MamboJambo
New Member
Anyone who has recently done the Spatial Ability Test, were there many questions with the net of a shape? As in the Net of a cube for example?
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CrossCountry - Apprentice Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion
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mr_ixolite
Member
That's interesting, I assumed it was just a general iq test
Interesting to know for sure. Although I'm not too certain how the spatial test can show how trainable someone is? (I'd love to be enlightened.) However, I am going to give it my absolute best shot - that's all anyone can do. Just practicing for the time being until I have a day off work to give it 100%. Best of luck to all!
offtherails174
Member
I agree, still people who pass the rail standard test and fail the dmi having passed these sift tests.. I’m sure there is plenty of potential candidates who could pass the dmi who don’t get through. Sad really
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I really don’t think it is anything related.. maybe people with a higher IQ can do these tests better. However, working in safety critical environments isn’t about IQ - it’s about following rules and there are many industries other than rail who demonstrate you don’t need to be a genius to do that - you just have the right mind set. These roles are massively over subscribed- it’s the only way to do it and I think really to manage anyone expectations - you might pass the interview process then to be added to a talent pool where new potentially, better candidates than you are added every 6 months whom may have a shorter notice period and ready to start training at the drop of a hat. Of course pending a training course being available and position at the depot. When you’ve eventually done these tests - you won’t hear anything for months - just a dose of reality here… apologies.
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The more frustrating thing is that there is people who can do these spatial reasoning questions without thinking. They "just know" the answer gives a fairly unfair chance. If it was a test on episodes of still game im sure a few of us would just know the answer haha
mr_ixolite
Member
Maybe, but at the same time you probably don't want a complete meat head at the controls of 100 tons of metal travelling at 125mph
mr_ixolite
Member
Good luck
nlknraeflnvaek
Member
Did you happen to get a lot of nets questions ? I think 13 out of 22 of mine were all about cubes, either folding them or unfolding them.
Yeah most of them
replacementbus
Member
About 35%/40% of the questions, I would say, not that I was keeping record. Maybe it just felt like there were more because they're the hardest.
Oh well I've gave it a go.
The personality/behaviour one was fine. Did well there I think
Spatial ability on the other hand I think I've failed massively. Only done 20 questions. Guessed a few, wasn't confident on other answers. So presumably that will probably be the end of my journey. I understand it's a sifting thing but it seems utterly pointless and bares no resemblance as to whether someone would make a good apprentice.
The personality/behaviour one was fine. Did well there I think
Spatial ability on the other hand I think I've failed massively. Only done 20 questions. Guessed a few, wasn't confident on other answers. So presumably that will probably be the end of my journey. I understand it's a sifting thing but it seems utterly pointless and bares no resemblance as to whether someone would make a good apprentice.
I hear what you're saying but I think its more about how you stay calm under pressure, how consistent you are at methodically working through the questions, are you getting slower or faster, are you improving as the questions go on, can you complete the task in the time given without getting worse towards the end when the time starts running out you panic answer etc etc. This is because the tests that you sit in Manchester are all under pressure against time. They are all speed focused but hard to stay at the same consistent speed whilst improving slightly and you have to pinpoint small details very very quickly. They are looking for someone who can learn quickly, spot problems and small details quickly, able to complete tasks competently within their time frames. The training is apparently intense and you handle a lot of methodical data and technical knowledge in a short space of time. I suppose they need to make sure each candidate can do that.
I'm sure you did OK and you gave it your best shot!! Well done
Yeah fair enough didn't really think about it like that. In that case I've definitely failed!
I was quite methodical at first but I did rush a few, and guessed about 8 of the 20 I answered because I didn't feel I had enough time or wasn't fully confident with my initial answer. 2/3 of the shape rotations were outright guesses. The others I just eliminated a couple of answers and then tried to accurately guess, as no time to work through it all. The first 10 took me about 10 minutes.I suppose you never know and from reading this forum there's been others who thought they've failed but got through so I guess time will tell. I'm going to park it mentally for now anyway and just assume I'm out unless I hear otherwise. Good luck to everyone else.
