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CrossCountry - Apprentice Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

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Timmnta

Member
Joined
3 Sep 2019
Messages
34
Location
Birmingham
Anyone that has completed them can you shed some light on what the two tests are at the early stage? Seems different to when I applied and attempting to help a friend.

The two tests are:
Apprentice Job-Focused Assessment and spatial ability test.

What do they get you doing? Cheers
 

Arussoco

Member
Joined
6 Apr 2024
Messages
73
Location
Edinburgh
Anyone that has completed them can you shed some light on what the two tests are at the early stage? Seems different to when I applied and attempting to help a friend.

The two tests are:
Apprentice Job-Focused Assessment and spatial ability test.

What do they get you doing? Cheers
Basically it's Situational Judgemental Test and Spatial awareness is seeing your ability to process rotating shapes and symbols, Type them in google loads and loads of stuff on them that's the best thing to do

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Got the email not long ago, finished the questionnaire and then done a practise spatial test online.. got 2/10 so I better get practising
Yeah the spatial test is completely new to me never heard of it before .

Just checking they haven't sent the actual link to do the tests ? and it was only to complete the questionnaire by Thursday
 
Joined
21 Oct 2025
Messages
19
Location
London
Basically it's Situational Judgemental Test and Spatial awareness is seeing your ability to process rotating shapes and symbols, Type them in google loads and loads of stuff on them that's the best thing to do

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


Yeah the spatial test is completely new to me never heard of it before .

Just checking they haven't sent the actual link to do the tests ? and it was only to complete the questionnaire by Thursday

For anyone who is practising spatial, this website has some fairly good tests = https://www.123test.com/spatial-reasoning-test/#its123-testAnchor .

No link to tests have been sent out yet, my guess is the questionnaire is a further mini sift to make sure everyone qualifies.
 

Jordan1991

Member
Joined
25 Sep 2022
Messages
216
Location
Poynton
Is anyone still waiting for the outcome of the last spatial awareness which we did months ago? I did mine for Manc. Do you think we can assume it’s been unsuccessful seems as we’ve had no update by now?
 

chalkijr

Member
Joined
13 Apr 2023
Messages
188
Location
Crewe
Is anyone still waiting for the outcome of the last spatial awareness which we did months ago? I did mine for Manc. Do you think we can assume it’s been unsuccessful seems as we’ve had no update by now?
Yeah I'm still waiting too, in for Manchester. Not been told otherwise so just assuming we are still in but just on hold in the process.
 

jaybon92

Member
Joined
28 Sep 2025
Messages
134
Location
Corby
Is anyone still waiting for the outcome of the last spatial awareness which we did months ago? I did mine for Manc. Do you think we can assume it’s been unsuccessful seems as we’ve had no update by now?
If you can remember, is there spatial awareness really difficult like on the online ones?
 

calrawhite86

New Member
Joined
4 Nov 2025
Messages
1
Location
Dudley
Anyone completed the Assessment 1: Apprentice 8.0 Job-focused assessment and Assessment 2: Verify-Spatial Ability Test

How was it?
 

jaybon92

Member
Joined
28 Sep 2025
Messages
134
Location
Corby
Nice, I will go get a PhD in having a brain like Einstein first then

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Some tests im getting 80/90 percent and some im getting 20
 
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jaybon92

Member
Joined
28 Sep 2025
Messages
134
Location
Corby
Yeah me too. Filled the form in right away.

Also just did a practice spatial awareness test and got 4/10. So not bad but room for improvement.
Im finding the more i practise the more techniques I find. And different ways of looking at it
 

Arne

Member
Joined
11 Jun 2025
Messages
29
Location
Blaydon
Has anyone applied for an xc role recently with a full recent pass of the psychometrics? Did you still have to do the online tests/assessments or did you go straight to DMI?
 

KaneLeb

Member
Joined
9 Jul 2025
Messages
58
Location
ECML
Got the email to do the questionnaire and initial spatial reasoning test. Spatial reasoning is far from my strong suite, so I've been practicing whilst I can. Best of luck to everyone on this next stage!
 
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Joined
21 Oct 2025
Messages
19
Location
London
Got the email to do the questionnaire and initial spatial reasoning test. Spatial reasoning is far from my strong suite, so I've been practicing whilst I can. Best of luck to everyone on this next stage!

Did you get a link for the actual spatial assessment or just a email saying you will have to do it ?
 

Rainstorm2

New Member
Joined
31 Oct 2025
Messages
2
Location
Scotland
Got the email detailing all the next steps, with the link to complete before the end of 06/11. The link was just generic questions relating to the application and not any online assessments. Has anyone had any online assessments yet?
 

