Private driver Assessment The OPC

[Spincity]

Ive heard that the OPC are now running private train driver assessments. Don’t know if anyone has attended them but apparently it is a 1:1 assessment. Lots of people will have views but people may find the personal assessment more convenient and possibly in a 1:1 setting may help settle nerves.

 

[16.19]

Ive heard that the OPC are now running private train driver assessments. Don’t know if anyone has attended them but apparently it is a 1:1 assessment. Lots of people will have views but people may find the personal assessment more convenient and possibly in a 1:1 setting may help settle nerves.

When you say assessments do you the psychometric tests?

It may settle nerves in the first instance but be aware that the course from that point onwards doesn’t get any less full on and in some cases stressful.

 

[NorthernTech]

Railway Competence Group were doing private testing, there was a thread a while back. Not sure if they still are doing so, haven’t heard anyone say they were going or had been of late. So OPC are offering private psychometric testing? I cannot see anything looking on their website.

 

[Junkles]

Just recently finished my psychometrics off with Railway Competence Group few weeks back and there is no plans for them stopping, if anything quite the opposite. There was only two of us on the day, one was put through by their company and I went private. I initially completed the first half through my employer but decided to finish them off myself. However you can do the full thing over the day.


Can't recommend them enough if anyone is too consider it. Very professional and friendly.

 

[Spincity]

Railway Competence Group were doing private testing, there was a thread a while back. Not sure if they still are doing so, haven’t heard anyone say they were going or had been of late. So OPC are offering private psychometric testing? I cannot see anything looking on their website.

I called them and had a long chat before posting and can confirm the opc are running full assessments, and as they are private it’s 1:1. Full process, with results given on the day

 

[43066]

Just recently finished my psychometrics off with Railway Competence Group few weeks back and there is no plans for them stopping, if anything quite the opposite. There was only two of us on the day, one was put through by their company and I went private. I initially completed the first half through my employer but decided to finish them off myself. However you can do the full thing over the day.


Can't recommend them enough if anyone is too consider it. Very professional and friendly.

I’m curious to understand the reasoning behind paying to do the assessments privately, when you can do them for free at a TOC and that will also lead to a job? (genuinely curious, no criticism implied)

 

[NorthernTech]

I called them and had a long chat before posting and can confirm the opc are running full assessments, and as they are private it’s 1:1. Full process, with results given on the day

Cool

 

[Spincity]

When you say assessments do you the psychometric tests?

It may settle nerves in the first instance but be aware that the course from that point onwards doesn’t get any less full on and in some cases stressful.

It’s the full psychometric tests. Having spoken to the lady at the OPC she definitely wasn’t implying that it makes the process any easier. IMO if some people feel more relaxed in a private assessment and may perform better, can book a time that suits that person and get results at the end of the day there’s no harm in it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2021 ==

Cool

The lady did say if I had any questions to email on admin@theopc.co.uk and they will be answered. She also said that the day can be structured around the individual, more breaks if required etc. but she was keen to push this is 1:1 and no one else will be sitting the assessment with you (unless I suppose you bring a friend!)

 

[PupCuff]

I’m curious to understand the reasoning behind paying to do the assessments privately, when you can do them for free at a TOC and that will also lead to a job? (genuinely curious, no criticism implied)

I suppose, thinking about it if I were in that position, I'd probably feel under less external pressure if there wasn't a job riding on the end of it, and I'd have more of an incentive to push myself to prepare better if I knew I'd paid out of my own pocket for the tests.

Additionally, I assume if you pay for the tests you do them all regardless of if you fail one of them, whereas with a job application typically if you fail one they don't give you the opportunity to sit the rest. That way if you say, only fail the dots, you're only having to come back and resit that one test, not that one plus all the stage 2 ones etc.

I'd possibly consider it if I had a bit of spare money come in. It doesn't harm to have a pass sitting there on file in case you need a job in the next few years and it's one less thing to worry about during the application.

 

[Spincity]

I suppose, thinking about it if I were in that position, I'd probably feel under less external pressure if there wasn't a job riding on the end of it, and I'd have more of an incentive to push myself to prepare better if I knew I'd paid out of my own pocket for the tests.

Additionally, I assume if you pay for the tests you do them all regardless of if you fail one of them, whereas with a job application typically if you fail one they don't give you the opportunity to sit the rest. That way if you say, only fail the dots, you're only having to come back and resit that one test, not that one plus all the stage 2 ones etc.

