within the parameters of being a train driver . They will test your eyesight with your glasses on and without. They will also ask you to bring with you an up to date prescription for your glasses. Nothing to worry about .

Standard eye test
Hearing test
Height and weight
Blood pressure
ECG
Drugs and alcohol
Diabetes test
That's about it I think .

Worst one is the hearing test . Also Remember to declare any medication you have taken at all . I include paracetamol in that when asked .

Hi, And thanks for the response!

Okay thank you for that that makes me feel a lot better, so they don’t test your eyesight like individual eyes? As that is be worried about! Just glasses on and off.

As for prescription my last one was last year I’ll have to try and retrieve that

Thanks

 

[Paulm36]

Hi, And thanks for the response!

Okay thank you for that that makes me feel a lot better, so they don’t test your eyesight like individual eyes? As that is be worried about! Just glasses on and off.

As for prescription my last one was last year I’ll have to try and retrieve that

Thanks

All it is, is literally reading a standard eyesight letter chart from one corner of the room to the other and how far down the chart you can read , with your glasses on and with them off . They may ask you to cover one eye at a time with your glasses off as well . However as long as the glasses corrects the vision to a suitable standard then you'll be fine . It's then recorded on your record that you either need to wear glasses when driving or you don't. I'm short sighted in both eyes and it's not an issue.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Oct 2024 ==

Sounds like your eyesight is well within the parameters of being a train driver . They will test your eyesight with your glasses on and without. They will also ask you to bring with you an up to date prescription for your glasses. Nothing to worry about .

Standard eye test
Hearing test
Height and weight
Blood pressure
ECG
Drugs and alcohol
Diabetes test
That's about it I think .

Worst one is the hearing test . Also Remember to declare any medication you have taken at all . I include paracetamol in that when asked .

Forgot to mention they also test you for colour blindness using ishihara

 

[niceman]

The vse involves tracking the movement of a dot on a track, keeping an eye for jumps and colour changes. Then you also have to match at the same time symbols that appear on the right side. Somewhere on here there is an example.

is it the same vse test for all companies? Is this picture similar to what you did?

 

[driver333]

All it is, is literally reading a standard eyesight letter chart from one corner of the room to the other and how far down the chart you can read , with your glasses on and with them off . They may ask you to cover one eye at a time with your glasses off as well . However as long as the glasses corrects the vision to a suitable standard then you'll be fine . It's then recorded on your record that you either need to wear glasses when driving or you don't. I'm short sighted in both eyes and it's not an issue.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Oct 2024 ==


Forgot to mention they also test you for colour blindness using ishihara

Oh right okay well that’s a lot better! Makes me feel abit more at ease! It was only as one of my eyes is like a -4 , but my other eye is 100% perfect. Like I drive daily without glasses and can see fine as my other eye compensates for it. And with glasses it’s perfect so Thankyou for the reassurance.

Colour test I’m not worried my vision with colour is fine and as for hearing test why’s that the worst? My hearing is fine anyhow! Just curious

 

[Paulm36]

Oh right okay well that’s a lot better! Makes me feel abit more at ease! It was only as one of my eyes is like a -4 , but my other eye is 100% perfect. Like I drive daily without glasses and can see fine as my other eye compensates for it. And with glasses it’s perfect so Thankyou for the reassurance.

Colour test I’m not worried my vision with colour is fine and as for hearing test why’s that the worst? My hearing is fine anyhow! Just curious

No worries, you'll be fine . I think waiting on the medical was the worst part of the whole process for me when I was getting a trainee position, as I felt it was out of my hands . So I get why you're anxious about it .

The hearing test for me is the worst part of the process as they put you in what's no more than a cupboard with a stall in with a set of headphones and test your hearing in each ear through a wide range of high low frequencies . You have to acknowledge each frequency you hear by pressing a handheld clicker . Wouldn't be too bad if the room you were in was sound proof. However 9 times out of ten you find yourself listening to a random conversation being held outside the room whilst waiting for the next beep . Which can be quite distracting. That's just my personal experience though . You'll be fine I'm sure .

 

[driver333]

No worries, you'll be fine . I think waiting on the medical was the worst part of the whole process for me when I was getting a trainee position, as I felt it was out of my hands . So I get why you're anxious about it .

The hearing test for me is the worst part of the process as they put you in what's no more than a cupboard with a stall in with a set of headphones and test your hearing in each ear through a wide range of high low frequencies . You have to acknowledge each frequency you hear by pressing a handheld clicker . Wouldn't be too bad if the room you were in was sound proof. However 9 times out of ten you find yourself listening to a random conversation being held outside the room whilst waiting for the next beep . Which can be quite distracting. That's just my personal experience though . You'll be fine I'm sure .

