First attempt failed.

[stargazer]

Gutted.

After 18 months of trying to get this far, I failed my first attempt at the driver assessments today.

I had already passed the Group Bourdon, mechanical aptitude, and TRP last week. I had the DTG and CBI today.

I got a borderline pass on the DTG. Northern don't accept this, so I didn't get a chance at the CBI.

Another 6 months to wait now.

 

[Degsi00]

Don't stop trying mate... You know what you faltered on so have another opportunity to prep and excel next time. Good luck and all the best!

 

[Lincoln_biker]

Which one is DGT?

 

[Beveridges]

IIRC Northern are the only TOC in the UK who do not accept borderline passes.

 

[stargazer]

Which one is DGT?

DTG is the reactions test.

I was fast enough, but not accurate enough. Too many mistakes.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

IIRC Northern are the only TOC in the UK who do not accept borderline passes.

Yes I have heard this. I'll try again in six months though the next time another MDD job comes up. Neville Hill will be my workplace!

 

[slipperytrack]

I got a borderline pass today too on the second part of the DTG. I really thought I had it beat today as it's my second borderline pass on that test within 6 months and felt I did so much better than the first time I attempted the DTG six months ago.

Whilst doing the test this morning, the laptop they run the program on crashed on me during part 2 of my first attempt. A low tone sounded so I pressed "L" and nothing happened, I pressed it again and still nothing, then the screen went blank. I told the lady and she said that there was nothing she could do as the test had started.

She eventually had to stop the test and contact her tech support as the machine was now flashing an error message.

I did eventually do the test again but with no success.

...glad I broke the bloody thing now

Good luck on your next attempt Stargazer, you all seemed like a good bunch of blokes.

 

[455driver]

Gutted.

I failed my first attempt at the driver assessments today.

I got a borderline pass on the DTG. Northern don't accept this, so I didn't get a chance at the CBI.

Another 6 months to wait now.

So which part did you fail then?
All I see is passes (a borderline pass is still a pass), the fact Northern did not continue with the tests doesnt mean you failed, at least that is how I read it.

 

[Bert and Ernie]

IIRC Northern are the only TOC in the UK who do not accept borderline passes.

Ermm no, no TOC apart from GA accept borderline passes

 

[JCLeeds]

Slippery & Star - that makes 3 of us - borderlines on pt2 of the DTG. I wholeheartedly sympathise, I know what its like to live and breath this for months then get so near but so far. Guess we will all be back in the Fray in February, maybe see you back at DBS then

 

[GB]

It seems an odd way to go about things.

Would have thought it were more logical to be allowed to finish it all to maximize your chances next time around.

Now you have the added pressure of resitting the DTG and completing the CBI.

 

[142094]

Whilst doing the test this morning, the laptop they run the program on crashed on me during part 2 of my first attempt. A low tone sounded so I pressed "L" and nothing happened, I pressed it again and still nothing, then the screen went blank. I told the lady and she said that there was nothing she could do as the test had started.

She eventually had to stop the test and contact her tech support as the machine was now flashing an error message.

I did eventually do the test again but with no success.

I've heard from three people who said the same has happened to them at Doncaster (where the computer kept going instead of stopping after the allocated time). TBH I'm starting to doubt that it is co-incidence.

 

[stargazer]

So which part did you fail then?
All I see is passes (a borderline pass is still a pass), the fact Northern did not continue with the tests doesnt mean you failed, at least that is how I read it.

How is it treated officially though? In the eyes of other TOCs et al?

Like you say, I haven't failed anything, but also haven't completed a full driver assessment?

I'm fine with only having one chance left, but it does seem I'm in a strange 'limbo'.

Slippery - sorry, I think I was in the loo when you came out, I can't imagine what you are feeling now.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It seems an odd way to go about things.

Would have thought it were more logical to be allowed to finish it all to maximize your chances next time around.

Now you have the added pressure of resitting the DTG and completing the CBI.

If I go for Northern again, which I almost certainly will, I will have to sit everything again.

 

[GadgetMan]

You still have both chances intact as you haven't actually failed the assessment.

 

[windnoise69]

FGW also don't accept borderline passes

 

[TDK]

Ermm no, no TOC apart from GA accept borderline passes

Companies used to accept any pass however it is the practice material available now a days that has increased the pass rate on all the tests, this is unfortunate and in my opinion I think the pass level should be increased.

 

[stargazer]

It does seem odd, to pass, but not enough.

It would make more sense to me to move the cut off higher and just have pass/fail.

 

[Beveridges]

It does seem odd, to pass, but not enough.

It would make more sense to me to move the cut off higher and just have pass/fail.

The new tests are going to address that by being harder.

The aids made a big difference, for example, everyone who practices the dots test enough will pass the Group Boredom test.

I read some papers 7 years ago saying that officially 40% of people pass all the pyscho tests, I'd like to see what that figure is today with all the aids available and I bet it is a lot higher than 40%!

Apparantly they are failing more & more people in the structured interview to try to keep the pass rates down.

The SI used to be nothing more than a formality, with a 90% pass rate. Nowadays its seen as possibly the hardest part of the whole process.