I'd possibly consider it if I had a bit of spare money come in. It doesn't harm to have a pass sitting there on file in case you need a job in the next few years and it's one less thing to worry about during the application.

The OPC confirmed it’s the full process on the day, they won’t give you any feedback until the end of the day as they don’t want to impact on people’s performance. It’s a good point you raise that doing the full process in one day you only have to redo the test that where not successful, rather than fail the paper tests and not progress and then have the 2nd attempt/pressure to resit the paper test and only have 1 attempt at the rest of it.

 

[choochoochoo]

Don't understand this 'avoiding the pressure' reason. Pressure is part of the job. If you can't handle an assessment centre are you sure you can handle a real pressure situation ?

 

[Spincity]

Don't understand this 'avoiding the pressure' reason. Pressure is part of the job. If you can't handle an assessment centre are you sure you can handle a real pressure situation ?

I failed my driving test 3 times due to exam pressure I’ve been driving for 34 years now, then became an advance driver. Are you saying I can’t handle the pressure of driving because I failed the test.

 

[43066]

I suppose, thinking about it if I were in that position, I'd probably feel under less external pressure if there wasn't a job riding on the end of it, and I'd have more of an incentive to push myself to prepare better if I knew I'd paid out of my own pocket for the tests.

Additionally, I assume if you pay for the tests you do them all regardless of if you fail one of them, whereas with a job application typically if you fail one they don't give you the opportunity to sit the rest. That way if you say, only fail the dots, you're only having to come back and resit that one test, not that one plus all the stage 2 ones etc.

I'd possibly consider it if I had a bit of spare money come in. It doesn't harm to have a pass sitting there on file in case you need a job in the next few years and it's one less thing to worry about during the application.

Some good points there and quite a thought provoking post. I was too tight to pay for the tests and couldn’t have been bothered to do them if it wouldn’t have led to a job!

I suppose the question (which I don’t know the answer to) is whether having the tests on your CV increases your chances. I suspect many TOCs recruiting trainee drivers will have already budgeted for the applicants to be put through the tests, so there won’t be any real saving for them.

I still remember on my assessment day, being told: “it’s bad news I’m afraid. You’ll need to stay for the afternoon session”. I didn’t ask for an introduction to railway humour, but I got it anyway.

I failed my driving test 3 times due to exam pressure I’ve been driving for 34 years now, then became an advance driver. Are you saying I can’t handle the pressure of driving because I failed the test.

But the correct way to look at it is to ask: if you were recruiting for a car driving job, for which you had thousands of applicants per vacancy, would you bother looking at people who’d failed their driving test first time around? You’d need some way to whittle down the numbers.

 

[choochoochoo]

I failed my driving test 3 times due to exam pressure I’ve been driving for 34 years now, then became an advance driver. Are you saying I can’t handle the pressure of driving because I failed the test.

Herein lies the problem.

Driving a car is very different to driving a train. Care to explain the pressure involved in driving a car ? I see many on the roads who seem to do just fine whilst doing their make-up, sending text messages. Not that I condone that sort of behaviour.

How does that compare to laying protection following a derailment. Or evacuating due to fire on board ?

The tests weed out those who can't handle it. Plenty of good car drivers don't pass train driving psychometrics.

 

[Spincity]

Herein lies the problem

Driving a car is very different to driving a train. Hence the tests weed out those who can't handle it. Plenty of good car drivers don't pass train driving psychometrics.

Totally different skill sets.

I think you missed my point. I’m not saying that because I drive cars I can drive trains. I’m saying that I’ve never been good in exams, the pressure use to get to me. If someone decides that doing a private assessment helps them manage the assessment what’s the issue. The tests to be a train driver are to identify if you have the potential to be a driver, not the ability to deal with the exam pressure. Following your logic you’d only give a person one chance at the process, if you can be a driver you’ll not need a second attempt. You’ll not make a mistake, nerves not get to you.

 

[NorthernTech]

Just because you choose to avoid ’some’ pressure associated with passing some tests doesn’t mean you are not able to manage pressure. The tests themselves, by their very nature, are pressure, and you still have the added pressure of only 2 attempts at passing them. I don’t really think there is much less pressure doing the tests this way, but you would remove any bias that may lie in the assessments done internally via a Toc.