Yeah honestly this whole process I haven’t been worried like I’ve had pure confidence and now like you said it’s out my hands I’m stressing! Lol.

I’m sure I’ll be fine everything I’m happy with was just concerned about my eyesight but if they just mark down you require glasses to drive if that’s the case then I’m so plesded

As for the herring test that sounds utter garbage but I’m sure that’ll b fine!

Thanks dude really appreciate it

 

[rail_latino84]

is it the same vse test for all companies? Is this picture similar to what you did?

Hi, yes

is it the same vse test for all companies? Is this picture similar to what you did?

Hi, yes its definitely similar, just looks slightly different bit concept same. You start matching two symbols, then it changes to matching 3 symbols, so a harder. What they so say in the instructions is to prioritise the track, but to do both if you can. My advice or what I did was look at the track first then the symbols and DONT RUSH.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Oct 2024 ==

Hi,

I have recently been offered a position at southeastern as a trainee driver starting in January.

I have a medical booked for next month and wondered if anyone on here has been to the medigold assessment in London.

I am worrying as I wear glasses. My vision is fine and I drive daily without glasses but one of my eyes is short sighted without my glasses.

Will this be an issues as I’m panicking now, I’ve heard you wear your glasses during the test but some reassurance would be nice

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Oct 2024 ==


And any insight to what all the tests actually consist of would be greatly helpful

Hi there, I recently passed the assessment centre for SE aswell but haven't done the managers interview, I asked them and they said there are a lot of candidates and had to wait. Was this the case for you aswell? Thanks

 

[driver333]

Hi, yes

Hi, yes its definitely similar, just looks slightly different bit concept same. You start matching two symbols, then it changes to matching 3 symbols, so a harder. What they so say in the instructions is to prioritise the track, but to do both if you can. My advice or what I did was look at the track first then the symbols and DONT RUSH.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Oct 2024 ==


Hi there, I recently passed the assessment centre for SE aswell but haven't done the managers interview, I asked them and they said there are a lot of candidates and had to wait. Was this the case for you aswell? Thanks

Just for context I passed my assessment centre in April and only had my interview in end of September dude. It takes a long time as they have a large backlog. Some people had been waiting 1/2 years that I met. It’ll happen in due course just patience. I believe they do test your patience across this process but it’ll be worth it

 

[rail_latino84]

Just for context I passed my assessment centre in April and only had my interview in end of September dude. It takes a long time as they have a large backlog. Some people had been waiting 1/2 years that I met. It’ll happen in due course just patience. I believe they do test your patience across this process but it’ll be worth it

Ok thanks, will hang in tight

 

[Msq71423]

Apologies as this is probably a silly question, but I can't seem to find the answer.

Regarding the 2 lifetime attempts at psychometric tests, is this per role or in total? I have previously failed the tests for a conductor role around a decade ago and was told that used 1 of the lifetime attempts. If I applied now for a trainee driver role, having gained experience, would this be the second lifetime attempt, or would it be classed as the first with it being a different role?

 

[NSEWonderer]

Apologies as this is probably a silly question, but I can't seem to find the answer.

Regarding the 2 lifetime attempts at psychometric tests, is this per role or in total? I have previously failed the tests for a conductor role around a decade ago and was told that used 1 of the lifetime attempts. If I applied now for a trainee driver role, having gained experience, would this be the second lifetime attempt, or would it be classed as the first with it being a different role?

Different grade. You only lose lives if you fail any tests for Driver role(Including depot driver roles) during assessments done at the companies Assessement Center, OPC Test or OPC VSE assessement done at home. I don't want to get too much into the technicalities of how additional tests like the VSE And DFFT affect the 2 life rule but for simplicity and to answer your question, you still have two lives!

Also you've asked this in the wrong thread should be here: Assessments & Medicals Master Thread
A mod will most likely clean up this after

 

[Msq71423]

Thank you for your answer!

 

[Oscar69]

Hi all, excuse me if it has been covered before. On the two handed coordination test , would anyone have an idea what time is acceptable for each of the ten runs round the track. I know it is a test of accuracy and speed and going out the track has to be resolved as quickly as possible. Anyone who passed any idea roughly how long on each run is acceptable ?

 

[Dax1983]

I have been invited to the first stage of the interview process (driver manager) for Avanti West Coast, am wondering what their
whole interview process may be?