Group Bourdon Practice Results.

[choo~choo]

Hi guys, new user here.

I'm practicing the Group Bourdon tests from here http://www.digital-reality.org.uk/download.html

Any ideas what kind of results I should be seeing to be doing ok??

I have my driver assesment day on monday so am keen to know how poo I am

Many thanks for any help and advice..

 

[shamz]

Good luck with that my friend, I just recently joined cause I have an assessment on wednesday, I just used the program, got 43 correct and 0 wrong over 5 sheets and 2 min per sheet. Though I have no idea if thats good, I no I missed some but it wont show how many I missed.

 

[choo~choo]

Good luck with that my friend, I just recently joined cause I have an assessment on wednesday, I just used the program, got 43 correct and 0 wrong over 5 sheets and 2 min per sheet. Though I have no idea if thats good, I no I missed some but it wont show how many I missed.

Cheers mate, I'll check my result when I get in later, I passed it all before but turned the job down, silly boy lol...

 

[shamz]

How come you turned it down?

 

[LCC106]

I practised yesterday. 5 sheets, 8 or 9 rows on each, 1 omitted on final sheet (next to last row I completed). Not sure whether this is good or bad. I too have an assessment on Monday. It's in Leeds. Is that where you're going choo~choo? Best of luck to all anyway!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just practised again. 5 sheets, 8 or 9 rows each, 1 omitted on final sheet AGAIN! Row times slightly longer with a maximum of 10.something seconds on 3 of the sheets, but suspect that's down to tiredness following a work do lastnight!

What are your stats?

 

[choo~choo]

How come you turned it down?

I was offered an operations position instead and I naivley chased the money
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I practised yesterday. 5 sheets, 8 or 9 rows on each, 1 omitted on final sheet (next to last row I completed). Not sure whether this is good or bad. I too have an assessment on Monday. It's in Leeds. Is that where you're going choo~choo? Best of luck to all anyway!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just practised again. 5 sheets, 8 or 9 rows each, 1 omitted on final sheet AGAIN! Row times slightly longer with a maximum of 10.something seconds on 3 of the sheets, but suspect that's down to tiredness following a work do lastnight!

What are your stats?

I'm in Cardiff mate for atw.. My stats are :

Overall Statistics:
-------------------

Perception & Attention:

Targets Omitted ------------ 10
Marked Incorrect ----------- 1


Speed:

Total Cells ---------------- 1001
Mean Cell Time ------------- 0.389
Median Cell Time ----------- 0.350

Completed Rows ------------- 37
Mean Row Time -------------- 9.721
Median Row Time ------------ 9.880


Vigilance:

Row Fluctuation ------------ 3.34

All a bit confusing

 

[Latecomer]

I don't know what the minimum pass rate is but all I can say is that practice will certainly help. I believe the benchmark is that if you are getting half way down the page (or more) on each of the 5 sheets with less than 10 errors in total then you should be OK. If I remeber correctly I was reaching about 1400 cells with between 0-5 errors in practice and I passed on the day.

Keep practicing until you attain those sort of figures consistently and it's just about the only test that you can then go into with a fairly high degree of certainty of success.

 

[TDK]

If you listen to the question they ask for consistancy and accuracy, so, don't try to fill the first sheet as you won't keep up the pace. Do it as quick as you can accurately even if it is half a page, your aim will to make sure you get about the same on each sheet, if you get 75%, 70%, 70%, 50%, 40% it's a fail. If you 50% on all sheets and more on the last 2 (looks good) it will be a pass.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I don't know what the minimum pass rate is but all I can say is that practice will certainly help. I believe the benchmark is that if you are getting half way down the page (or more) on each of the 5 sheets with less than 10 errors in total then you should be OK. If I remeber correctly I was reaching about 1400 cells with between 0-5 errors in practice and I passed on the day.

Keep practicing until you attain those sort of figures consistently and it's just about the only test that you can then go into with a fairly high degree of certainty of success.

When I did mine I got approximately 60% on each page with no ommisions or mistakes and I passed with a high grade.

 

[LCC106]

Really useful info guys - thanks!

 

[choo~choo]

Yeah thanks fellas good luck LCC
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
How'd you get on LCC? The light blew me away lol... In the hands of the gods now haha.. I should know thurs

 

[LCC106]

How about you?

Well - forgive the in-depth explanation but this is copied from facebook:

OK, slept well, fully prepared, arrived dead early, saw Northern guys in W'spoons who'd been for assessments in morning, talked about their experiences of the day's tests.

My experience: 8 of us there, all for Sheffield. 3 are Northern 'ees, 1 is shunter driver elsewhere + 1 is signalman elsewhere.