Think also it can show who has potentially prepped and done some "homework" on what's expected. The training your expected to be doing alot of work and studying on the outside of the training hours, without doing so you'll struggle. Although being good at the spatial doesn't always mean you've prepped and studied it but can make the difference
I get it does seem super irrelevant as there's people who just know the answers to them that's how their brain works. But it also shows you can learn a new skill
Thats my theory after really thinking about it. Because I wasn't happy with how irrelevant it was at first
I get it does seem super irrelevant as there's people who just know the answers to them that's how their brain works. But it also shows you can learn a new skill
Thats my theory after really thinking about it. Because I wasn't happy with how irrelevant it was at first
Its a multiple choice about yourself. Click relevant answers. Fairly straight forward and easy
That’s spot on thank you, I was expecting something a tad more in depth with the way it’s worded on the email! That’s put me at ease!
Just finished the online tests - I thought the spatial ability test was SO much harder than anything I found online (and I felt I'd practiced a lot for it). Definitely had to guess a fair few! Now we just wait and see
Good luck to everyone else!
Good luck to everyone else!
BHMGuard
Member
I’ve also finished mine. Found the cube questions the hardest. The counting of shapes and rotation I felt fairly comfortable with. Agree that it was much harder than anything I had practiced.
Well done the spatial ability gave it my best shot so will just wait and see , I was somehow expecting it to tell you what to do like flip this shape 45 degree or 90 degree etc not just presented with a picture and answers with no explanation lol. Filmed myself doing it so was able to look back at what a mess i made doing it. The counting shapes etc was easy but when i look back i think to myself why did i click that because it's wrong , obviously that's where the time and pressure come into it
Well, I practised and didn't rush into it after getting the email.
I agree, this spacial test was definitely much harder than any practise material I'd tried. Counting the blocks was fine but there were definitely 1 or 3 questions that my brain just said 'no' and I wasted time resetting my thoughts to work them out.
Feel like I didn't do well, but hopefully I did.
Managed to finish it in time.
It's 22 questions in 15 mins for those wondering.
1 or 2 of them my mind was like is this spot the difference? Why am I not seeing the difference like the practise tests??
Oh well, fingers crossed.
I agree, this spacial test was definitely much harder than any practise material I'd tried. Counting the blocks was fine but there were definitely 1 or 3 questions that my brain just said 'no' and I wasted time resetting my thoughts to work them out.
Feel like I didn't do well, but hopefully I did.
Managed to finish it in time.
It's 22 questions in 15 mins for those wondering.
1 or 2 of them my mind was like is this spot the difference? Why am I not seeing the difference like the practise tests??
Oh well, fingers crossed.
starshine81
Member
Found the spatial tests really tricky!
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Yes there is, think it was 15 minutes to answer 22 questions. It goes quickly!
MamboJambo
New Member
Thanks mate. Still to do the tests. Been getting some practice in but yeah the nets are tricky.
I watched quite a few different youtube videos which had helpful tips like. What edges will touch and what squares will be opposites. Really helped me quickly eliminate some of the answers instead of spending too much time on each answer
MamboJambo
New Member
Good luck mate. Sounds like you gave yourself the best shot at success and fingers crossed you get to the next stage in the process. I was wondering if the questions are timed individually or if you have just got 15 mins and can take as much or little time as you need per question. I have done some practice tests on a website called assessmentday.com which is supposedly pretty similar to the SHL tests. However if you haven't answered a question within 40 seconds it skips to the next one which is annoying because there are some answers which i can get within say 20 seconds and others i would probably need 60 secs so i would hope that it would average out.
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You tube has been getting lots of traffic from me...My algorithm has defo changed a bit haha
mr_ixolite
Member
It's 15 minutes for the whole test, individual questions aren't timed, I had exactly the same issue as you with the practice tests available but I found the real test easier in that regard because I could take a bit of time to think about the ones I needed to