 

[Spincity]

I think you missed my point. I’m not saying that because I drive cars I can drive trains. I’m saying that I’ve never been good in exams, the pressure use to get to me. If someone decides that doing a private assessment helps them manage the assessment what’s the issue. The tests to be a train driver are to identify if you have the potential to be a driver, not the ability to deal with the exam pressure. Following your logic you’d only give a person one chance at the process, if you can be a driver you’ll not need a second attempt. You’ll not make a mistake, nerves not get to you.

Should also add, I think I can deal with work/operational pressure. I completed 25yrs as a fire fighter, driving fire appliances for many years, before a career change. I also failed promotion exams due to nerves, but did pass and promoted, and dealt with that pressure well. Even though I failed some exams but came back

 

[choochoochoo]

Just because you choose to avoid ’some’ pressure associated with passing some tests doesn’t mean you are not able to manage pressure. The tests themselves, by their very nature, are pressure, and you still have the added pressure of only 2 attempts at passing them. I don’t really think there is much less pressure doing the tests this way, but you would remove any bias that may lie in the assessments done internally via a Toc.

I personally think there is more bias at the OPC. - It's in their financial interest for you to test again.

I think you missed my point. I’m not saying that because I drive cars I can drive trains. I’m saying that I’ve never been good in exams, the pressure use to get to me. If someone decides that doing a private assessment helps them manage the assessment what’s the issue. The tests to be a train driver are to identify if you have the potential to be a driver, not the ability to deal with the exam pressure. Following your logic you’d only give a person one chance at the process, if you can be a driver you’ll not need a second attempt. You’ll not make a mistake, nerves not get to you.

How do you think you'll cope with the assessments during the driver training course then ? Those are 2 chances and you're out too ? Or your final driving assessment ?

 

[BrokenSam]

Herein lies the problem.

Driving a car is very different to driving a train. Care to explain the pressure involved in driving a car ? I see many on the roads who seem to do just fine whilst doing their make-up, sending text messages. Not that I condone that sort of behaviour.

How does that compare to laying protection following a derailment. Or evacuating due to fire on board ?

The tests weed out those who can't handle it. Plenty of good car drivers don't pass train driving psychometrics.

Pressure in doing advanced driving is huge and a pretty good indicator of how someone handles said stressful situations, in my opinion.

 

[16.19]

I think you missed my point. I’m not saying that because I drive cars I can drive trains. I’m saying that I’ve never been good in exams, the pressure use to get to me. If someone decides that doing a private assessment helps them manage the assessment what’s the issue. The tests to be a train driver are to identify if you have the potential to be a driver, not the ability to deal with the exam pressure. Following your logic you’d only give a person one chance at the process, if you can be a driver you’ll not need a second attempt. You’ll not make a mistake, nerves not get to you.

Good luck with your application for driving but as a foot note; trainee drivers are constantly under exam conditions in some shape or form. Even when qualified you have an exam day every 2 years post-PQA years. And every year with until then.

Becoming a trainee is a tall order if you don’t like exams.

 

[choochoochoo]

Good luck with your application for driving but as a foot note; trainee drivers are constantly under exam conditions in some shape or form. Even when qualified you have an exam day everyone 2 years post-PQA years. And every year with until then.

Becoming a trainee is a tall order if you don’t like exams.

Exactly !!

 

[Spincity]

Good luck with your application for driving but as a foot note; trainee drivers are constantly under exam in some shape or form. Even when qualified you have an exam day everyone 2 years post-PQA years.

I’m already a driver, it was chat down the pub that someone said they were looking to do the assessment privately and asked my advice, but his reasons resonated with my history. But 25 yrs in the fire service being constantly tested and then trains I’ve developed my own methods of dealing with exam phobia. But thanks for your feedback

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2021 ==

Exactly !!

The worlds an interesting place, just because I hate exams and struggle with them and it took me a long time to develop exam techniques to manage the pressure I’m sorry I’m a lesser person then those that don’t suffer with exams. But spent 25 yrs in fire service saving lives and now drive trains for last 7 yrs so happy I can deal with pressure and still do my job. My only point was if you think the private assessment helps dues it matter. End

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2021 ==

I personally think there is more bias at the OPC. - It's in their financial interest for you to test again.



How do you think you'll cope with the assessments during the driver training course then ? Those are 2 chances and you're out too ? Or your final driving assessment ?