MH117

Member
Joined
13 Aug 2024
Messages
54
Location
sheffield
Has anyone applied for an xc role recently with a full recent pass of the psychometrics? Did you still have to do the online tests/assessments or did you go straight to DMI?
You still have to do the online tests for every application regardless of company. Only if you get through that will you go straight through to DMI
 

KaneLeb

Member
Joined
9 Jul 2025
Messages
58
Location
ECML
Did you get a link for the actual spatial assessment or just a email saying you will have to do it ?
I got the link to the questionnaire, with the email stating the following steps are the two assessments. My apologies, I worded my previous message badly!
 

jaybon92

Member
Joined
28 Sep 2025
Messages
134
Location
Corby
Got the email to do the questionnaire and initial spatial reasoning test. Spatial reasoning is far from my strong suite, so I've been practicing whilst I can. Best of luck to everyone on this next stage!
I've been practicing it alot as im not good either. Im getting a mix bag of results. 80/90 percent correct and then 10/20 percent correct... I have a feeling for me it will be the luck of the draw and not my spatial skills
 

KaneLeb

Member
Joined
9 Jul 2025
Messages
58
Location
ECML
I've been practicing it alot as im not good either. Im getting a mix bag of results. 80/90 percent correct and then 10/20 percent correct... I have a feeling for me it will be the luck of the draw and not my spatial skills
I'm with you there! The practice I feel is definitely handy though, as it helps you recognise patterns and what to look for - but I'm still not confident and as you say, I think may be the luck of the draw for myself. All anyone can do is their best and play to their strengths. Best of luck moving forward! :D
 

jaybon92

Member
Joined
28 Sep 2025
Messages
134
Location
Corby
I'm with you there! The practice I feel is definitely handy though, as it helps you recognise patterns and what to look for - but I'm still not confident and as you say, I think may be the luck of the draw for myself. All anyone can do is their best and play to their strengths. Best of luck moving forward! :D
Yes that's it, I have another TOC il be able to nappy for early in the next year that's actually closer to me so if I fail this then ibhave time to just practise practise

Good luck !!
 
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jaybon92

Member
Joined
28 Sep 2025
Messages
134
Location
Corby
I understand that it's abit of a grey area for answers but do you think it's about accuracy and not how many answered?

For example I could answer 22 question but get 10 right

Or annswer15 and get 10 right.

I get the need for some of these tests but the spatial one seems a little off track as I know there's people who "just know" the answers and people who don't. Abit like asking for us to ride a unicycle to pass to the next stage
 

KaneLeb

Member
Joined
9 Jul 2025
Messages
58
Location
ECML
I understand that it's abit of a grey area for answers but do you think it's about accuracy and not how many answered?

For example I could answer 22 question but get 10 right

Or annswer15 and get 10 right.

I get the need for some of these tests but the spatial one seems a little off track as I know there's people who "just know" the answers and people who don't. Abit like asking for us to ride a unicycle to pass to the next stage
Again don't quote me on this, but from my understanding from reading previous threads on here, they are looking for a mixture of speed and accuracy - focus on accuracy before trying to get faster. I don't think anyone truly has the answer for this sadly, though I'm willing to be proved wrong. In my eyes, just focus on what you can control, and that is simply just doing the best that you can on the day.
 

timmy827

Member
Joined
10 Jun 2025
Messages
28
Location
Devon
Hi all,

I’ve recently passed the MMI and psychometric tests for the XC trainee driver positions. I’m wondering if any cross country drivers or other staff might be able to share what the working week actually looks like for drivers?

I understand that it’s shift work, and that it’s changeable, but it’s difficult to get a feel for what the job actually entails without something more specific to go on!

I’ve applied for the Plymouth depot.

Thanks
 

irish_rail

On Moderation
Joined
30 Oct 2013
Messages
4,515
Location
Plymouth
Not a XC driver, but there are some "interesting" Ts and Cs such as very large movement when spare (something like
if you are rostered at 10am spare you can be moved something like up to 12 hours?) At Plymouth expect to go to Laira depot at the start or end of evert shift depending on if your earlies or lates, with probably a Bristol and back as well. There is also some Birmingham work. It's good money, but Sundays are outside though you are expected to work them unless you can get them covered. The queue to get onto Laira depot can be frustrating end of the shift so expect some late finishes (however often XC are allowed to leapfrog GWR trains getting on for some reason!). Decent bunch of drivers and the train managers and hosts all seem very friendly without exception.
Hopefully someone from XC can confirm and clarify some of the above, as like I said I don't actually work for them!
 

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