Guard said Northern usually recruit from within, she was surprised there were externals. (Has this been a complete waste of my time?)

1 external who recognises me from elsewhere failed 1st interview but was called to assessment last minute. (Er, wish I knew why...)

Dots - think I did ok but put off by pencil noises of those obviously slightly ahead of me around me.

Mechanics - answered 32 of 36. Not mega confident AT ALL but if I'd done any more swotting up yesterday it would have been on wrong stuff anyway.

Glop - yes, same one as 10 years ago! Suspect 75% right as 2 or 3 qs were a bit sneaky over less relevant data.

Dials - someone had marked on my workbook which distracted me. Think I did ok but I know it slowed me down. Told woman I didn't want her to think I was cheating. She RELUCTANTLY said she'd put a note on my file. (She didn't seem to think it'd make a difference to my scores).

Feedback from others taking test at same time as me was mechanics were much harder than in practice books.

If we get invited back for computer assessment it'd be later this week. Apparently, according to internal candidates, there would be another interview too.

 

[choo~choo]

It's a bit different down here then, the mechanics is not done at atw, apparently it's optional with all toc's.. First was glop, seemed not too bad, then the dials, again ok I think.. Then the group bourdon which was on a computer, alot easier than the online practice I was doing tbh.. Next up the reaction test, what a effin nightmare lol, probably stopped and restarted about 2/3 times but it was soooooo fast haha.. Lastly filled in the paper for the structured interview, to be used if successful in January.. Should know by thurs if we did any good, was 6 on my day, same tomorrow and wed.. I'll let you know

 

[LCC106]

Hmm - so if the mechanics is optional and someone fails twice - both times due to the mechanics comprehension - then surely they should be able to reapply to another TOC that doesn't use the mechanics? If not, it's bloomin' unfair since it isn't a level playing field between TOCs. (Can you tell I'm feeling doomed? )
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
BTW - tip about Group Bourdon tests - I didn't realise it but you can print out the sheets from the downloaded programme to practise on on paper! I'm slower on paper than on the computer.

 

[TDK]

How about you?

Well - forgive the in-depth explanation but this is copied from facebook:

1Dots - think I did ok but put off by pencil noises of those obviously slightly ahead of me around me.

Dials - someone had marked on my workbook which distracted me.

If the distraction above affects whoever wrote this the candidate is not suitable on the grounds that they are easily distracted from the task including driving a train

 

[LCC106]

If the distraction above affects whoever wrote this the candidate is not suitable on the grounds that they are easily distracted from the task including driving a train

Hi TDK - I'm of the opinion that I did well in the dials task. Yes, it did slow me down a little, since I noticed where the previous person had got the same answer as me and double checked where they differed. I was more concerned that the administrator may think I'd cheated. Anyhow, it seems that whoever had marked workings out in the book managed around 7 or 8 less than me.

In terms of the dots, the other guys said the same as me.

Must admit I'm a little annoyed at your presumption :cry: but hey, fair comment. I understand and appreciate where you're coming from.

Truth is I know I could do the job as I already volunteer on a heritage railway, just feel that I didn't have the level playing field of the others whose workbooks were unmarked. Pretty poor practise for the assessment centre to issue books that have been marked in, too!

Just very aware that this is my last shot and think if I fail on anything it'll be the mechanics anyway! Lol!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Incidentally, on reflection, by the same token you could argue that I'm not suitable for driving a car - but I have done for the last 18 years! Successfully!

 

[ralphchadkirk]

There is a world of difference between doing something on a heritage railway and doing something on the mainline. Don't assume that just because you can do it on an HR that you will be able to do it 'for real'.


Sent from my iPhone 4 using Tapatalk

 

[LCC106]

Yes, I agree, but we too adhere to rules and regulations and are required to concentrate / not allow distractions to put us off etc. I'm not saying that an HR is as complex as driving on a mainline but similarly not any old fool could do it competently.

 

[choo~choo]

Just got the call.......... Passed all areas!!! Get in turns out the bourdon was my weak area.. Done now tho

 

[156441]

out of interest now you've passed. Do you recall how many lines you were getting down?

 

[choo~choo]

out of interest now you've passed. Do you recall how many lines you were getting down?

It was different to the downloaded one mate in that it doesn't auto change page, it waits til you finish each page and times you not give you 2mins.. There are not as many rows as the practice one either, I was told today my time was fast but I missed a few, on the practice one I was getting around 250-270 per page over around 8/9 lines per page with no faults if that helps.. Also there was a guy there that was uber slow and I believe he passed.. HTH

 

[LCC106]

choo~choo woo hoo! Great news! It seems I've got through to the 2nd assessment centre, which is computer test followed by formal interview! Hope all goes well for you. I'm still not complacent and going to continue to work hard for Friday.