I can’t see how the opc can fail you for financial gain. Are you saying that they change your marks on the dots test, they log into the computer and change your score on the grey square tests. A company would commit fraud, risk loosing contacts for the TOCs they work with so they can screw over a private candidate.

i passed my driver assessment first time as I’d learnt methods to deal with exam stress. But having had the chat with this guy would consider the private route if I was younger and still nervous

 

[43066]

The worlds an interesting place, just because I hate exams and struggle with them and it took me a long time to develop exam techniques to manage the pressure I’m sorry I’m a lesser person then those that don’t suffer with exams.

In fairness nobody has said that. But the fact remains that dealing with exam pressure is necessary to get through the driver training process and those who are unable to conquer that might struggle.

I’m not sure what’s so controversial about that.

 

[choochoochoo]

I can’t see how the opc can fail you for financial gain. Are you saying that they change your marks on the dots test, they log into the computer and change your score on the grey square tests. A company would commit fraud, risk loosing contacts for the TOCs they work with so they can screw over a private candidate.

The MMI is subjective. If they were to film it and make it open to appeal/review then I'd be more convinced that there wasn't a conflict of interest.

i passed my driver assessment first time as I’d learnt methods to deal with exam stress. But having had the chat with this guy would consider the private route if I was younger and still nervous

There's nothing wrong with developing methods to deal with nerves. This what candidates should be doing. They should not be finding ways to circumnavigate pressure situations.

And on a final note. As I've said previously, paying for assessments is a slippery slope we don't want to be going down. What next ? Pay for your training ? Pay to submit an application ? Don't believe it can happen ? Ask Ryanair pilots !!

 

[Highlandspring]

The MMI is subjective. If they were to film it and make it open to appeal/review then I'd be more convinced that there wasn't a conflict of interest.

This is so true. The experiences I read on here of people sitting down and having a nice chat, or being subtly encouraged to use the right keywords at their MMI are in stark contrast to the downright nasty gestapo style interrogation I suffered at the hands of a TOC (not OPC) recruiter the one time I applied for a driving job.

I’m amazed they still get away with an unrecorded and unwitnessed one-to-one interview where the interviewer could write down any old nonsense if they take a dislike to the candidate, whom they hold absolute power over and who has no right to appeal the verdict. But I’m just bitter I failed.

 

[PupCuff]

Don't understand this 'avoiding the pressure' reason. Pressure is part of the job. If you can't handle an assessment centre are you sure you can handle a real pressure situation ?

It's all quite individual really. There's also a difference between avoidable and unavoidable pressure.

My personal opinion is (as an industry) we should be wanting to get the best candidates in. Having test nerves doesn't necessarily exclude you as the best candidate so if we can make it more accessible for a more diverse range of candidates that's a win for the industry. World champion at crossing out dots doesn't necessarily make a train driver who gets on with the job safely and does what they're told to do!

 

[choochoochoo]

It's all quite individual really. There's also a difference between avoidable and unavoidable pressure.

My personal opinion is (as an industry) we should be wanting to get the best candidates in. Having test nerves doesn't necessarily exclude you as the best candidate so if we can make it more accessible for a more diverse range of candidates that's a win for the industry. World champion at crossing out dots doesn't necessarily make a train driver who gets on with the job safely and does what they're told to do!

Test nerves are something you're going to have to learn to overcome in the role. Training involves numerous assessment. As does checking your competency once youre qualified. So best to have overcome them before getting the job.

 

[PupCuff]

Test nerves are something you're going to have to learn to overcome in the role. Training involves numerous assessment. As does checking your competency once youre qualified. So best to have overcome them before getting the job.

There's plenty of arguments that we can make about learning and developing things before you get the job but if we made candidates learn and develop everything before we gave them the job, we'd just be recruiting qualified train drivers.

The driver apprenticeships now have to do functional skills Maths and English etc prior to doing the training course. It's the case that a train driver needs the ability to not get nervous in a test, but not that they can read, write and do simple maths before they get the job?

As an industry I feel it's important that we look at what people can bring to the table and not get too beat up about minor things that we can develop in training.

 

[Val3ntine]

There’s a lot of back and fourth arguments which seems like just personal differences of opinions which of course we are all entitled to.
I however see no gain in keeping this thread open especially as there’s currently no official documentation confirming the topic at hand.