Assessments & Medicals discussion

[muna]

Hello,

I want to understand the best way to prepare for my assessment day, unfortunately I had to reschedule because they refused one of my utility bill as evidence. Hopefully, they get that resechuled. I have gone over the materials given out but still wondering what they will ask in the MMI questions and a bit nervous for that. Any ideas please that will help me a lot ! This is for the GTS Elizabeth Line trainee train driver role. Any views is welcome.

 

[Unobrow]

Hello,

I want to understand the best way to prepare for my assessment day, unfortunately I had to reschedule because they refused one of my utility bill as evidence. Hopefully, they get that resechuled. I have gone over the materials given out but still wondering what they will ask in the MMI questions and a bit nervous for that. Any ideas please that will help me a lot ! This is for the GTS Elizabeth Line trainee train driver role. Any views is welcome.

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[Trains101]

Hi all got a position near me for freight. The hiring manager told me I need to of passed the railway competency test in order to get the Role. Can someone link me somewhere I can do this privately as the start date is not far

 

[c7777]

I’m being pushed by my counsellor for myself to try and seek a diagnosis ADHD through the appropriate channels. I’m already working as a guard, so obviously the job is safety-crit.



A few questions I’m hoping someone might be able to help with:

• Will an ADHD diagnosis automatically trigger any kind of medical restriction?

• Would I need to go back to Occupational Health or even redo a full safety-critical medical?

• Has anyone here been diagnosed after already being in the role? What was the process/experience like with your TOC?

• And lastly, can ADHD medication be used in a safety-critical role, or would that affect fitness-for-duty?



I don’t want to hide anything but I also don’t want to unnecessarily worry myself if this is standard procedure. Any experiences appreciated!

 

[Horizon22]

I’m being pushed by my counsellor for myself to try and seek a diagnosis ADHD through the appropriate channels. I’m already working as a guard, so obviously the job is safety-crit.



A few questions I’m hoping someone might be able to help with:

• Will an ADHD diagnosis automatically trigger any kind of medical restriction?

• Would I need to go back to Occupational Health or even redo a full safety-critical medical?

• Has anyone here been diagnosed after already being in the role? What was the process/experience like with your TOC?

• And lastly, can ADHD medication be used in a safety-critical role, or would that affect fitness-for-duty?



I don’t want to hide anything but I also don’t want to unnecessarily worry myself if this is standard procedure. Any experiences appreciated!

I would suggest getting in touch with your local rep and union - presumably the RMT - who will be better placed to answer many of these questions.

 

[whoosh]

I dont know the answers to your questions, but I'll leave these links here which you may find helpful. There is an increased awareness about neurodivergence within the industry these days.

Understanding ADHD | Rail Wellbeing Live

Learn about the complexities of diagnosing and managing ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) in adults along with common traits, the hurdles involved in assessments and diagnosis, and effective coping strategies. Find out how ADHD both impacts and enhances daily functioning and gain...

railwellbeinglive.co.uk

Understanding ADHD: your questions answered | Rail Wellbeing Live

In this special edition, Specialist ADHD Coach, Ian Hall returns to answer the many questions that were asked during the Wellbeing Wednesday 'Understanding ADHD'.

www.railwellbeinglive.co.uk

Neurodiversity In Rail: 10 Challenges To The Industry - Red In The Spectrum

Red in the Spectrum's Janine Booth was the keynote speaker at the 2024 Neurodiversity in Rail conference held at Birmingham University on 21 May.

redinthespectrum.co.uk

I dont think you'll automatically trigger anything.
This really depends on whether you are struggling with aspects of your role. The employer should make 'reasonable adjustments' if that is the case.

You passed your last full periodical medical - unless you've had lots of time off leading up to this, which is related, then that would still stand I would think.
If you are struggling with aspects of your role however, then Occupational Health may help making 'reasonable adjustments'.

If this is mainly your personal life that this is affecting, and everything at work is okay, then I wouldn't worry.

Some medications you can't take and be safety critical.
Some medications you can take, but need to be 'off-track' whilst you acclimatise to them or have a change in dosage.
Some are okay.
This is all medications, whatever they are for.

Tell your GP you are safety critical, and it may narrow the field and avoid you being given ones you can't have at all. Then tell your Occupational Health when you get your prescription.

 

[thetom22]

Hi all.

TPE are advertising Trainee Conductor roles across their network, but part of the application is a Psychometric test which you don't normally see for a Conductor role. It's usually required for a Driver role.

Does anyone know that if you fail a Conductors Psychometric does it go towards your total Psychometric attempts even for Driver roles? You only get two or three attempts in a lifetime and I don't want to potentially waste one on a Conducter role.

Cheers.

 

[Horizon22]

Hi all.

TPE are advertising Trainee Conductor roles across their network, but part of the application is a Psychometric test which you don't normally see for a Conductor role. It's usually required for a Driver role.

Does anyone know that if you fail a Conductors Psychometric does it go towards your total Psychometric attempts even for Driver roles? You only get two or three attempts in a lifetime and I don't want to potentially waste one on a Conducter role.

Cheers.