 

[choo~choo]

choo~choo woo hoo! Great news! It seems I've got through to the 2nd assessment centre, which is computer test followed by formal interview! Hope all goes well for you. I'm still not complacent and going to continue to work hard for Friday.

Good luck mate!!!

 

[387star]

Personally I find the Group Bourdon musch easier than the SCAAT which requires more practice. Anyone agree?

Also wasn't aware the process could be staggered where parts of the assessment fall on a different day

 

[LCC106]

Hi ml, I agree, GB easier than SCAAT (some of the internal candidates at the AC agreed on Monday). No, I wasn't aware of the staggered process either. This means 2 round trips to Leeds for me and if the medical takes place there too that will be a 3rd (assuming I'm successful on Friday). 120 mile round trip each time

Forgive me if you've already covered this, but where have you applied to and how far along are you?

 

[387star]

Well in August 2010 I was lucky enough to be invited to an Assessment Centre to become a Conductor with Southern. I passed the Verbal Comprehension which was very straight forward (for some reason I expected it to be a memory test- was probably getting confused with the driver assessment)

Sadly I failed on the Concentration test. I was too fast and expected to do really well so was quite surprised how badly I did. I must admit I didn't have the confidence that I do now which didn't help and was going in assuming I would never get that far! Obviously in part due to this I can't have practised enough/read the practise material thoroughly and was overwhelmed by the invite rather than steadying myself and focusing. My own fault really my mind wasn't in the right place. I have since been practising the test and have done well.

Anyway having applied a number of times without being successful I reviewed my application and took it to pieces as well as seeking work experience in new areas. I was already working in retail but gained a promotion which gave me managerial responsibilities. I also worked with charities.

I think now I am in the railways I am in a better position.

 

[choo~choo]

Personally I find the Group Bourdon musch easier than the SCAAT which requires more practice. Anyone agree?

Also wasn't aware the process could be staggered where parts of the assessment fall on a different day

I expected it all on one day too, the first time I did it 5 yrs ago it was..

 

[scally]

Hi guys,

I'm managing 11 completed rows per sheet with on average 2 errors in total. Does anybody know if this is sufficient?

Thanks.

 

[choo~choo]

There's no answer to what they want mate, on the practice I was getting 8/9 rows per page, no mistakes and I passed the real thing..

 

[TDK]

Must admit I'm a little annoyed at your presumption :cry: but hey, fair comment. I understand and appreciate where you're coming from.

Truth is I know I could do the job as I already volunteer on a heritage railway, just feel that I didn't have the level playing field of the others whose workbooks were unmarked. Pretty poor practise for the assessment centre to issue books that have been marked in, too!

Just very aware that this is my last shot and think if I fail on anything it'll be the mechanics anyway! Lol!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Incidentally, on reflection, by the same token you could argue that I'm not suitable for driving a car - but I have done for the last 18 years! Successfully!

Sorry, I didn't mean to be harsh, I have interviewd and assessed many potential candidates for train driving and I will be honest here.

1. Because you are a volunteer on a heritage railway does not mean you could do the job, there is just hardly any comparison, the experience may help you if you get the job as a driver but heritage and main line no comparison whatsoever.

2. From your original comments it seems from what you have written that you are easily distracted - this is a certain problem if you want to be a train driver however being distracted on a simple phase like what you have explained will not necessarily mean you will pass red signals or miss stations.

3. You should have asked the assessor for another book if yours was marked, I certainly would have, maybe you was a little put off in asking and I understand that.

4. The level playing field bit won't make a lot of difference, if you are deemed as competent on the tests you will go through.

5. What ever you do if you get to the interview say that you could do the job as you have worked on a heritage railway, this will certainly affect your chances of passing an interview, believe me I have interviewed candidate with the attitude that they could do the job because of this and none of them got the job. Not because they were a volunteer for heritage but their attitude in thinking that they could drive a mainline train at 100mph because they have poodled along at 25mph it's like me saying I cauld pilot a 747 because I have the ability to fly a cessna 172.

Anyway, good luck with it all and it is worth mentioning the fact that you are a volunteer but not that you could do the job because of this factor.

 

[doubleamber]

i did the assessment off my own back at DB in Donny, my GB score was very good pass, i was doing on average 10 rows per sheet on practice and on 5 sheets got 2 targets missed.

I passed the assessment and currently job hunting!!


only thing thats let me down is on the reacting test i gort a borderline pass so cant work for national express :-/