 

[pip]

The new tests are going to address that by being harder.

The aids made a big difference, for example, everyone who practices the dots test enough will pass the Group Boredom test.

I read some papers 7 years ago saying that officially 40% of people pass all the pyscho tests, I'd like to see what that figure is today with all the aids available and I bet it is a lot higher than 40%!

Apparantly they are failing more & more people in the structured interview to try to keep the pass rates down.

The SI used to be nothing more than a formality, with a 90% pass rate. Nowadays its seen as possibly the hardest part of the whole process.

Is a failed SI a life lost?

 

[SkinnyDave]

Is a failed SI a life lost?

Putting it bluntly but yes

 

[Fred Dinenage]

Unlucky Pip, me too.

Could anyone shine any light on how the SI is scored,please? Just curious, is the scoring rigid or open to an individual Interviewer's interpretation of given answers / examples?

 

[TDK]

IIRC Northern are the only TOC in the UK who do not accept borderline passes.

Maybe Bev, the others just fail you at interview instead as so many are passing the assessments.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I read some papers 7 years ago saying that officially 40% of people pass all the pyscho tests, I'd like to see what that figure is today with all the aids available and I bet it is a lot higher than 40%!

QUOTE]

10 years ago it was one in ten that got to managers interview and 2 out of 10 that passed the aptitude tests it is probably 8 out of 10 now. Nothing has changed except the practice material is readily available and that is why I am against it.

 

[SkinnyDave]

How are you going to stop that though TDK?
That Richard Mcmunn has already started producing materials for the new tests and adding them to his full day courses.
If there is money to be had in these things then practice material will be readily available.

Rotating them between assessment centres could be an option and getting candidates to sign non disclosure of details of the day if practical.

I'm also amazed that they don't do personality profiling as part of the process before structured and management interviews. My company don't recruit without doing them and sometimes twice

 

[Fred Dinenage]

9 of us attended Leeds on Tuesday and only 2 of us made it to the Structured Interview, then we've been informed we didn't meet the standard. However, that's only my experience.

Do you feel the present format is allowing too many unsuitable people to qualify?

 

[Daniel84]

9 of us attended Leeds on Tuesday and only 2 of us made it to the Structured Interview, then we've been informed we didn't meet the standard. However, that's only my experience.

Do you feel the present format is allowing too many unsuitable people to qualify?

How long did it take for them to get back to you on the structured interview? I was there yesterday and am awaiting a response, not hopeful to be honest, just wondered when I'd be put out of my misery.

 

[Fred Dinenage]

Attended Tuesday, got the bad news via e-mail lunchtime today. It said we didn't reach the standard required by Northern, I've asked for feedback regarding this. I presume it was the SI I failed, though it didn't say that.

 

[Daniel84]

Attended Tuesday, got the bad news via e-mail lunchtime today. It said we didn't reach the standard required by Northern, I've asked for feedback regarding this. I presume it was the SI I failed, though it didn't say that.

Unlucky mate, to get to the very last stage is so disappointing if you then don't make it through. I sort of expected to hear today if it was good news, as I haven't, I presume the worst. Good luck with any future applications.

 

[Fred Dinenage]

Yes, I thought I was in with a chance. I locate / repair Gas Escapes for a living, not Train driving but still safety critical and customer based..my examples musn't have been up to scratch.

Best of luck to you too, hope you get good news

 

[Daniel84]

Yes, I thought I was in with a chance. I locate / repair Gas Escapes for a living, not Train driving but still safety critical and customer based..my examples musn't have been up to scratch.

Best of luck to you too, hope you get good news

With me coming from an office background, my examples don't seem that they would stack up too well to anything you could have put forward, so if I didn't feel too confident before, I've a feeling that I've no chance now.

 

[Fred Dinenage]

I'm not sure that's how it works..I've asked in another thread regarding the scoring format. Perhaps I didn't put forward my experiences in the correct manner, or do they look for key words / phrases? I work safely, certainly - but I've still failed.

I've read Train Drivers come from all backgrounds, no need for you to feel despondent yet - I hope you get good news mate

 

[TDK]

9 of us attended Leeds on Tuesday and only 2 of us made it to the Structured Interview, then we've been informed we didn't meet the standard. However, that's only my experience.

Do you feel the present format is allowing too many unsuitable people to qualify?

Certainly, yes, there are far too many unsuitable people passing the tests and this is why so many fail the interviews. With the practice material available I am sorry to say that many more will fail the interviews. I am just wondering what sort of a drivers pool we will end up with to be fair. Over the last year the SPAD's have increased and I just wonder is this is anything to do with the current recruitment process.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'm not sure that's how it works..I've asked in another thread regarding the scoring format. Perhaps I didn't put forward my experiences in the correct manner, or do they look for key words / phrases? I work safely, certainly - but I've still failed.

I've read Train Drivers come from all backgrounds, no need for you to feel despondent yet - I hope you get good news mate

The scoring format works with the suitability of a candidate for the role. If you are asked a question there is a reason for this question as the question is directly related to the role of a train driver and the training required to become a train driver. If you answer is weak then obviously you will not pass an interview.