Pyschometric tests are used for all sorts of roles on the railway, not just for drivers. Controllers, signallers and even dispatch and revenue often have tests.

I am pretty sure it would not count, as they are probably a different type of pyschometric test (of which there are many).

 

[GPZpilot]

Good Morning All, currently awaiting my Psychometric test and trying to get some realistic practice materials for the WAFV test as this is what I failed on last time. I have found the following package:

https://traineetraindriverinfo.com/product/reaction-vigilance-test-training/

Wondering if anyone can can give any feedback on how realistic/effective it is
and what kind of device it is compatible with (only have a samsung tablet and phone), do I need a PC or laptop and separate mouse/hand controls, and does it have to be purchased/downloaded on the same device it is going to be used on.

A lot of questions but I am not getting any response out of the supplier and the test date is looming.

Thanks All

GPZ

 

[mcgrindah]

This is a Windows version, meaning you'd need a device with Windows operating system to use it on. A Samsung tablet or phone won't work.

I bought this and found it very useful practise for the real thing. The main difference between this software and the real thing, is that the shades of grey on the real thing are much closer together. What I mean by that is that it's much harder on the real thing to notice the change, whereas it's easier on the software.

In my opinion it's still very useful, gets you practising the concentration required to pass it.

 

[Brickz]

No practice stuff needed really, best thing to do is each time it changes blink as this helps reset your eyes to the colour of the square and if it hasn't changed for a abit then do another quick blink as mentioned this will help your eyes spot to colour change when it happens.

 

[Ridetherails]

Also count every square as will keep your focus from drifting

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Sometimes it will change after a couple, sometimes it can be 30+grey before a black

 

[RiverDon]

Good Morning All, currently awaiting my Psychometric test and trying to get some realistic practice materials for the WAFV test as this is what I failed on last time. I have found the following package:

https://traineetraindriverinfo.com/product/reaction-vigilance-test-training/

Wondering if anyone can can give any feedback on how realistic/effective it is
and what kind of device it is compatible with (only have a samsung tablet and phone), do I need a PC or laptop and separate mouse/hand controls, and does it have to be purchased/downloaded on the same device it is going to be used on.

A lot of questions but I am not getting any response out of the supplier and the test date is looming.

Thanks All

GPZ

I can't help with the original question, sorry but I do know some of my former police colleagues used resources from that site and it worked for them.

I found this probably the easiest one out of the three computer tests. You just have to remember to blink and refocus your eyes occasionally. I glanced up at a poster on the wall opposite for less than a second every now and then and it was enough to reset my vision. Try not to get distracted by other people hitting their buttons, you'll read on here that everyone gets the same test program (which is true) so if someone else in the room starts just ahead of you it'll give you a clue that your square is about to change too when they hit their button, but that's a big risk to take if they aren't very good at it! I suggest wearing the headphones if the supervisor allows it.

Don't do what someone did at my test session, he misunderstood the instructions and was waiting till the black square changed back to grey again before hitting the button and he failed.

Good luck!

 

[GPZpilot]

This is a Windows version, meaning you'd need a device with Windows operating system to use it on. A Samsung tablet or phone won't work.

I bought this and found it very useful practise for the real thing. The main difference between this software and the real thing, is that the shades of grey on the real thing are much closer together. What I mean by that is that it's much harder on the real thing to notice the change, whereas it's easier on the software.

In my opinion it's still very useful, gets you practising the concentration required to pass it.

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Thanks to you all for your replies and encouragement, best wishes

GPZ

 

[dalesrail]

Hi all

On the group bourdon practice materials, there are 25 individual groups of dots on each line. Does anybody know if this is same as on the real assessment, or are there more or less. I have heard that they are likely to be larger

Thanks

 

[seeitsoon]

Has anyone experienced the new 2 stage colour vision test as part of their medical? I believe it was being introduced as part of the RSSB review, but not sure if this is industry wide.

 

[spike3000]

So I recently applied for the trainee train driver position at Northern. I did the psychometric test based in Leeds and managed to pass 6 out of the 7 tests, the one I failed being the TEA-OCC. I know I have to wait a year before I have to apply again but does anybody if my results are valid for 5 years and is that for other TOCs, I don't want to apply for other TOCs and find out I have to go through the whole psychometric assesment again.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Dec 2025 ==

Hi all

On the group bourdon practice materials, there are 25 individual groups of dots on each line. Does anybody know if this is same as on the real assessment, or are there more or less. I have heard that they are likely to be larger

Thanks

I think on the real assessment there is more, and it's split up into 5 sections. Whenever the tester tells you to change you have to stop what you're doing on that section and move to the next one. It's better to mark off 30 and get them all right then get 40 and get 3 wrong.

 

[Unobrow]

Hi all

On the group bourdon practice materials, there are 25 individual groups of dots on each line. Does anybody know if this is same as on the real assessment, or are there more or less. I have heard that they are likely to be larger

Thanks

It doesn’t matter how many lines there are, just concentrate on accuracy and speed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Dec 2025 ==

So I recently applied for the trainee train driver position at Northern. I did the psychometric test based in Leeds and managed to pass 6 out of the 7 tests, the one I failed being the TEA-OCC. I know I have to wait a year before I have to apply again but does anybody if my results are valid for 5 years and is that for other TOCs, I don't want to apply for other TOCs and find out I have to go through the whole psychometric assesment again.

It depends on if your scores are enough for other companies that may put you through the process. You’ll obviously have to do the TEAOCC again, but possibly others if you haven't reached their benchmark criteria. Be that enhanced or otherwise. Conversely, you may find that all your scores exceed other companies minimum and all you have to do is the TEAOCC. Just take it as it comes, and worse case, you know what to expect in any tests you may have to retake.

 

[fingerscross96]

Hi all, I recently sat an opc pyschometric test around October for ARL and failed the dfft enhanced standard but passed GB, TEA-OCC AND SJT all at enhanced standard
Recently saw that GWR first group are recruiting and they had asked if I had failed a pyschometric assesment in the last 6 months, as GWR is a national standard rate pass mark, I didn't fail according to their standard, and OPC made clear that I only failed at the enhanced standard for ARL. I clicked I didn't "fail" but I'm very confused where that leaves me if my application will continue or be halted due to failing the enhanced standard a couple months back.

 

[Scouse_scott]

Its been a long time since I took the psychometric tests and I cant remember all the jargon.

You will be fine, when it comes to doing the OPC test next time you will just pick up where you left off if GWR only require national standard.

 

[lifeisarail]

You only failed the DFFT at Enhanced Standard, which is operator-specific (ARL in this case).
You should be all good

 

[NSEWonderer]

Hi all, I recently sat an opc pyschometric test around October for ARL and failed the dfft enhanced standard but passed GB, TEA-OCC AND SJT all at enhanced standard
Recently saw that GWR first group are recruiting and they had asked if I had failed a pyschometric assesment in the last 6 months, as GWR is a national standard rate pass mark, I didn't fail according to their standard, and OPC made clear that I only failed at the enhanced standard for ARL. I clicked I didn't "fail" but I'm very confused where that leaves me if my application will continue or be halted due to failing the enhanced standard a couple months back.

It shouldn't affect you on GWR as they don't recognise/ use dfft for thier testing.

 

[cpwaters]

Absolutely gutted to fail my DMI this week. I left it knowing with that gut feeling.

Does failing a DMI count as one of your strikes?

This is my first time through the process and have not failed any other assessments.

And I’ve seen mixed responses to the next question…

I can’t reapply for a minimum of 6 months to the company… is that specific to Thameslink or GTR?
(Can I apply to Southern?)

Many thanks

What was it like?
Have 2 DMI's in the next couple of weeks.

 

[fingerscross96]

It shouldn't affect you on GWR as they don't recognise/ use dfft for thier testing.

Thank you for your response

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Its been a long time since I took the psychometric tests and I cant remember all the jargon.

You will be fine, when it comes to doing the OPC test next time you will just pick up where you left off if GWR only require national standard.

Thank you, hopefully I've passed the initial online sjt again to get through to the next stages.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Thank you for your response

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Thank you, hopefully I've passed the initial online sjt again to get through to the next stages.

GWRs SJT if passed should instantly refer you to the next assessment which is the error checking test.

 

[fingerscross96]

GWRs SJT if passed should instantly refer you to the next assessment which is the error checking test.

Ok, I've also done the error checking tests, that should suggest I've met the requirements of the SJT right? If I pass the error checking, because I've already passed the national standard for OPC I guess I should be good for day 2 of psychometric too

 

[NSEWonderer]

Ok, I've also done the error checking tests, that should suggest I've met the requirements of the SJT right? If I pass the error checking, because I've already passed the national standard for OPC I guess I should be good for day 2 of psychometric too

Ideally yes.

 

[Kris B]

I sat my psychometrics last month with Northern Rail and passed all the assessments but only passed group bourdon to national standard meaning I didn't sit the MMI. I know I can apply to any company that accepts national standard or wait 12 months to re apply with Northern. Do I need to wait 12 months to apply for other companies that require enhanced, or could I just re take group bourdon? Also if I re applied for Northen after 12 months would I be on my second life?

 

[Northrail127]

You’d have to wait 12 months to apply for other companies that require an enhanced standard and yes this would be your 2nd life either way if going for enhanced standard. It would only not be your second life if the company you applied for was National standard, this would allow you to go straight to an MMI.

 

[Vision_117]

Hi all

Hoping for some clarification.

I passed psychometrics for TPE to enhanced in 2022 except for the 2 hand coordination which I passed to the national standard.

I then passed the MMI to enhanced for Northern in 2023 (all the previous ones I’d sat for TPE were still valid and up to Northerns standard).

I’ve then resat the lot with TPE this year seen as the standard changed because none were valid anymore. Passed all to enhanced except joysticks which was passed to the national standard again.

My question is does a pass to national standard count as a fail/not allowed to attempt again. I only have a total of two attempts and I’ve attempted the joysticks twice now but not actually failed them, just not met the enhanced standard for TPE.

Hope that makes sense!